Fear Street: Prom Queen Divides Fans and Critics, But Still Tops Netflix Charts!

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In 2021, they unveiled the chilling horror movie trilogy titled “Fear Street“, which was adapted from R.L. Stine’s book series by the same name. Following a hiatus of four years, another film in the series has now been officially released.

In a new development, the universe established in the initial three films was broadened even more. A slasher movie, titled “The Slasher,” which is set in 1988, recently debuted on Netflix on May 23. The franchise has garnered favorable feedback from both critics and viewers, but the final installment, “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” has sparked debate among critics and audiences. Some critic reviews are below 40%, indicating a less positive reception compared to the audience’s response.

In the Fear Street Trilogy, Leigh Janiak was in charge initially, collaborating with Phil Graziadei on the script for the first film, while Zak Olkewicz took over for the second. However, for the third installment, Graziadei teamed up with Kate Trefry. For Fear Street: Prom Queen, a different team was in charge, as Matt Palmer directed and worked with Donald McLeary on the script.

In its first release, ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ received a critical evaluation of 32%, earning it a “rotten” label. With 37 reviews thus far, there’s potential for the score to change as additional opinions roll in; however, the opening reception has been predominantly unfavorable.

Prom Queen go deep. All these issues combine to create a film that’s simply just a bit below average.” Similarly, Katie Rife didn’t find it appealing, pointing out that the movie is “a poorly made and unengaging Young Adult production that struggles to maintain even a lackluster level of interest.

Benjamin Lee outlined some challenges encountered during the making of the film. He stated that the co-writers tried to incorporate a multitude of characters all at once, which resulted in a shallow and unproductive introduction to the intricate political landscape of Shadyside high school. The review suggests that ‘Prom Queen’ falls short not only because of its predecessors within the Fear Street universe but also due to the fact that it underperforms compared to what director Leigh Janie Palmer had achieved in the past.

Sharia Bohannon expressed, “‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ seems like the offspring of CW and Tubi, conceived in a Radio Shack in hell,” whereas Casey Chong contended the movie is more appropriately described as a “prom-themed slasher that isn’t worth showing up for.

The slasher movie isn’t without its accolades. Luna Guthrie was one of its admirers, remarking, “It may not be revolutionary, but Prom Queen is a decent enough teen slasher that effectively contributes to the continually growing universe of R.L. Stine.

Hannah Rose commends the design team’s efforts to recreate the ’80s aesthetic and notes their dedication, yet she points out that the slasher lacks anything groundbreaking or trailblazing as it leans more towards “style over substance.” Despite this, she acknowledges that the film does distinguish itself from the trilogy while maintaining a familiar feel.

Audiences Didn’t Love Fear Street: Prom Queen But It Will Become a Hit

Just as critics have expressed, the audiences didn’t seem to enjoy the latest installment in the series, giving Fear Street: Prom Queen a low score of 37% on Popcornmeter. People often compare this new release with the franchise’s previous high standards and criticize elements like acting, the absence of surprising plot twists, tension, and the overall feeling that it was too predictable.

Surprisingly, the horror slasher movie is poised for success. On its debut day, it climbed to the top of the box office charts, dethroning Fear Street: Prom Queen as the No. 1 film in 43 countries, including the U.S., according to reports.

Despite the anticipated streaming success, the new release falls short of the original’s ratings. For instance, Fear Street Part One: 1994 boasted an 84% Certified Fresh rating and a low audience score of 63%, which was surpassed only by Prom Queen.

In the series known as “Fear Street”, the second installment, titled “Fear Street Part Two: 1978“, garnered impressive reviews, with a whopping 88% approval from critics and 81% from audiences, making it the highest-rated film in the series for both groups. The third part, “Fear Street Part Three: 1666 “, also earned positive feedback, boasting a Certified Fresh 89% rating from critics and a 76% approval from viewers. Additionally, there’s another movie, “Prom Queen“, in the same franchise, hinting that the series won’t be wrapping up just yet.

The Fear Street franchise is available on Netflix.

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2025-05-24 20:21