Summary
Joey King stars in the hit Netflix filmA Family Affair, and despite its popularity on the streaming service, it also adds to one of the actress' most discouraging trends. The 2024 rom-com,directed by Richard LaGraveneseand written by Carrie Solomon, chronicles the complications that arise whenKing’s character, Zara, finds her mother, Brooke, played by Nicole Kidman, hooking up with her nightmare of a boss, Chris, played by Zac Efron.Chris is a self-absorbed movie star, and Zara is his young assistant who is waiting for Chris to promote her. However, Brooke uncovers a different side to Chris.
Joey King is set to star as Tally Youngblood inThe Uglies,a Netflix science fiction action fantasy film based on Scott Westerfield’s 2005 novelUglies.
A Family Affairis a typical rom-com featuring a seemingly forbidden romance between an older woman and a younger man. However, the couple’s biggest problem is undoubtedly Zara, who disapproves of the relationship. Aside from King, Kidman, and Efron,the cast ofA Family Affairincludes Kathy Bates as Leila, Liza Koshy as Genie, and Sherry Cola as Stella. Even though the movie features an all-star cast, their performances weren’t enough to give the movie a “Fresh"Rotten Tomatoesscore,continuing King’s streak of poorly reviewed Netflix films.
A Family Affair Continues Joey King’s “Rotten” Netflix Movie Streak After The Kissing Booth Trilogy
King Starred As Elle In Netflix’s Rom-Com Trilogy
Although Joey King’s breakout role is technically as Ramona Quimby in the 2010 comedy-dramaRamona and Beezus,the actress gained further recognition when she played the female lead in the Netflix rom-comThe Kissing Boothin 2018.The Kissing Boothreceived an overwhelming number of negative reviews.However, its popularity convinced Netflix to continue the story with two more sequels —The Kissing Booth 2andThe Kissing Booth 3— both of which were also flamed by critics. Now, King’s poorRotten Tomatoesstreak of her Netflixmovies continues withA Family Affair.
15%
56%
29%
38%
24%
19%
41%
30%
Similar to theKissing Boothtrilogy,A Family Affairbecame the number one movie on Netflix despite poor reviews. It’s seemingly popular among audiences, who are ignoring the criticism to form their own opinion on the film. Plus, it helps that the all-star cast ofA Family Affair(Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, and Kathy Bates) is a big draw for consumers.
A Family Affair Is Still A Huge Improvement From The Kissing Booth Movies' Critical Response
A Family Affair Has A Better Rotten Tomatoes Score
Of course,A Family Affaircontinuing Joey King’s NetflixRotten Tomatoesstreak is disappointing. However, its score is still a big improvement from how criticsrated theKissing Boothmovies. The first installment in the sequel received a shocking 15 percent Tomatometer score, while the second and third sit at 29 percent and 24 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, shortly following the release ofA Family Affair,the 2024 rom-com’s Tomatometer score is 41 percent.Anywhere below 60 percent is considered “Rotten,“butA Family Affairstill performed better than any of theKissing Boothfilms.
A Family Affair Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play
Netflix’s Zac Efron-led rom-com A Family Affair features a soundtrack that ranges from tracks by popular contemporary artists to Christmas classics.
Why A Family Affair Is So Divisive With Critics
Some Critics Think The Netflix Movie Is Predictable But Praise The Cast’s Performances
Historically, rom-coms don’t fare too well with critics, andA Family Affair’s reviewsare no exception. Nevertheless, there is some disparity between the responses to the film starring Joey King, Nicole Kidman, and Zac Efron. Some believethe 2024 Netflix movie relies too heavily on rom-com clichés and is highly predictable,while others expressed that the cast and their chemistry make up for the script’s lack of creativity. A few harsh critics claimed that Efron and Kidman lacked chemistry, but many argued that the two actors are among the best parts of the film (along with King’s performance).
A Family Affairand its ending have resulted in differing opinions, but Netflix probably cares more about the fact that it’s trending in the number one spot on the streaming service’s Top Ten Movies list.
A handful of critics also stated thatA Family Affairis everything you would expect from a Netflix rom-com, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, all a person wants to do to relax is to watch a mindless movie on Netflix with a predictable happy ending. Ultimately,A Family Affairand its endinghave resulted in differing opinions, but Netflix probably cares more about the fact that it’s trending in the number one spot on the streaming service’s Top Ten Movies list.
A Family Affair
Cast
A young woman discovers her mother is having an affair with her boss, complicating her professional and personal life. As she navigates the emotional fallout, unexpected relationships and family secrets come to light. The film delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the ties that bind, offering a blend of drama and comedy as the characters confront their intertwined fates.
