After the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other superhero movies dominated box offices throughout the 2010s, they have lost some of their shine in the 2020s. Avengers: Endgame (2019) closed out the decade, providing a definitive ending for several major Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, and the DC Universe is in the midst of a major reboot.

Some superhero movies have still succeeded in the post-pandemic landscape. The Batman (2022), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) all excelled in theaters, proving that there is still an appeтιтe for the genre. More recently, however, films like Captain America: Brave New World (2025) have proven to be both critically and commercially underwhelming.

With audiences no longer clamoring over every superhero release, studios have been forced to consider quality above all else. Critical and audience reactions are more important than ever before, which is why many viewers look to Rotten Tomatoes for insight into a movie’s quality. Fortunately, one new superhero movie is enjoying strong reviews.

Toxic Avenger Has A Solid RT Score

The Toxic Avenger is already impressing critics and audiences alike. Led by Peter Dinklage, the R-rated movie serves as a reboot of the original 1984 series and follows Dinklage’s Winston Gooze as he transforms into a terrifying monster. It was released on August 29 and is now playing in theaters.

Dinklage stars alongside other prominent actors, including Jacob Tremblay (Wade), Kevin Bacon (Bob), Elijah Wood (Fritz), and Taylour Paige (J.J.). Macon Blair, who previously worked on I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017), serves as director and writer. The movie is distributed by Cineverse and Iconic Events Releasing.

While it has been struggling at the box office, The Toxic Avenger is thriving on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It impressed critics enough to earn an 83% Tomatometer score, while audiences offered an equally favorable 86% Popcornmeter score. These ratings may continue to change as more viewers report their initial reactions.

What This Means For The Toxic Avenger

Critics generally praised The Toxic Avenger‘s absurd narrative, strong sense of humor, and unimpeachable love for its source material. Dinklage’s performance has also earned acclaim, as critics report that he is just as skilled with comedy as he is with drama. There are some negative reviews, but even they acknowledge that Toxic Avenger certainly accomplishes its goals.

Still, the movie has proven divisive, as early screenings reportedly saw widespread walkouts. There is clearly an appeтιтe for this production, however, even if it is not necessarily for everyone. It should lead to positive word-of-mouth promotion, which is essential after the opening weekend saw it earn just $755,000 on Friday.

The Toxic Avenger desperately needs to prove that it is capable of drawing audiences if it hopes to eventually achieve profitability. These responses indicate that this relatively underrated superhero comedy could succeed, but everything will depend on its long-term performance.