What Is the Metacritic Rating for The Menu

The Menu, Mark Mylod’s 2022 dark comedy-thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, holds a Metacritic score of 71 out of 100 based on reviews from 45 critics. This score places the film in the “generally favorable” category, indicating that critics appreciated the film’s ambitious premise and execution, even if it didn’t achieve universal acclaim.

The film’s critical reception reflects a divide between those who embraced its audacious storytelling and those who felt it stumbled in the execution of its social commentary.

Released in November 2022, The Menu centers on a group of elite diners who arrive at an exclusive restaurant owned by an enigmatic chef, only to discover the evening has far darker intentions than they anticipated.

The film’s Metacritic rating of 71 tells the story of a movie that impressed professional critics more often than not, yet lacked the consensus that would push it into the 80-plus range typically reserved for critical darlings.

Table of Contents

• Understanding The Menu’s Metacritic Score and What It Means
• The Critical Reception Behind The Menu’s Rating
• How The Menu’s Rating Compares to Similar Films
• Using Metacritic Scores to Inform Viewing Decisions
• The Impact of Specific Critical Elements on The Menu’s Rating
• The Menu’s Reception Beyond Metacritic
• What The Menu’s Rating Reveals About Modern Horror and Thriller Cinema
• Conclusion

Understanding The Menu’s Metacritic Score and What It Means

A metacritic score of 71 out of 100 places The Menu squarely in the range of films that critics found worthwhile but flawed.

This score is based on 45 professional critics from major publications, meaning it represents a substantial sample of professional opinion rather than a niche assessment. To put this in perspective, films scoring in the 70-79 range typically generate conversation about their merit—critics aren’t dismissing them, but they’re also not universally championing them as essential viewing.

The “generally favorable” designation that accompanies a 71 score reflects the critical consensus that The Menu succeeded in some areas while falling short in others. Many critics praised the film’s ambitious concept and stylish direction, but concerns about pacing, tone, and the depth of its social critique prevented it from achieving a higher aggregate score.

This range is common for genre films that take risks—they either resonate fully or partially with the critical establishment.

The Critical Reception Behind The Menu’s Rating

The pathway to a 71 Metacritic score reveals important nuances about how The Menu was received across different critical outlets. Some critics highlighted the performances, particularly those of Taylor-Joy and Fiennes, as standout elements that elevated the material.

Others focused on Mylod’s direction and the film’s aesthetic choices, which created an unsettling atmosphere befitting its premise. However, limitations in the screenplay’s ability to sustain its central conceit prevented the film from earning universal praise.

One consistent criticism across reviews centered on the film’s tonal management. The Menu attempts to balance horror, dark comedy, and social satire simultaneously—a difficult task that not all critics felt the film executed equally well throughout its runtime. Some found the transitions jarring, while others appreciated the willingness to push genre boundaries.

This tonal inconsistency likely prevented the film from achieving a higher score, as critical consensus requires more uniform agreement on what a film accomplishes.

How The Menu’s Rating Compares to Similar Films

When placed alongside other high-concept, genre-bending films from recent years, The Menu’s 71 Metacritic score sits in a meaningful middle ground. Films like Parasite (2019) achieved a 96 on Metacritic by achieving near-universal critical consensus on their merit, while A Serious Man (2009) scored 79 despite similarly challenging and audacious storytelling.

The Menu’s 71 places it below both but above films that critics were more divided about, such as The Lighthouse (2019) with its 73 score.

This comparison highlights an important distinction: The Menu wasn’t dismissed by critics the way truly poorly-received films are. A score of 71 suggests critics were engaged with the film, even if they didn’t all reach the same conclusions about its success. The film’s ambition was acknowledged, even by critics who felt it didn’t fully land.

Using Metacritic Scores to Inform Viewing Decisions

For potential viewers trying to decide whether The Menu is worth their time, the 71 Metacritic score offers valuable guidance that goes beyond simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down messaging.

A score in this range typically indicates a film that will either impress you significantly or leave you feeling that it was an interesting attempt with some meaningful flaws. Your personal tolerance for films that swing for the fences—even if they don’t connect perfectly—will determine whether you find The Menu satisfying.

Understanding that the score represents 45 different critical perspectives is crucial. One critic might have loved the film’s willingness to embrace absurdism, while another viewed that same quality as a barrier to genuine engagement with its themes.

This diversity of opinion is reflected in the mid-70 score and suggests that The Menu is the kind of film that benefits from approaching it with specific expectations—knowing that it’s designed to provoke rather than please.

The Impact of Specific Critical Elements on The Menu’s Rating

The film’s Metacritic score reflects varying assessments of its social commentary and thematic depth. Critics disagreed about whether The Menu had something genuine to say about culinary ambition, class dynamics, and the restaurant industry, or whether it used these themes as window dressing for a more straightforward thriller.

This disagreement on substance almost certainly impacted the final aggregate score, as critics who felt the film’s ideas were underdeveloped rated it lower than those who appreciated its satirical approach.

One potential limitation to consider: Metacritic’s scoring system can sometimes penalize films that are deliberately challenging or experimental. The Menu’s tonal audacity and genre-blending approach may have resulted in a slightly lower score than a more conventional thriller would receive, even if critics found its ambition worthy of praise.

The film’s willingness to be strange and unsettling works against it in a consensus-based rating system that rewards clarity and universal appeal.

The Menu’s Reception Beyond Metacritic

While Metacritic’s 71 score provides one window into critical reception, audience responses have often diverged from critical consensus.

Viewers have found particular elements of The Menu more or less compelling than critics did, suggesting that the film’s specific combination of elements resonates differently depending on viewer expectations.

Some audiences embraced the film’s claustrophobic, slow-burn approach, while others found its pacing excessive. The 71 Metacritic score should be understood as one data point among several when evaluating the film.

user ratings on IMDb, audience reactions on other platforms, and recommendations from specific critics whose tastes align with yours can all provide additional context beyond the aggregate score.

What The Menu’s Rating Reveals About Modern Horror and Thriller Cinema

The Menu’s 71 Metacritic score sits within a landscape where ambitious, idea-driven thrillers increasingly struggle to achieve consensus among diverse critical voices. The film’s ambition—attempting to be simultaneously a visceral thriller and a commentary on prestige culture—is characteristic of contemporary genre cinema’s impulse toward self-examination and deconstruction.

However, as The Menu demonstrates, ambition doesn’t automatically translate into critical unanimity. Looking forward, The Menu serves as a case study in how films that interrogate their own genres often end up in this middle critical territory.

The score of 71 may ultimately prove prescient, as the film continues to find audiences willing to engage with its provocative premise long after its theatrical release.

Conclusion

The Menu’s Metacritic score of 71 out of 100 accurately captures a film that critics respected for its ambition and craft while disagreeing on whether it fully executed its artistic vision.

The score reflects a genuine divide in critical opinion rather than a consensus dismissal, making it a more nuanced recommendation than a higher or lower score would suggest. Based on this rating, The Menu is best approached as an interesting, challenging film rather than an unqualified critical success or failure.

For viewers considering whether to watch The Menu, the 71 Metacritic score suggests you should factor in your own tolerance for unconventional storytelling and films that prioritize atmosphere and provocation over conventional narrative satisfaction.

The film’s rating indicates it’s worth watching if its premise intrigues you, while also acknowledging that you may share some of the critics’ reservations about its execution. Ultimately, a score in this range offers permission to discover the film on your own terms rather than to accept a critical verdict as definitive.

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