Movies That Were Aggressively Review-Bombed for Featuring Unexpected Same-Sex Kisses

The phenomenon of review bombing has become a frequent occurrence in the entertainment industry, often targeting films that feature diverse representation. This practice involves groups of individuals coordinating to lower a movie’s audience score on platforms like IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, regardless of whether they have watched the film. In recent years, several high-profile releases have faced significant backlash for including same-sex kisses or romantic subplots. These campaigns often cite the inclusion of these scenes as the primary reason for their negative feedback. The following titles represent some of the most prominent examples of movies that were aggressively review-bombed for featuring such moments.

‘Lightyear’ (2022)

Pixar’s sci-fi adventure faced a wave of low ratings on audience-led platforms before many viewers had even seen the film. The backlash centered on a brief kiss between the character Alisha Hawthorne and her wife during a montage of her life. This sequence led to the film being banned in several countries across the Middle East and Asia. Critics noted that the review-bombing campaign was highly organized on social media platforms to lower the movie’s visibility. Despite the controversy, the scene remained in the theatrical cut to preserve the integrity of the character’s story.

‘Eternals’ (2021)

This Marvel Cinematic Universe entry was targeted by review bombers weeks before its official theatrical debut. The controversy stemmed from the inclusion of the franchise’s first gay superhero, Phastos, and a scene featuring a kiss with his husband. On IMDb, the film’s rating was flooded with thousands of one-star reviews specifically mentioning the character’s sexuality. The platform was eventually forced to remove the suspicious ratings to restore a more accurate audience score. This film marked a significant step in representation for the superhero genre despite the coordinated efforts to diminish its reception.

‘Strange World’ (2022)

Disney’s ‘Strange World’ follows an explorer family and features a teenage protagonist named Ethan who has a crush on another boy. The film includes scenes where Ethan discusses his feelings and shares a moment of affection with his love interest. Following its release, the movie was met with an influx of negative audience reviews that specifically pointed to the inclusion of this romantic subplot. These review-bombing efforts coincided with the film’s struggle at the domestic box office during its opening weekend. Despite the backlash, the film was commended by various advocacy groups for its naturalistic approach to LGBTQ+ characters in animation.

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)

The final installment of the sequel trilogy included a brief celebration scene featuring a kiss between two female Resistance members. This moment marked the first time a same-sex kiss was shown in the live-action ‘Star Wars’ cinematic history. Shortly after its release, the film was targeted by users on audience rating sites who expressed dissatisfaction with this inclusion. While some critics found the scene too fleeting, the review-bombing efforts focused on the perceived “agenda” of the production. The film ultimately received a polarized reception from the fanbase for a variety of narrative choices.

‘Bros’ (2022)

This romantic comedy made headlines for being the first gay rom-com from a major studio to feature an all-LGBTQ+ principal cast. Despite receiving positive reviews from professional critics, the film was aggressively review-bombed on IMDb before it reached wide release. Thousands of one-star ratings were submitted, many of which targeted the film’s central romance and physical displays of affection. Lead actor Billy Eichner publicly addressed the discrepancy between the critical reception and the audience scores on social media. The film remains a notable example of how marketing for inclusive content can trigger coordinated negative rating campaigns.

‘The Old Guard’ (2020)

This Netflix action film features a profound romantic relationship between two immortal warriors named Joe and Nicky. Their mid-movie kiss and declaration of love became a focal point for coordinated negative reviews on several entertainment databases. Some viewers reacted poorly to the explicit nature of their romance in an otherwise traditional action setting. Despite this, the scene was praised by critics for its emotional depth and the chemistry between the actors. ‘The Old Guard’ went on to become one of the most-watched original films on the platform during its release year.

‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (2022)

This Marvel sequel includes several moments of LGBTQ+ representation, including a brief scene where the character Korg finds a male partner. The revelation of Korg’s sexuality and a later scene involving his species’ unique way of bonding triggered a wave of low audience scores. Users on platforms like IMDb flooded the film with one-star ratings citing these creative choices as a primary reason for their score. The film also features a plot point regarding Valkyrie’s past relationship with another woman. These elements contributed to the movie becoming a target for review-bombing campaigns shortly after its release.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)

This entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe briefly features a relationship between the Dora Milaje members Ayo and Aneka. The film concludes with a moment of affection between the two women, confirming their romantic status within the franchise. This scene led to targeted review-bombing on various international and domestic rating sites. Some viewers expressed their disapproval of the inclusion of the couple in the superhero narrative. However, the film remained a critical and commercial success, earning multiple Academy Award nominations.

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)

This Academy Award-winning film features a central conflict between a mother and her daughter, Joy, who is in a same-sex relationship. A specific sequence involving an intimate moment between two characters in a parallel universe was frequently cited in coordinated negative reviews. The film faced targeted rating attacks on several platforms, with some users criticizing its depiction of non-traditional lifestyles. Despite these efforts, ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ received overwhelming critical acclaim and commercial success. The review-bombing campaign was eventually overshadowed by the film’s significant cultural impact and awards season sweep.

‘Happiest Season’ (2020)

This holiday rom-com starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis focuses on a woman planning to propose to her girlfriend during a family Christmas gathering. The film’s central same-sex romance and several kissing scenes were the primary targets of an aggressive review-bombing campaign on IMDb. Many of the negative reviews were posted before the film was widely available to the general public. Critics praised ‘Happiest Season’ for its modern take on the classic holiday movie formula. The film’s audience score continues to reflect a significant divide between casual viewers and coordinated rating groups.

‘Fire Island’ (2022)

Inspired by Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, this film follows a group of gay friends on a vacation. The movie features numerous scenes of same-sex affection and romantic encounters between its lead characters. Upon its release on streaming platforms, it was met with a surge of one-star reviews that focused on the film’s sexual orientation-based themes. These reviews often appeared in clusters, suggesting a coordinated effort to lower the film’s overall rating. Critics, however, lauded ‘Fire Island’ for its sharp script and modern interpretation of classic literature.

‘The Color Purple’ (2023)

This musical adaptation of the classic novel explores the deep romantic and emotional bond between the characters Celie and Shug Avery. The inclusion of a kiss between the two women became a point of controversy for some audiences who were familiar with previous versions of the story. Shortly after its theatrical debut, the film’s IMDb page was flooded with low ratings from users objecting to the romantic nature of their relationship. This coordinated campaign aimed to lower the movie’s visibility and audience score during its holiday release window. Production members and critics alike defended the choice as being faithful to the original source material.

‘Bottoms’ (2023)

This satirical teen comedy centers on two unpopular girls who start a fight club to lose their virginities to cheerleaders. The film’s focus on queer female desire and its multiple same-sex kissing scenes made it a target for review-bombing on various movie databases. Coordinated groups of users posted negative feedback that specifically criticized the film’s themes and comedic tone. Despite the backlash from certain demographics, the movie was a hit with younger audiences and received positive marks from professional reviewers. ‘Bottoms’ has since gained a cult following for its irreverent and unapologetic storytelling.

‘Booksmart’ (2019)

The directorial debut of Olivia Wilde features a protagonist named Amy who navigates her first major high school crush. A pivotal scene involving a kiss between Amy and her love interest was met with some targeted low ratings on audience platforms. Critics praised the film’s representation, but certain audience scores reflected an effort to lower its average based on the romantic content. This coming-of-age story was notable for its authentic portrayal of teenage friendship and queer identity. The film remains highly regarded by critics despite the initial attempts at review bombing.

‘Crush’ (2022)

As a teen romantic comedy, ‘Crush’ follows a high school student who joins the track team to get closer to her long-time crush. The film features several same-sex kisses as part of its central coming-of-age narrative. Immediately following its release, the film’s audience scores on various platforms were hit by a wave of one-star ratings. Many of these negative comments were directed at the film’s LGBTQ+ themes rather than its actual production quality. The movie has been noted by fans for its wholesome and positive representation of queer youth in a traditional genre.

‘The Prom’ (2020)

This musical adaptation directed by Ryan Murphy centers on a high school student who is barred from bringing her girlfriend to the dance. The film’s culminating kiss and celebration of same-sex love led to a surge of negative audience reviews on major rating aggregators. These reviewers often critiqued the film’s themes rather than its technical or artistic merits. ‘The Prom’ features a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. The discrepancy between critical praise and audience scores highlighted a targeted effort to diminish its standing among holiday releases.

Please share your thoughts on how review bombing affects your movie-watching choices in the comments.