Why You Should Watch One of the Worst Movies of 2025 According to Rotten Tomatoes

Movies with a 6% rating are usually only recommended as a form of punishment. But "The Ritual" turned out to be a rare exception to this rule.

I checked the 2025 movie premieres rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was surprised to see that critics absolutely demolished this film with negative reviews. But audiences — the ones who watch movies for emotions, not metaphors — gave it a 64% rating. And that's reason enough not to pass it by.

What's the movie about?

Director David Middell, according to Wikipedia, based the film on a true story: two priests, Theophilus Riesinger (Pacino) and Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens), perform a series of exorcisms to save a possessed girl named Emma.

Why it's worth watching

Without unnecessary drama or maxed-out special effects — "The Ritual" relies on acting, tension, and religious drama rather than jarring editing tricks.

Actor Al Pacino in glasses and a black hoodie looks to the side with his mouth open — Frame from the movie "The Ritual"

Al Pacino, as befits a legend, doesn't put on a show — his Theophilus isn't an action hero, but an elderly priest who looks evil in the eye with dignity. Dan Stevens, his spiritual antagonist but ally in purpose, shows doubt, fear, exhaustion — everything a person should experience when facing something he didn't fully believe in.

And yes, the film doesn't scare like a standard horror movie. But it keeps you on edge like a good confession. Because what matters here isn't a demon with sharp teeth, but the inner struggle of people who put someone else's soul above their own comfort, notes film critic Osiah Rupprecht from Pauline Media Studies.

This is a rare case where horror isn't for entertainment, but for reflection.

This movie isn't a failure

"The Ritual" doesn't flash around or assault your eyes. It frightens with silence, pauses, and what's left unsaid. Sure, it lacks dynamism. Yes, the supporting characters are underdeveloped. But overall — this isn't the failure critics claim it is. This is a movie that got labeled simply because it doesn't scare like, say, "The Conjuring."

I suggest forming your own opinion. Don't let critics decide for you. After all, even the most critically panned film might end up being your favorite. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered what critics and audiences are saying about the "How to Train Your Dragon" remake. Spoiler: it's not all good news.