Netflix fans have threatened to cancel their subscriptions after the streamer added 'the worst film ever made'. Cats, the 2019 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, joined Netflix on Tuesday (January 16).
The premise of a live-action Cats movie was initially rather promising. It saw ballet dancer Francesca Hayward make her on-screen debut as protagonist Victoria the White Cat, supported by a star-studded cast including James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson and even Taylor Swift.
But Cats was a box office flop, grossing a worldwide total of $74.6 million against a production budget of about $95 million. Directed by Tom Hooper - as the follow-up to 2012's Les Misérables, his musical debut - it was dubbed the worst film ever made by critics.
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Its unusual CGI, human-cat hybrids, its editing style and the screenplay itself appeared to be the film's biggest let-downs. Being scored just 19% by Rotten Tomatoes critics, their consensus reads: "Despite its fur-midable cast, this Cats adaptation is a clawful mistake that will leave most viewers begging to be put out of their mew-sery".
Daniel Howat from Next Best Picture wrote: "At best, it’s an ambitious misfire. At worst, it’s straight-up nightmare fuel that will haunt generations" as Lonita Cook of KCTV5 News at 9 added: "No disrespect to people who love this musical, this is the worst movie of the year... next year too."
Netflix took to social media to share that the film was now streaming. Posting the trailer to X, formerly Twitter, the official Netflix account said: "CATS. It's now on Netflix." A flurry of fans threatened to cancel their memberships, with many questioning why the site added such a flop to its catalogue.
Sharing a screenshot of the membership cancellation screen, @jordanjwoodson wrote: "Final straw" as @jeremyyrayy92 echoed: "definitely cancelling my subscription now". @incertusveritas reckoned: "You shouldn't of posted this, this movie is a good reason to cancel your services."
@lennonswift said: "not a single person asked for this" while @NickLombardiSK quipped: "For once, I'm happy you guys stopped password sharing". @Brenduhhh1329 wrote: "I watched this for the first time last night and if and when I see Andrew [Lloyd] Webber, I’ll hug him. Poor guy. Absolutely one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen."
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Taylor Swift fans also complained, with Cats joining the platform not long after the star's 2018 Reputation Tour film was removed. @erincuo18 wrote: "you take away rep tour and give us THIS???????" as @dearantihero cried: "they removed rep stadium tour and replaced it with this omg".
Cats is one of many films new to Netflix this January. Other additions include Kevin Hart's Lift - which hasn't received the best feedback despite being the site's most-watched film this week - and Dan Levy's heart-wrenching Good Grief, which has left viewers bawling.
Australian drama Boy Swallows Universe, Harlan Coben thriller Fool Me Once - starring Michelle Keegan - and true crime docu-series American Nightmare also joined the streamer.
Cats is now streaming on Netflix.
