“Clayface” now holds the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of any solo Batman villain movie, a record CBR first flagged when the film’s reviews went live. The R-rated DC horror film opened in theaters Oct. 23 and has since climbed to a Certified Fresh 76% from more than 150 critics, according to Screen Rant.
That number leaves a string of Batman villain spinoffs in the rearview mirror. The 2004 “Catwoman,” long considered one of the genre’s low points, sits at 8%. “Joker: Folie à Deux” fared little better at 31%, and even the billion-dollar “Joker” topped out at 68%. Within DC Studios’ own lineup, “Clayface” also clears this year’s “Supergirl” (52%), though it still trails James Gunn’s “Superman” (83%).
How “Clayface” set a Rotten Tomatoes record
The film debuted at 74% when the review embargo lifted, and audiences have been even kinder. Its Popcornmeter score sits at 94%, and opening-weekend crowds gave it an A- CinemaScore, CBR reported.
Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, a Gotham street kid turned rising Hollywood leading man whose career is wrecked when a crime boss disfigures him. Desperate, Hagen volunteers for an experimental treatment from scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) that turns his body to clay and loosens his grip on reality, setting him on a path toward revenge.
James Watkins directs from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, based on a story by Flanagan.
What critics are saying
Reviews range from mixed to largely favorable. The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck called the film “one of the year’s big surprises,” adding that “with its grimy visuals and pulpy dialogue redolent of comic books in the most evocative way, Clayface delivers the sort of psychological depth and emotional resonance that enable it to bear comparisons to the works of such body horror maestros as David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi.”
IGN said the film takes a while to find its groove but eventually delivers “nasty but fun body horror,” working best when it leans into its B-movie absurdity. The Telegraph wrote that “it cannot be overstated how much fun it is to soak up a film like this on what feels like its creators’ largely unhindered terms.” Slant called “Clayface” “a surprisingly sturdy, compelling horror-thriller” as a standalone film and “a stroke of brilliance” as a setup for a future Batman movie.
Not every outlet was as enthusiastic. USA Today’s Brian Truitt delivered a blunt four-word verdict: “A messy DC miss.” Truitt praised Harries and the effects work but argued the screenplay does almost nothing with Matt as a character.
Why the score stands out
Solo movies built around Batman’s rogues gallery have a rocky track record on Rotten Tomatoes. “Clayface” edges past “Joker” by eight points and leaves “Joker: Folie à Deux” and “Catwoman” far behind.
The film is also DC Studios’ first horror release and its first feature built around a villain. It arrives as James Gunn and Peter Safran stay on to lead the studio following Paramount’s deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Gunn has been one of the film’s loudest champions, [defending the project against a fan critic](ADD TAM LINK) on Threads earlier this month.
What’s next
“Clayface” is now playing in theaters. Its reception will likely shape how DC Studios approaches future villain-led and horror projects. Meanwhile, Matt Reeves’ “The Batman Part II,” which sits outside the DCU’s continuity, [temporarily paused production](ADD TAM LINK) earlier this month while Reeves tends to a family matter. The sequel is still dated for Feb. 18, 2028.
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