Ice Cream Man receives abysmal Rotten Tomatoes rating

The horror film "Ice Cream Man," directed by Eli Roth, is set for a nationwide theatrical release on Friday, August 7, 2026, following preview screenings on Thursday, August 6. The movie has already garnered significant attention, not only for its premise of an ice cream vendor whose treats transform children into murderous beings but also for its overwhelmingly negative critical reception ahead of its debut.

As of Tuesday, August 4, the film holds a low score on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, with early reviews painting a dismal picture. Critics have widely panned the film, with many individual scores falling at 3 out of 10 or lower. Reviewers have criticized the film for lacking tension and meaningful impact despite its graphic violence, with one noting the violence has a "goofy weightlessness" and another calling the social commentary attempts as consistent as "soft serve." If the score remains low, it would rank among the worst-reviewed major horror releases of the year and mark Roth's third lowest-rated film as a director.

The controversy extends beyond critical appraisal. The film has faced significant backlash on social media, where some users have advocated...