Amazon's 'War of the Worlds' Is So Bad It May Be An Inside Joke

It's a rare sight to see a movie with a flat 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, and even more so when it becomes the #1 movie on a huge streaming service. But that's exactly what's currently happening with Amazon Prime Video's new offering, 'War of the Worlds'. This latest adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel is an affront to the very concept of filmmaking, leaving viewers questioning how something so atrocious could make it onto the big screen.

The premise of the movie is a jumbled mess of surveillance operative Ice Cube tracking an alien invasion while trying to keep his family safe via hacking and Zoom calls. It sounds like a parody waiting to happen, and unfortunately, it's just as cringeworthy in reality. The performances are subpar, with Ice Cube phoning it in and Eva Longoria struggling to elevate the material. The writing is laughable, the directing is amateurish, and the CGI is straight out of a bad sci-fi movie.

But what's even more bizarre is the way Amazon seems to be actively embracing the film's shortcomings. Delivery drivers, Amazon drones, and gift cards are all woven into the plot as if they're essential elements in solving the alien invasion. It's like the company is trying to make a movie that's an infomercial on steroids.

As I watched the movie, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something fishy was going on. Was Amazon really this incompetent? Did they intentionally create a film so bad it would become a viral sensation? The more I thought about it, the less I believed that all this was just an accident.

It's not uncommon for movies to get scrapped or cancelled before release, but 'War of the Worlds' seems like a product of Amazon's creative misfire. And let me tell you, if that's the case, then kudos to them for pulling off what could be considered one of the greatest marketing stunts in recent memory.

The movie's tagline, "It's worse than you think," is either an inside joke or a genuine attempt at self-deprecation. Either way, it's working – War of the Worlds has become a meme-fueled sensation on social media, with people dissecting and mocking every minute of it.

As for me, I have to admit that I went out of my way to watch 'War of the Worlds' instead of another movie on my limited time. And I'm glad I did – this is power. But in all seriousness, 'War of the Worlds' is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of quality control.

Amazon has made its fair share of great original movies over the years, but there's nothing quite like 'War of the Worlds' to prove that even the biggest players can have an off day. And who knows? Maybe this is exactly what they wanted all along – a movie so bad it becomes a cult classic.

Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels, the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.