The most expensive Netflix movie ever drops this week and it has a big problem

Netflix releases its biggest movie ever this week, but in spite of big name directors, huge stars, and a gigantic budget, the film has a major problem.

Netflix is no stranger to huge movie budgets, with the star-studded likes of The Gray Man and Red Notice both costing £200 million apiece.

But new sci-fi epic The Electric State isn’t just the streamer’s biggest movie, it’s one of the most expensive films of all time, with an estimated budget of $320 million.

There’s much riding on the success of this story about a war between robots and humans, but early word suggests the film isn’t great.

The Electric State has a terrible Rotten Tomatoes score

Netflix

The Electric State currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 23%, based off of 22 reviews, meaning critics aren’t liking the movie, and we here at Dexerto concur.

The embargo lifted last week, and we gave the movie 2/5, calling it a “flawed Netflix blockbuster,” and writing in our Electric State review: “With the emotional core missing, action and visuals uninspired, the hero miscast, and the villain plain dull, Electric State is a missed opportunity that frequently drags. Which is sad as the talent, money, and ideas are there for something more fun.”

The talent we’re referring to is the Russo brothers behind the camera, whose previous directing credits include Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

Their last Netflix movie – The Gray Man – scored just 45% with the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but achieved an audience total of 90%.

As for the talent in front of camera, that’s Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown, but while we liked the former’s performance, we though the latter was miscast, saying the Stranger Things star “struggles to make Michelle’s familial scenes work, and is unconvincing as a revolutionary leader in the film’s second half, when a series of inspiring speeches fall flat.”

You can make your own mind up when The Electric State drops on March 14, 2025. For more on the streamer, here’s our list of the Best thrillers on Netflix, and new Netflix shows to stream this month.