Thescreescore – The latest cinematic venture for the beloved, nearly nine-decade-old animated duo, Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass, has stumbled out of the gate, registering an unprecedented 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. This abysmal critical reception establishes a new, unwelcome benchmark for the venerable franchise, marking its lowest score ever on the aggregate review platform.
This particular installment, a collaborative effort between Chinese and American production houses with Warner Bros. Pictures’ involvement, breaks new ground as the first entirely computer-animated feature in the Tom and Jerry canon. Helmed by first-time feature director and writer Zhang Gang, the film transports the legendary cat and mouse to a fantastical realm inspired by Chinese mythology. It represents only the third time the characters have graced the big screen, following 1992’s Tom and Jerry: The Movie and the 2021 live-action/animation hybrid, Tom & Jerry, which notably starred Chloë Grace Moretz.
With ten professional reviews tallied, the Tomatometer currently sits at a stark zero. While this figure could adjust with additional critiques, the initial consensus paints a grim picture. Many reviewers assigned low-to-middling grades like a ‘C’ or ‘2 out of 5,’ yet several critics delivered the harshest possible verdicts, including an ‘F’ from InSession Film’s Jacob Mauceri and a ‘1 out of 5’ from Empire Magazine’s Helen O’Hara. This 0% score not only signifies a critical nadir but also surpasses the poor showings of its theatrical predecessors, which garnered 14% and 29% respectively. The franchise’s extensive direct-to-video catalog, however, remains unrated by Rotten Tomatoes.
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While the critical drubbing is undeniable, Forbidden Compass found slightly more favor with audiences, earning a 38% "Rotten" score on the Popcornmeter from over 50 verified ticket purchasers. Although a modest improvement over the critics’ assessment, this audience score still represents a franchise low for theatrical releases, falling short of the 1992 film’s 41% and significantly behind the 2021 iteration’s respectable 82% – the only "Fresh" audience score among the trio.
The film’s theatrical performance mirrored its critical reception. During its opening weekend, Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass struggled to gross a mere $265,104 across 850 domestic theaters, placing it at a disappointing No. 21. Its per-screen average of just $311 was alarmingly low, ranking among the worst for a new domestic release.
The dual blows of critical scorn and commercial underperformance cast a long shadow over the future of the Tom and Jerry theatrical brand. Nevertheless, whispers of an English-language feature persist. Reports from 2024 indicated that Warner Bros. Pictures Animation was developing a new project, with a screenplay reportedly being crafted by Oscar-winner Michael Govier (If Anything Happens I Love You), Will McCormack (The Invite), and Parks and Recreation alum Rashida Jones. Thescreescore.com will continue to monitor developments on this evolving story.
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