The Menu, the 2022 psychological thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy, holds an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 336 professional reviews with an average rating of 7.5 out of 10.
This exceptionally high critical approval stands alongside a 76% audience score, indicating that while general viewers appreciated the film, critics found it more compelling than the average moviegoer.
The significant gap between these two scores reveals something important about how the film resonates differently with different audiences—professional critics overwhelmingly praised its psychological depth and technical execution, while mainstream audiences found it more divisive, with some viewers finding the premise unsettling rather than entertaining.
- Table of Contents
- How Does The Menu's Critical Score Compare to Other Thrillers?
- Understanding the Critical Reception and What Reviewers Actually Valued
- The Role of Anya Taylor-Joy in Shaping Critical Perception
- Why The Gap Between Critic and Audience Scores Matters
- How Rotten Tomatoes Scores Can Be Misleading in Isolation
- The Netflix Effect and Delayed Discovery
- What The Menu's Scores Tell Us About Critical Consensus in 2022
- Conclusion
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What makes this critical score particularly noteworthy is the consistency with which reviewers highlighted the film’s ambition and craft. An 88% on Rotten Tomatoes places The Menu among the better-received thriller releases of recent years, comparable to films that have earned genuine cultural staying power.
The film’s recent spike in popularity on Netflix in 2026 demonstrates that critical acclaim doesn’t always translate immediately to widespread viewership, but quality work eventually finds its audience.
Table of Contents
- How Does The Menu’s Critical Score Compare to Other Thrillers?
- Understanding the Critical Reception and What Reviewers Actually Valued
- The Role of Anya Taylor-Joy in Shaping Critical Perception
- Why The Gap Between Critic and Audience Scores Matters
- How Rotten Tomatoes Scores Can Be Misleading in Isolation
- The Netflix Effect and Delayed Discovery
- What The Menu’s Scores Tell Us About Critical Consensus in 2022
- Conclusion
How Does The Menu’s Critical Score Compare to Other Thrillers?
The menu‘s 88% critics score significantly outperforms many contemporary thriller films, placing it in a category reserved for genuinely accomplished entries in the genre.
To provide context, many mainstream horror and thriller releases typically land in the 60-75% range on rotten Tomatoes, making an 88% a clear indicator that critics considered this film to be above the standard formula.
The 12-point gap between the critics score (88%) and audience score (76%) is telling—professional reviewers recognized nuance and artistic intention that some general audiences found too dark or deliberately uncomfortable.
This comparison matters because Rotten Tomatoes scores significantly influence what films get wider theatrical releases and streaming prominence. An 88% from critics carries weight in industry conversations and affects both audience expectations and platform algorithms.
When The Menu appeared on Netflix in 2026, its critical pedigree likely contributed to its newfound popularity, as subscribers could see the film had earned legitimate praise rather than being a conventional genre entry.
Understanding the Critical Reception and What Reviewers Actually Valued
The 7.5 out of 10 average rating from 336 critics indicates remarkably consistent appreciation for The Menu’s approach to its subject matter.
Rather than receiving scattered reviews ranging from poor to excellent, the film’s score reflects broad agreement among professionals that director Mark Mylod achieved his artistic vision.
This consistency is rare and suggests that critics across different publications and perspectives largely agreed on the film’s strengths, even if they weren’t universally enthusiastic.
One important limitation to understand is that a high Rotten Tomatoes score doesn’t necessarily mean reviewers thought the film was “fun” or easily enjoyable. Psychological thrillers live in a space where critical respect often comes from making audiences uncomfortable or challenged, rather than entertained in a traditional sense.
The Menu’s 88% reflects critical recognition of its craft, performances, and willingness to follow its premise to uncomfortable conclusions. This is an important distinction because many viewers exploring the film based on its score may expect a different experience than what the film actually delivers.
The Role of Anya Taylor-Joy in Shaping Critical Perception
Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance received substantial praise in reviews contributing to The Menu’s strong critical score. Her ability to anchor the film’s psychological elements while navigating an increasingly surreal premise was consistently mentioned as a strength by critics.
In a film that deliberately puts characters through psychological torment, Taylor-Joy’s performance provided the emotional throughline that critics recognized as essential to the film’s effectiveness.
The presence of a critically respected actor like Taylor-Joy likely influenced the tone of professional reviews. Critics often pay closer attention to films featuring established talent, and Taylor-Joy’s prior success in films like The Witch and Mad Max: Fury Road gave reviewers confidence that her involvement signaled a project with serious artistic ambitions.
This doesn’t invalidate The Menu’s 88% score, but it does highlight how casting choices affect critical reception beyond just performance quality.
Why The Gap Between Critic and Audience Scores Matters
The 12-point difference between the 88% critics score and 76% audience score reveals important information about who should consider watching The Menu.
This gap suggests the film contains elements that professional critics valued that general audiences found less appealing—whether that’s pacing, tone, or the film’s refusal to provide conventional catharsis. When a critic score significantly outpaces an audience score, it typically means the film prioritizes artistic or intellectual engagement over traditional entertainment satisfaction.
This tradeoff isn’t a flaw; it’s a characteristic of deliberate filmmaking. The Menu was constructed with specific intentions about how to disturb, unsettle, and provoke thought in its viewers. General audiences voting on Rotten Tomatoes may have found the film more alienating than critics, who tend to value ambition and artistic risk-taking.
If you’re considering watching based on the 88% score, understanding that critics appreciated the film’s severity helps set appropriate expectations for what you’ll experience.
How Rotten Tomatoes Scores Can Be Misleading in Isolation
While the 88% critics score is genuinely impressive, it’s important to recognize what a Rotten Tomatoes score actually measures.
The platform counts any review as either “fresh” (positive) or “rotten” (negative), meaning a film reviewed as merely “decent” counts the same as one reviewed as “masterpiece.” The Menu’s 7.5 out of 10 average provides more nuance than the percentage alone, suggesting reviewers found it good to very good, but not universally excellent.
Another warning worth noting: Rotten Tomatoes aggregates professional reviews, but professional critics can reflect particular aesthetic preferences that don’t necessarily align with individual viewers. A film that impresses critics for its audacity might alienate viewers seeking straightforward entertainment.
The Menu’s scores should be understood as one data point among many—the critical consensus that this is an accomplished, ambitious psychological thriller, but not necessarily confirmation that any given viewer will find it rewarding.
The Netflix Effect and Delayed Discovery
The Menu’s journey to becoming a Netflix hit three years after its theatrical release illustrates how critical scores eventually influence broader audience discovery. Upon its 2022 release, the film found a dedicated audience but wasn’t initially a cultural phenomenon.
However, the presence of an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score—visible to Netflix subscribers browsing the platform—helped drive viewership once the film became available.
This demonstrates that high critical scores don’t expire; they serve as accumulated evidence of quality that compounds over time. The Netflix bump also reveals something about audience confidence. Viewers are more likely to take chances on unfamiliar films when they see strong professional endorsement.
A film with an 88% score and significant critical consensus provides reassurance that the viewing experience will at least be worthwhile, even if challenging or unconventional.
What The Menu’s Scores Tell Us About Critical Consensus in 2022
The Menu’s 88% score places it in conversation with films that defined 2022’s critical landscape. It earned recognition at major award ceremonies and genuine respect from the critical establishment, which the Rotten Tomatoes aggregate reflects.
Three years later, as the film finds renewed audiences on Netflix, these scores have proven remarkably durable—they haven’t shifted substantially downward through reconsideration or faded relevance. Looking forward, The Menu’s performance suggests that psychological thrillers with genuine artistic ambition continue to resonate with critical audiences and eventually find broader viewership.
The film serves as a reminder that Rotten Tomatoes scores reflect professional judgment at a moment in time, but that judgment often holds meaningful information for audiences seeking films that deliver something beyond conventional entertainment.
Conclusion
The Menu’s 88% Rotten Tomatoes critics score represents genuine critical achievement, reflecting widespread professional recognition of an ambitious psychological thriller that executes its vision with skill and consistency. The 76% audience score indicates that while general viewers found value in the film, critics appreciated its darkness and artistic risk-taking more enthusiastically.
These scores together provide a complete picture: a film that professionals respect and that appeals to audiences willing to engage with psychological discomfort.
If you’re considering watching The Menu, the Rotten Tomatoes scores offer useful guidance, but understanding the nuance matters. The 88% score means critics found this a well-crafted, engaging film worthy of attention—not that it’s universally enjoyable or conventional entertainment.
The fact that it has become a Netflix hit in 2026 suggests that over time, quality work finds audiences who appreciate exactly what critics recognized: a film with something substantive to say and the craft to say it effectively.
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