DC Just Set a Comic Book Villain Record Nobody Expected ‘Clayface’ To Break

Solo villain movies have a famously rough track record with critics, which is part of what made DC Studios’ latest swing feel like such a gamble. James Watkins’ R-rated body horror take on a second-tier Batman foe arrived with modest expectations, a comparatively small budget and a lead actor most audiences would struggle to name. The ‘Clayface’ Rotten Tomatoes score has upended that narrative entirely.

The run-up wasn’t smooth. A pre-embargo review from ComicBookMovie’s Josh Wilding scored the film 2.5 out of 5 and labeled it “DC’s Morbius moment,” a review Rotten Tomatoes briefly pulled before restoring it once the embargo lifted.

Once the full wave arrived, the picture changed. ‘Clayface’ debuted Fresh and currently sits at 77% on the Tomatometer from 94 reviews, making it the best-reviewed solo comic book villain movie to date and the only one in that category to earn a Certified Fresh designation.

The comparison set explains why the number stands out. ‘Joker’ holds 68%, while ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ sits at 31%, and the 2004 ‘Catwoman’ languishes at 8%. Within DC’s own current slate, it ranks high too. The film trails only ‘Superman’ at 83% and sits comfortably above ‘Supergirl’, which debuted at 57% back in June before finishing its run as the universe’s weakest performer.

New posters for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/2DA3HTeKUQ

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 7, 2026

The consensus centers on 2 things: the body horror and the lead performance. The Hollywood Reporter called it one of the year’s biggest surprises, saying its grimy visuals and pulpy dialogue deliver psychological depth that invites comparisons to body horror maestros like David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi.

Time Out went further, awarding 4 out of 5 stars and describing it as one of the ickiest body horrors since ‘The Substance’. The review praised how Watkins keeps viewers guessing whether Matt Hagen is redeemable, arguing he sticks the landing better than ‘Venom’ or ‘Joker’ managed.

Variety was similarly warm, calling it good, gross fun that plays as an enjoyable one-off requiring no franchise homework, and noting its debt to cartoonish 1990s horror like ‘Darkman’ and ‘Thinner’.

Not everyone is convinced, and the 23% rotten share is real. IndieWire’s Kate Erbland called it a gross miscalculation, writing that the film confounds more than it compels despite admiring Watkins’ commitment to full body horror.

The final trailer for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’ has been released. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ecTMB97Sto

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 24, 2026

Empire landed in the middle at 3 out of 5. Critic Sophie Butcher wrote that while the film disappoints with its lack of depth, it absolutely delivers a strong lead performance and buckets of bloodthirsty body horror.

Even the harshest reviews agree on one point. Tom Rhys Harries, the Welsh actor making his major leading role debut as Matt Hagen, is consistently singled out as the film’s strongest element, with critics praising how he conveys genuine pathos beneath heavy makeup and VFX.

The irony is that strong reviews arrive alongside soft commercial tracking. Projections have ranged widely, with presale data pointing toward an $18 million to $20 million opening against competing forecasts of $25 million to $30 million.

International results haven’t helped build momentum, with the film opening 7th in Italy, outside the top 5 in France, and third in South Korea. The economics remain forgiving, though. Running 1 hour and 48 minutes with a reported $40 million budget, the film comes from screenwriters Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn and Peter Safran producing.

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