The Accountant 2 Rotten Tomatoes Debut Is A Major Improvement Over The First Movie

The Accountant 2

has debuted on Rotten Tomatoes, and the score is big jump up from the first film. Directed Gavin O’Connor, who also directed the original, the upcoming sequel to 2016’s The Accountant features Ben Affleck back in action as Christian Wolff, a neurodivergent math savant who this time uses his skills to uncover a conspiracy surrounding a Treasury chief’s murder. The original movie earned mixed reviews from critics, but The Accountant 2‘s story is set to make some major changes, including giving Jon Bernthal’s Braxton a much bigger role.

With reviews now emerging online, Rotten Tomatoes reveals that The Accountant 2 has debuted to an impressive 86% score from 22 reviews, as of writing. Though this score is likely to change as more reviews are added, it is currently far ahead of the original movie, which has lackluster 53% score. Though an audience-driven Popcornmeter score won’t arrive for the sequel until its release in theaters on April 25, the original movie fared well here, sporting a 77%.

The Accountant Franchise Rotten Tomatoes Scores
тιтle	RT Critics’ Score	RT Popcornmeter
The Accountant	53%	77%
The Accountant 2	86%	TBD

What The Accountant 2’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Movie

Why Reviews Are So Much More Positive For The Sequel

Jon Bernthal talks to a H๏τel attendant through a pariтιтion in The Accountant 2

Where the original movie was criticized for being somewhat haphazard in its execution, with a collection of story elements not always coming together, The Accountant 2 seems to make some compelling changes. Instead of being overly self-serious, the sequel is said to lean into the brotherly dynamic between Christian and Brax, and this adds a needed degree of playfulness on top of all the bloodshed. As Graeme Guttman writes in his positive The Accountant 2 review for ScreenRant:

It’s all very unexpected and if you go into the film thinking you’ll be getting a straightforward action movie, you may be disappointed. But if, like me, you enjoyed the first movie because of its idiosyncratic tone and didn’t mind that it was a little light on action, then I have some good news for you.

Though the first Accountant was met with mixed reviews, it was a success at the box office. Made on a budget of $44 million, the film went on to gross $155 million worldwide before then developing something of a cult following on streaming in the years afterwards. It’s not clear what The Accountant 2‘s budget is, but it’s likely a tad higher than the original. With positive reviews rolling in, though, and a strong showing on Rotten Tomatoes, it could end up faring well with audiences and benefiting from word-of-mouth.

Though Anna Kendrick plays an important role in The Accountant‘s cast, she doesn’t return in the sequel.

Our Take On The Accountant 2’s Rotten Tomatoes Score

The Sequel Has The Makings Of A Crowd-Pleaser

Jon Bernthal and Ben Affleck in formation carrying guns in military uniforms in The Accountant 2

Sometimes, critics and audiences just don’t see eye-to-eye. It’s entirely possible that this will be the case with The Accountant 2 due to the changes from the original movie. From the sound of things, though, the changes work to make the sequel more of a crowd-pleaser than anything else, and the audience score may actually end up beating the first movie’s 77%.

Whether this translates into box office success, however, remains to be seen. Affleck remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable movie stars, and Bernthal is quickly developing quite a following himself. With The Accountant 2 making the most of the pair’s on-screen chemistry while also delivering some strong action, the sequel does seem poised for success.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes