- Primary Subject: Verity (2026 Film Adaptation)
- Key Update: Early reviews for the film adaptation are mixed, debuting with a 42% Rotten Tomatoes score.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 1, 2026
- Quick Answer: Verity receives mixed reviews with a 42% Rotten Tomatoes score, praised as campy, airport-read fun with strong performances, but criticized as silly and stiff.
The first reviews for the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, Verity, are in, and many are wondering whether the film is worth watching.
Led by an ensemble cast featuring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, the movie is one of the year’s most anticipated book-to-film adaptations.
So, following the recent success of Hoover’s previous adaptations, including It Ends With Us, is Verity a success, too?
What Are the Critics Saying About Verity?
There is high anticipation surrounding Verity, thanks to its major cast and Colleen Hoover’s story, but does it live up to expectations?
Unfortunately, the film received mixed reviews from critics, with many claiming it was not as creepy or sexy as it was supposed to be compared to the book. In fact, as of this writing, it only has a 43% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, giving it a rotten status.
The HoloFiles likened Verity to the “cinematic equivalent of a twisty, silly, and disposable, yet undeniably entertaining book you buy at an airport book store and read while you wait for your flight” and even compared it to The Housemaid for having “plenty of awkward dialogue and stiff acting to chuckle at as a fairly intriguing mystery unfolds.”
Tomato Meter critic Zach Pope claimed the film would leave viewers “feeling icky, twisted, uncomfortable, and constantly wondering” where the story was going.
“It’s a slow burn that keeps evolving, pulling you deeper into this increasingly messed up situation and making you hate every second of what these characters are putting themselves through,” he wrote.
Critic Adam Patla added that while Verity knows exactly what kind of film it is, pulling off “a schmaltzy, entertaining ride, bolstered by Anne Hathaway’s deliciously dark turn,” it is still ridiculous and “campy, kinda stupid in the most complimentary way.”
Overall, the early reviews suggest that Verity may appeal to viewers looking for a messy, twist-filled thriller, even if it falls short of some expectations set by the novel.
What Is Verity About?
Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, Verity is a seductive psychological thriller that follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who ghostwrites for Verity.
After uncovering Verity’s chilling autobiographical notes, Lowen begins to question the truth behind Jeremy’s (Josh Hartnett) disturbing confessions as the lines between fiction and reality, attraction and manipulation, and opportunity and obsession begin to blur.
The movie also stars Ismael Cruz Cordova as Corey, Brady Wagner as Crew, Irina Dvorovenko, K. K. Moggie, Michael Abbott Jr., and Alex Cooper as herself.
The film had its world premiere at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema in London on September 24 and is set to release internationally on October 2.
It will also be screened in the Gala section of the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival in late October.
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