Taika Waititi Slams Critics After “Klara and the Sun” Receives Poor Reviews
The director’s Instagram tirade labels reviewers “sad lost souls” amid a rotten Tomatometer and weak box‑office returns.
Taika Waititi unleashed a scathing Instagram post after the October 23, 2026 release of his adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Klara and the Sun” was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews.
Waititi’s Instagram Attack
The director, known for “Jojo Rabbit” and “Thor: Love and Thunder,” described critics as “sad lost souls who couldn’t achieve their dreams” and added that they “settled, and became critics.” He paired the remarks with a string of emojis, including a laughing‑crying face and a shrug. Waititi also wrote, “Irrelevant. Out of touch. Obsolete. In the bin,” followed by a trash‑can emoji, a crying face, and a heart‑hands emoji.
He noted that he hasn’t read a review of anything aimed at me or my peers in almost 15 years, yet claimed he still listens to the people. The post referenced a ScreenRant image that illustrated audience reception to the live‑action adaptation.
Critical Reception
“Klara and the Sun” has struggled on the critic side. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 26% Tomatometer rating, classifying the film as “rotten,” while audience favorability sits at 74%. IMDb’s Metascore is –30 out of 100 based on 27 reviews, and no review was published by IGN.
In contrast, Waititi’s earlier film “Jojo Rabbit” holds an 81% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and received positive scores from Entertainment Weekly (A‑) and The Wrap (85), with IGN awarding it 8.5/10.
Box‑Office Performance
Box Office Mojo lists a worldwide gross of only $1.7 million after two weekends, a figure described as “dismal.” The film’s release was scaled back from an anticipated 2,000 theaters to roughly 800, according to Collider. Deadline reported that Sony stopped reporting the film’s earnings for the following weekend, and the production budget is estimated between $20 million and $40 million.
Official Synopsis and Cast
Sony Pictures describes the story as follows: Klara (Jenna Ortega), an Artificial Friend, wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each immediately senses a kindred spirit. Josie’s fraught relationship with her mother (Amy Adams) and their shared loss are softened by Klara’s innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty.
Future Outlook
Waititi’s next project remains uncertain. Earlier this month he announced that a long‑planned Star Wars film he was attached to is “on ice” after six years of development. No further details about the fate of “Klara and the Sun” have been provided.
Despite the director’s fiery rebuttal, the film’s critical and commercial metrics suggest a challenging path ahead for the adaptation.
