Is War of the Worlds starring Ice Cube really one of the worst films ever?

Film critics have delivered a verdict: the new version of War of the Worlds – which stars Ice Cube as a man who must save humanity from an alien invasion without leaving his desk – is bad.

But how bad? Is it just "the worst possible adaptation of HG Wells's work", external? Is it "one of the worst movies of the decade so far", external? Or might it actually be "one of the worst movies ever made", external?

When the reviews started coming in this week, the internet soon took delight in the film's 0% critic score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

While some gleefully joined in the mauling, others were attracted to the Prime Video film like moths to a flame.

"I feel like I have to watch this now," wrote The White Lotus actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, external, who, as the son of Arnold, has perhaps encountered the odd low-ranking movie.

He's not the only person to feel the lure of a film with savage reviews - some terrible movies have built cult followings for being so bad they're good.