- Primary Subject: Taika Waititi
- Key Update: Taika Waititi slammed critics over the negative reviews of his new film Klara and the Sun.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: November 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: Director Taika Waititi publicly criticized reviewers after his new film Klara and the Sun flopped at the box office, urging fans to ignore critics.
Taika Waititi recently called out critics for the negative reviews that were given to his new film, Klara and the Sun.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker is back with a new sci-fi movie based on the best-selling Kazuo Ishiguro novel. However, reception from critics has been mostly negative, and the movie has severely flopped at the box office. As a result, Sony scaled back its theatrical release and reduced the number of screenings.
Taika Waititi Slams Critics for Klara and the Sun Scathing Reviews
In a recent Instagram post, Taika Waititi did not mince any words when he reacted to the critics' negative reviews of Klara and the Sun.
He called them "irrelevant" and "out of touch," and encouraged audiences to enjoy the new film without reading the reviews from critics. He also highlighted the high audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
"I haven't read a review of anything aimed at me or my peers in almost 15 years. But I do listen to the people," the filmmaker wrote in the caption.
"So this Halloween, let's spare a thought for those sad lost souls who couldn't achieve their dreams of becoming artists, and thus settled, and became critics. The same people who also hated Jojo Rabbit. Irrelevant. Out of touch. Obsolete. In the bin."
Waititi's post has been met with backlash from critics on social media, as they believe the filmmaker should not have made the remarks against their profession and pointed out that his past films, like the aforementioned Jojo Rabbit, were well-received.
Natasha Lyonne, one of the stars of Klara and the Sun, has also weighed in on the issue in her X post and highlighted the positive responses that she received from audiences.
"Curious if critics got to see @Klara_Movie on the big screen or if it was only made available on laptop links. Audience I saw it with was fully with the film & loved it," she wrote.
What Is Klara and the Sun About?
Based on the best-selling novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun introduces audiences to Klara, an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie, each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother, and they’ve suffered great loss, but Klara’s innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie’s complicated world.
The cast includes Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi, Natasha Lyonne, and Rachel House. Simon Baker, Waititi, and Rita Ora also shot scenes for the film, but they were cut.
The film is still showing in a select few theaters. It is unknown whether it is still showing in the international market following the underperformance at the box office.
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