‘Clayface’ Audience Score Is In, and Moviegoers Are Loving DC’s Horror Gamble Even More Than Critics
DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’ has had quite the rollercoaster week, and the arrival of its audience score might be the most important twist yet. The R-rated body horror film, directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, officially opens in theaters today after a buildup filled with mixed signals. Presales set off alarms, the film opened below ‘Supergirl’ in early overseas markets, and some DC fans even called for boycotts over the ‘Lanterns’ finale.
Critics, at least, gave the film a solid foundation. When the review embargo lifted on October 21, ‘Clayface’ debuted in the low-to-mid 70s on Rotten Tomatoes, eventually climbing to a Certified Fresh 76% from 116 reviews. That puts it comfortably ahead of ‘Supergirl’ at 52%, though still behind ‘Superman’ at 83%.
Now, paying moviegoers are weighing in, and they’re far more enthusiastic. The ‘Clayface’ Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes currently sits at 94% based on more than 250 verified ratings, after initially debuting at 95%. The score reflects the percentage of verified ticket buyers who rated the film 3.5 stars or higher.
That’s a remarkable jump from the critical consensus. Fans who caught early screenings have praised the cast and the film’s ambition, with some calling it the best DC movie in quite a while.
The contrast with DC’s previous release is hard to miss. After its June debut, ‘Supergirl’ landed a Popcornmeter score in the mid-to-high 70s from more than 500 verified ratings, which fans at the time saw as proof that audiences liked it more than critics did. ‘Clayface’ has now leapfrogged that result by a wide margin.
The final trailer for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’ has been released. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ecTMB97Sto
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 24, 2026
It also lines up with other early audience indicators. On Letterboxd, ‘Clayface’ debuted with a 3.7 out of 5 average, which would place it behind only ‘The Batman’ and ‘Superman’ among DC releases this decade.
Not every reviewer was fully won over. Austin Chronicle critic Richard Whittaker gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, noting that it never reaches the cerebral complexity of David Cronenberg’s work but also doesn’t aim that high, while The Reveal’s Keith Phipps settled on 2.5 out of 5. Other critics have described the film as both crowd-pleasing and uneven.
New posters for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/2DA3HTeKUQ
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 7, 2026
That gap between critics and audiences isn’t unusual for genre fare, and in this case it could work heavily in DC’s favor. Horror films often rely on walk-up business and strong word of mouth, especially when released right before Halloween.
The timing couldn’t be better for a boost. ‘Clayface’ earned an estimated $3.5 million from Thursday previews, beating ‘Kraven the Hunter’ and coming close to ‘Birds of Prey’, with Deadline forecasting a domestic opening between $20 million and $25 million. The film also faces stiff competition from A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary ‘You Can See Everything’.
With a production budget of $44 million, ‘Clayface’ doesn’t need blockbuster numbers to succeed. A near-perfect audience score could help it hold steady in the weeks ahead and turn a cautious start into a genuine win for DC Studios.
‘Clayface’ was always meant to be a different kind of DC movie, trading big superhero spectacle for intimate, gruesome horror. Early audience reactions suggest the gamble is paying off with the people buying tickets. If the score holds as more viewers weigh in, the film could prove that smaller, genre-driven stories have a real place in the DC Universe.
Do you think Clayface deserves its impressive 94% Rotten Tomatoes audience score?
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