John Lithgow has been a prominent figure in Hollywood for decades, renowned for his memorable supporting roles and villain portrayals in various movies and TV shows. From “Cliffhanger” (1993) and “Dexter” to “Shrek” (2001), and with appearances in shows like “The Crown”, “Perry Mason”, “Pet Sematary” (2019), “Interstellar” (2014), and “How I Met Your Mother”, his career has been diverse.
At 79 years old, Lithgow remains active in 2024, featuring in acclaimed projects like “Conclave” and others such as “Cabrini”, “The Rule of Jenny Pen”, and “The Old Man season 2”. His latest role takes him back to the world of animation.
“Spellbound”’s Reception on Rotten Tomatoes
“Spellbound”, an animated Netflix movie directed by Vicky Jenson, has now premiered and is causing a divide among viewers and critics. The film follows Ellian (voiced by Rachel Zegler) on an epic adventure to save her kingdom after a spell turns her parents, the King and Queen of Lumbria, into monsters. Lithgow voices Minister Bolinar, and the movie also features voices of Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, and Miguel Bernardeau.
Since its release on Netflix on November 22, reviews have flooded online. Rotten Tomatoes shows that the movie has a disappointing 44% critics score from 27 reviews (as of writing). However, audiences seem to be enjoying it more, with a 66% Popcornmeter score from over 100 user ratings. These scores could change as more reviews come in.
What the Scores Mean for “Spellbound”
Even though the audience score is relatively higher, neither the critics’ nor the audience scores are overly promising. While the voice cast is a strength, a common complaint is that the movie feels too formulaic and familiar.
Since it’s not wowing general audiences completely, positive word-of-mouth might be lacking, which could impact its viewership. However, it’s worth noting that family-friendly animated films sometimes overcome mediocre reviews as very young viewers, who don’t contribute to Rotten Tomatoes scores, are often less picky about what they watch repeatedly.
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