Jennifer Lawrence is no stranger to sparking a conversation, but her latest film has the internet—and theater seats—more divided than ever.
The Oscar winner’s new psychological thriller, Die, My Love, officially hit theaters recently, and the reception is giving fans major flashbacks to her most controversial roles. While critics are praising the film as a masterpiece, general audiences are having a much harder time digesting the dark material.
The film, directed by Lynne Ramsay and based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel, features Lawrence as Grace, a woman whose mental health begins to unravel under the pressures of marriage and motherhood in rural America.
Since its high-profile premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Die, My Love has maintained a respectable % critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, now that the public has weighed in, the numbers tell a very different story.
With over verified ratings in, the audience score currently sits at a rocky %. This marks Lawrence’s lowest audience rating in seven years, even dipping below ’s spy thriller Red Sparrow, which held a %.
To make matters even more intense, the film earned a D+ CinemaScore. For those not in the know, a D-range score from opening-night audiences usually signals that a movie is “divisive” or deeply uncomfortable for the average moviegoer.
The viral reaction on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok has been a mix of confusion and awe. “I walked out feeling like I needed a three-hour nap and a therapy session,” one moviegoer joked in a viral TikTok review. “It’s beautiful but so, so stressful.”
Other fans have been quick to compare the film to ‘s mother!, another Lawrence project that famously split the public down the middle. In fact, many industry pundits are calling Die, My Love a “spiritual companion” to that Darren Aronofsky nightmare.
Critics, however, are begging audiences to stick with it. ScreenRant’s Graeme Guttman gave the film a glowing out of stars, calling it “strikingly beautiful.” He praised Lawrence and Ramsay for their “willingness to lay it all bare and show a harsher side to love and motherhood.”
Despite the low audience score, there is one thing everyone seems to agree on: the acting is top-tier. Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson deliver powerhouse performances that have already sparked major awards buzz.
Lawrence, who already has a Best Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, is being hailed for her “psychotic unraveling” on screen. She has already snagged nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and the Gotham Awards for the role.
The star-studded cast doesn’t stop with the lead duo, either. The film also features heavyweights like Sissy Spacek, LaKeith Stanfield, and Nick Nolte, adding even more prestige to the gritty production.
So, is it a misunderstood work of art or just too much to handle? Only you can decide.
Die, My Love is now playing in theaters.
