Few predicted that Colleen Hoover’s latest film adaptation would turn out as divisive as Regretting You has proved since its October 2025 release. The film, based on Hoover’s bestselling 2019 novel and directed by Josh Boone, aimed to capture Hoover’s signature blend of romance and family drama.
However, the Rotten Tomatoes score quickly became the talk of entertainment news. With a paltry 18% critic rating, Regretting You stands as a dramatic downgrade compared to It Ends With Us, which secured a considerably stronger 54% on the same platform.
For a writer whose books dominate TikTok and bestseller lists, such a noticeable drop has both critics and fans asking tough questions about the adaptation pipeline.
The movie’s premise offers plenty of dramatic material. Morgan Grant (played by Allison Williams) and her daughter Clara (McKenna Grace) are left reeling after the tragic deaths of Morgan’s husband and her sister.
The story quickly unfolds into a tense, emotionally fraught journey involving betrayal, secrets, and the difficult process of rebuilding familial trust. But reviewers agree that, despite sincere attempts, Susan McMartin’s screenplay adaptation and Boone’s direction failed to bring depth or originality to the melodrama.
Roger Ebert’s analysis called out the film’s “cheaply melodramatic” tone and lack of convincing performances, with critics describing many scenes as either overly dramatic or unintentionally comedic.
While It Ends With Us was also a lightning rod for debate, praised by some and critiqued by others for its depiction of trauma and healing, it managed to find a balanced emotional resonance that Regretting You sorely misses.
Blake Lively’s performance in the earlier film was widely seen as a stabilizing force, lifting a story that risked falling into cliché. In contrast, Allison Williams’s turn as Morgan is marked by intensity but lacks the quiet gravitas that made It Ends With Us memorable.
Mckenna Grace’s portrayal of Clara is more compelling but still hindered by formulaic storytelling and inconsistent pacing.
Tellingly, many critics and viewers have drawn a direct line between the two adaptations, suggesting that Regretting You exposes all the cracks in the formula that worked for It Ends With Us.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score three times lower, Regretting You’s launch is seen by many as the moment Hollywood will need to rethink its approach to the Hoover brand.
Critics and Fans Clash Over the Adaptation’s Merits
Nearly every major entertainment outlet weighed in as Regretting You ’s reviews started rolling in. Variety described the film as skirting the line between engaging soap opera and forgettable family melodrama but ultimately falling on the wrong side.
The New York Times echoed this, labeling it formulaic and making special note of writing that felt “goofy” and editing that didn’t do the story any favors. For many, the movie’s greatest attribute was its cast, which often managed to bring life to dull dialogue and convoluted character arcs.
Audience reaction tells another story. Some Rotten Tomatoes audience reviewers praised Regretting You for its faithfulness to the source material and the chemistry between Grace and Thames (who plays Clara’s love interest, Miller).
It Ends with Us (Credit: Netflix)
Fans on Reddit and the IMDb discussion boards found pockets of genuine emotion amid the melodrama, pointing to specific scenes like the hospital baby moment or tense family flashbacks as examples where Hoover’s narrative DNA shines through.
However, these moments rarely add up to a coherent film experience, and even loyal book fans found themselves wishing for a more daring adaptation.
There is also an undercurrent of concern that studios are chasing viral moments at the expense of credible filmmaking, risking adaptation burnout among a fan base notorious for championing flawed yet compelling stories.
Hollywood’s Hoover Gamble: Franchise or Fad?
For Hollywood and streaming platforms, the Colleen Hoover wave has been both a windfall and a warning. It Ends With Us scored big at the box office and bolstered Hoover’s film reputation, with its blend of hard topics and hopeful messaging striking a chord with young adults and mature viewers alike.
Regretting You, however, underscores the perils of rapid-fire adaptation in the age of BookTok and viral fandom.
Industry analysts are already debating the future of Hoover adaptations. Forbes and Deadline have flagged Regretting You’s weak financial projections and questioned whether studios will continue investing in high-profile casts and glossy releases without stronger storytelling.
The adaptation pipeline previously seemed ironclad, but this misstep could spur more caution and better creative oversight for future titles.
For Hoover fans, the debate continues: should movies stick closer to the books or take creative risks to capture a broader audience?
Regretting You ’s troubled reception marks a critical juncture for Hoover’s Hollywood aspirations. Where It Ends With Us managed to blend authenticity with dramatic weight, the new film’s glaring downgrade on Rotten Tomatoes suggests that viral success doesn’t always translate to the big screen.
If studios want to keep the legend alive, they’ll need to listen and adapt, not just recycle stories that worked in print. Otherwise, Regretting You may be remembered as the moment the Colleen Hoover movie craze started running out of steam.
Movie trailers sometimes feel routine, yet when two of Marvel’s biggest actors shed their capes for opposing roles in a stark cat-and-mouse thriller, viewers take notice.
“Crime 101” drops Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo into a game-changing dynamic: for once, Hemsworth isn’t the avenging hero but a suave jewel thief hoping for one last perfect job.
At his heels is Ruffalo as Detective Lou Lubesnick, a methodical cop obsessed with ending a string of unsolved robberies along Los Angeles’ sun-bleached 101 freeway.
Directed by Bart Layton (known for “American Animals”), the film also stars Halle Berry as Sharon, a sharp-witted insurance executive drawn into the web of heists.
Barry Keoghan joins as Orman, a rival thief with a far more dangerous code, rounding out a cast that features Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte for added muscle. The story, adapted from Don Winslow’s novella, prioritizes character depth and ambiguity over classic good-versus-evil tropes.
Layton told Esquire that the film was crafted as an homage to Steve McQueen’s classic films that appeal to “grown-up, intelligent” moviegoers and forego superhero simplicity for rich, flawed character work.
The trailer’s tone is all tension and grit. Early scenes show Davis (Hemsworth) and Sharon (Berry) bantering at a valet stand, her curiosity hinting at mutual secrets. Shots whip between Davis masking up for a robbery and Sharon questioning his cold demeanor before flipping to Lou’s relentless investigation.
Ruffalo’s cop is convinced that years of high-value Pacific Coast robberies are not cartel work but the handiwork of a lone craftsman. As the stakes rise, characters confront brutal choices. Hunter and hunted become almost interchangeable in an escalating mind game that leaves little hope for clean getaways.
Star Power and the Crime Genre: Big Names Draw New Audiences
High-profile casting has fueled “Crime 101” anticipation. Hemsworth and Ruffalo’s Marvel legacy guarantees attention, but critics and fans alike are asking: Can these A-listers recapture the intensity of classics like “Heat” or “The Thomas Crown Affair”?
Hemsworth described his character in Esquire as “an ethical thief” who steals only what insurance covers, a moral twist debated by fans and cultural writers for adding layers to the standard criminal archetype. Ruffalo’s cop, meanwhile, is no cardboard antagonist.
Scenes in the trailer show deep investigation, moral conflict, and a personal hunt that stretches his character beyond clichéd lawman territory.
The addition of Halle Berry pushes the film’s dramatic range even further. Berry’s Sharon is not a simple sidekick but a smart executive forced into a criminal partnership, balancing loyalty and risk.
Chris Hemsworth & Mark Ruffalo (Credit: NBC)
Barry Keoghan, celebrated for moody intensity in “American Animals,” brings edge and unpredictability to the role of Orman, described in early reviews as a foil to both Davis and Lou.
Director Bart Layton’s pedigree with stylish true crime stories creates expectations that “Crime 101” will move beyond blockbuster gloss. He aims for substance, emphasizing ambiguity, existential challenge, and character-driven drama in interviews with Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
Layton’s habit of mixing documentary elements with fiction suggests viewers may get perspectives that challenge the traditional boundaries of crime thrillers.
Online communities remain divided. Some fans worry that casting big names in archetypal roles may overshadow the subtlety that Winslow’s novella offers. Others believe Hemsworth and Ruffalo’s authenticity and chemistry will set “Crime 101” apart from formulaic crime fare.
Social platforms like Reddit and Letterboxd showcase everything from theory threads to casting debates, feeding momentum ahead of the release.
Breaking Patterns, Taking Risks: Will “Crime 101” Redefine Modern Heist Thrillers?
“Crime 101” enters a genre filled with conventions, patterned heists, hard-boiled cops, and inevitable betrayals. What distinguishes this film is its commitment to depth and genre reinvention.
The plot isn’t content with sharp suits, fast cars, and clever robberies; instead, each character faces crossroads that force introspection as much as action.
Chris Hemsworth’s Davis isn’t just running from cops; he’s also wrestling with fading ideals, questioning whether another big score will deliver the freedom he hopes for. Halle Berry’s Sharon juggles dissatisfaction, danger, and the temptation of quick escape.
Mark Ruffalo’s detective goes beyond chase scenes, pursuing resolution in a geographic and emotional maze. Director Layton brings a “throwback” sensibility that’s rare in an era dominated by spectacle.
His insistence on realism and psychological nuance could make “Crime 101” a standout if the ensemble cast delivers as promised.
If early social reaction is any indication, the film will spark debates about loyalty, ambition, and the cost of bending moral lines. Some critics argue that the movie’s plot has real-world resonance, given ongoing debates about insurance fraud and organized theft along West Coast highways.
Others highlight the chemistry between Hemsworth, Berry, and Ruffalo as proof that even familiar tracks, cat versus mouse, can be thrilling when the stakes are real and the personalities vivid.
Die-hard fans can expect smart nods to genre history, sharp dialogue, and chases across iconic LA settings. Whether “Crime 101” becomes the next must-watch for crime buffs or lands as impressive star power in search of a fresh formula, its February premiere is certain to generate discussion and box office curiosity.
With its balance of classic heist drama and modern character-driven risk, “Crime 101” could set a new standard for what big-budget crime thrillers aim to achieve.
