After harsh criticism greeted his new film Him, Marlon Wayans has broken his silence. He urged audiences to judge for themselves, not rely solely on critics. The film opened Sept. 19 to mixed and mostly negative reviews.
Criticism, Then a Response
On review aggregators, Him carries a low critic approval rating. Some reviewers faulted its pacing, stylization, and overused tropes. Others praised Wayans’ performance and the film’s ambitious themes.
Wayans took to Instagram to challenge the notion that critical scores equal truth. He wrote: “Just to be clear … I respect critics. Their job is to critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion.”
He continued: “Some movies are ahead of the curve.” He also posted screenshots of critic scores for earlier films like White Chicks and Scary Movie, pointing out they, too, were poorly received at first.
Wayans did not deny imperfections in Him. He said the film “wasn’t bad but not great.” Still, he defended the film’s risks. He called innovation subjective and said art demands interpretation. “It wasn’t a clap … It was a perspective,” Wayans added, dismissing suggestions he was attacking critics.
Co-star Tyriq Withers also received praise from Wayans, who said he was “proud” of the performance. Julia Fox, another cast member, showed support. She commented on Wayans’ post, “What’s the opposite of a savior? A CRITIC!!!”