Al Pacino's ‘The Ritual’: Unpacking the 0% Rotten Tomatoes Phenomenon

Unpacking the Hollywood Head-Scratcher

Welcome to the Deep Dive, where we transform stacks of information into essential nuggets for your reading pleasure. Today, we're delving into a story straight out of Hollywood that’s as puzzling as it is captivating. Imagine a film featuring one of the most legendary actors of our time—Al Pacino—an Academy Award winner and veteran of numerous critical hits. And then imagine that same actor achieving an unfortunate career first—a zero percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Ritual: A New Low

Our mission today is to explore how a film starring Al Pacino—an icon in the industry—managed to debut with such a rare and unfortunate 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite his incredible track record and over 60 acting credits to his name, including masterpieces like The Godfather and Serpico, The Ritual marks a new low in his career.

As surprising as it may seem, it's quite uncommon for any film to land at 0%, more so once it accrues over 10 reviews. Yet, The Ritual reached this milestone with 0% from 26 reviews just before its general release, overshadowing Pacino’s previous lowest, Jack and Jill from 2011.

So, What is The Ritual About?

The Ritual is a horror film centered around a possession story, directed by David Midell and co-written with Enrico Natale. It is inspired by the 1935 book Begone Satan!, said to be based on a true story. The plot follows Pacino as Father Theophilus Riesinger, working with Father Joseph Steiger, portrayed by Dan Stevens, to save a young woman, Emma Schmidt, allegedly possessed.

The movie also features a diverse cast with familiar faces such as Ashley Greene from Twilight, Patrick Fabian from Better Call Saul, and Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond. Originally slated for an April release, the film was delayed to June 2025 in the US, after opening in the UK and Ireland in late May.

The Critics' Verdict

Despite its star-studded cast, The Ritual was unanimously panned by critics who found it derivative, bringing nothing new to the possession horror subgenre. Comparisons with The Exorcist were inevitable, with critics like The New York Times' Glenn Kenny suggesting viewers should just rewatch the 1973 classic. Others, like The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck, took digs at the film for retreading old ground without innovation.

Beyond the narrative, critique extended to the film's execution. Descriptions likening its cinematography to that of The Office reflected a failure not just in storytelling, but also in basic cinematic delivery.

The Audience's Perspective

In contrast, The Ritual holds a 4.6 rating on IMDb, with audience reviews painting a different picture. Some viewers, like George, firmly believe that a movie disliked by critics is often a good one, while another user, Anaya, praised Pacino’s performance and enjoyed the film. This divide between audience and critics underlines a recurring theme in cinema—differing expectations and satisfaction levels.

Why the Divide?

The stark contrast highlights a fundamental difference in criteria for judging films: while critics focus on artistic innovation and technical skill, audiences may value pure entertainment, star power, or comfort in familiar horror tropes.

The anti-critic sentiment is apparent, with some viewers questioning the motivation behind horror films and their perceived economic motives. Sid, for instance, cynically suggests that such films are easy moneymakers, destined for platforms like Tubi and Syfy.

A Cinematic Paradox

Ultimately, The Ritual represents a fascinating paradox. While critics found it a critical failure, audiences see it differently, leading to a broader discussion about who truly defines good art: structured analysis from critics, gut reactions from audiences, or a mix of both?

As we wrap up this deep dive into The Ritual, the question remains: when a film with such a rare score stars a legend like Pacino, who really gets to decide its place in cinematic history? This is a pondering worth diving deeper into.

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