Thescreescore – Veteran action star Liam Neeson’s latest cinematic endeavor, The Fix, a high-stakes CIA thriller, has premiered to a remarkably dismal reception from critics, marking one of the lowest points in his extensive career on the Rotten Tomatoes aggregation platform. Released on the poignant 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the film, co-starring Zachary Levi, has struggled to find favor with reviewers, securing a mere 14% critic score. This unexpectedly harsh appraisal places The Fix firmly among Neeson’s least acclaimed projects, raising questions about the future trajectory of his action-oriented filmography.
Helmed by director Guy Moshe, The Fix plunges audiences into a narrative where Neeson and Levi portray former CIA operatives. Their mission: to lead a specialized team into the heart of Tehran, navigating the treacherous aftermath of a botched operation in Afghanistan. The ensemble cast also features talents such as Quincy Isaiah, Wes Chatham, Jake Choi, Augusto Aguilera, Elnaaz Norouzi, Navid Negahban, Grant Harvey, Lara Wolf, and Titus Welliver, all contributing to this espionage saga.
The critical consensus has been overwhelmingly negative, lambasting The Fix for its perceived narrative shortcomings and execution flaws. Reviewers have widely characterized the film as "preposterous," "bland," and "manipulative," with many citing its excessive runtime and an abundance of "ridiculous plot twists" as significant detriments. Beyond the convoluted storyline, the screenplay itself and several casting choices have drawn sharp criticism. Notably, Zachary Levi’s performance has been frequently singled out as a particular lowlight, with some critics suggesting he was fundamentally miscast for the role. While formal audience scores are still developing, early viewer reactions appear somewhat more forgiving than the professional critics, with some praising the action sequences and suspense, though concerns about the film’s length and Neeson’s own performance remain mixed.
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This 14% Rotten Tomatoes score positions The Fix as the fourth-lowest-rated film in Neeson’s career, a stark contrast to his celebrated works. The unfortunate distinction of his absolute lowest-rated film belongs to 2022’s Blacklight, which garnered an abysmal 11% and proved to be a box office disappointment. Preceding The Fix in this unenviable ranking are the animated feature The Nut Job (12%) and the third installment of his iconic action franchise, Taken 3 (13%). Further down this list of critical misses are The Other Man (16%), Ice Road: Vengeance (16%), The Haunting (17%), Taken 2 (22%), Men in Black: International (23%), and After.Life (24%).
Such a critical drubbing stands in stark opposition to the pinnacle of Neeson’s filmography. His highest-rated narrative feature remains Steven Spielberg’s monumental Schindler’s List, which boasts an almost perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, earning him Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations. Other highly praised films include The Lego Movie (96%), Ordinary Love (93%), Husbands and Wives (93%), Widows (91%), Ponyo (91%), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (90%), Kinsey (90%), The Naked Gun (88%), and A Monster Calls (86%). These diverse projects underscore the breadth of Neeson’s talent when paired with compelling scripts and strong direction.
The Fix marks Neeson’s second release of 2026, following the horror-comedy Cold Storage, which, conversely, enjoyed a positive critical reception with an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score for its unique premise involving a parasitic fungus. Throughout his illustrious career, Neeson has left an indelible mark on cinema, starring in iconic roles across various genres, from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Batman Begins to Excalibur, Gangs of New York, Love Actually, and The Chronicles of Narnia. While The Fix may not ascend to the heights of his most revered performances, the prolific actor is already set to return to the action genre with The Mongoose, an action thriller slated for an October 30 release, offering another opportunity to captivate audiences and critics alike.
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