Netflix's Unabomber tops the chart as Woodley discusses her role and critics pan the film
Netflix's Unabomber, about Ted Kaczynski, is the platform's most-watched film despite a 28% Rotten Tomatoes score. Star Shailene Woodley spoke to Collider about playing an FBI linguist.
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The story, neutrally told
Unabomber, a Netflix crime drama directed by Janus Metz, was released on September 25, 2026 and centres on Ted Kaczynski. Screen RantN “Released on September 25, 2026, the movie centers on one of the most notorious killers in U.S. history, Ted Kaczynski” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Jacob Tremblay plays Kaczynski, and the film switches between his Harvard years in the late 1950s and the manhunt that led to his capture in 1996. ColliderN “The film switches between two timelines — Kaczynski’s college years at Harvard in the late ‘50s and the manhunt that eventually led to his capture in 1996.” Read at Collider ↗ Russell Crowe and recent Emmy winner Shailene Woodley also star. Screen RantN “features a strong cast led by Crowe, Tremblay, and recent Emmy winner Shailene Woodley” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Woodley plays Joanne, a fictional FBI agent who uses linguistics from Kaczynski's manifesto to track him down. ColliderN “Woodley plays a fictional FBI agent named Joanne in the latter segment, who cleverly uses linguistics from Kaczynski’s manifesto to track him down.” Read at Collider ↗ In an interview with Collider, Woodley said she read the manifesto but treated the script as her guide, and that Joanne relies on instinct that colleagues dismiss. ColliderN “for me, the script is the bible, and the script has the movie that I signed on to make.” Read at Collider ↗ She said Joanne acts with integrity, and that a flash of guilt over leaking that Kaczynski's brother gave him up reflected a compromise of her personal values. ColliderN “the decision she made to do what she did compromised her personal moral integrity and her personal value system” Read at Collider ↗
Screen Rant reports the film has been Netflix's top movie worldwide since Saturday, with 16.4 million views in its first three days. Screen RantN “Unabomber earned 16.4 million views during its first three days on Netflix” Read at Screen Rant ↗ It holds a 28% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score and a 50% audience score, according to Screen Rant. Screen RantN “The movie received more positive yet generally mixed feedback from at-home viewers, resulting in an audience score of just 50%.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Screen Rant cites complaints of a disjointed narrative and historical inaccuracies, quotes Variety and The Wrap's negative reviews, and praises Crowe and Tremblay as the film's saving grace. Screen RantN “common criticisms pointing to the disjointed narrative, historical inaccuracies” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Collider runs a promotional Q&A with Woodley about her character; Screen Rant takes a critical view of the film's quality while noting its chart success.
- Emphasis
- Collider: character craft and Woodley's preparation. Screen Rant: the gap between viewership and poor reviews.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Collider does not mention the poor reviews or viewership; Screen Rant does not cover Woodley's interview.
- Charged language
- “a dud”“misfire of craft and execution”
- For example
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“Collider got the chance to speak to Woodley about her work in the project.” — Collider
“is a misfire of craft and execution and has reason to have never been made” — Screen Rant
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Unabomber is a Netflix film about Ted Kaczynski starring Jacob Tremblay, Russell Crowe and Shailene Woodley.
- Woodley is a recent Emmy winner.
Shailene Woodley person
Woodley describes Joanne as steady and principled, and says she treated the script as her guide.
“Joanne is someone who really operates out of integrity” — Collider
Netflix organisation
Netflix is shown as having a chart-topping film with weak reviews, which Screen Rant says reflects lower quality standards than theatrical releases.
“Netflix's viewership numbers don't directly translate into revenue like theatrical releases do” — Screen Rant
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Shailene Woodley Reveals the Key Detail That Helped Catch the Unabomber
Sympathetic Interview-led piece presenting Woodley's thoughtful approach to her character.
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Unabomber: Netflix's #1 New Movie Proves Its 28% Rotten Tomatoes Score Misses The Point
Critical Argues strong viewership hides poor quality and reflects a wider Netflix trend.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 29 Sep 18:56 First ColliderN Shailene Woodley Reveals the Key Detail That Helped Catch the Unabomber
- 30 Sep 22:52 +27h 56m Screen RantN Unabomber: Netflix's #1 New Movie Proves Its 28% Rotten Tomatoes Score Misses The Point
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.