Netflix’s New R-Rated Fantasy Remake Debuts To 18% Score On Rotten Tomatoes

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Netflix’s recent remake of a popular French film, which is rated R, isn’t being well-received.

A recent American comedy, a remake of a 2018 French romance, has received very poor reviews, scoring only 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. Netflix often creates original movies inspired by existing stories. Films like the sci-fi adventure The Electric State and the mystery drama Remarkably Bright Creatures were originally books or other types of media before becoming movies. Sometimes, though, Netflix films are based on other movies.

The movie Ladies First is based on the 2018 French film I Am Not An Easy Man and is Netflix’s first original French-language film. It tells the story of Damien Sachs, a man who believes men are superior to women, and finds himself in a world where that power dynamic is reversed. He clashes with Alex Fox, the female equivalent of himself, leading to humorous situations that explore gender roles and societal expectations.

Although the movie’s initial idea is interesting, it hasn’t been very well-received. Currently, it has an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 critic reviews, and early impressions are largely negative. This is a shame, especially when compared to I Am Not An Easy Man, which earned a 71% audience score and many positive reviews when it came out.

Critics generally agree that Ladies First doesn’t offer a fresh or thoughtful take on gender roles, relying on tired tropes that fall flat. The plot is seen as unoriginal, feeling like a collection of jokes rather than a well-developed story. Furthermore, the film’s narrative actually undermines the positive message about gender equality it initially seems to promote.

Despite its flaws, the film receives positive comments on the performances of Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, who, along with the rest of the cast, did a commendable job with the material they were given. Directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul, and Katie Silberman, the movie unfortunately doesn’t delve deeply into the important issue of sexism, which critics see as a major missed opportunity.

It’s hard to say how well Ladies First will do on Netflix. While the film has a well-known cast which might draw viewers this weekend, there’s no certainty it will be well-received. The negative reviews are a setback, especially since many viewers have already criticized the way the story is handled.

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2026-05-23 06:20