Clayface Splits Audiences And Critics On Rotten Tomatoes

Oct 24, 2026 - 19:17

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Clayface Splits Audiences And Critics On Rotten Tomatoes

Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen with a hoodie in Clayface

Published Oct 24, 2026, 11:35 AM EDT

Andy Behbakht has worked as an entertainment journalist since 2010, covering all the latest in Hollywood on both the big and small screens, from staying on top of the biggest breaking news, analyzing movies and television shows in Hollywood, to in-depth interviews with actors and storytellers.

Andy's career includes having worked for publications such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It's Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more. Outside of his career as an established reporter, Andy is the host and producer of The Showrunner Whisperer, The Flash Podcast, the editor-in-chief of Multiverse of Color, and the network director of DC TV Podcasts.

The DC Universe has brought one of Batman's most dangerous villains to life.

The DCU's Chapter 1: "Gods and Monsters" slate continues to expand, as 2026 saw Milly Alcock suit up once more as Supergirl in her own solo film while Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre boarded the franchise as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively. However, with the year almost over, DC Studios has one more adventure for the world, this time in Gotham City.

Clayface has started its theatrical run, starring Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a.k.a. the titular famous DC foe, from director James Watkins. With the R-rated DCU entry playing in theaters, critics and audience members have been sharing their thoughts and ratings, with the two respective scores on Rotten Tomatoes being 76% and 94%.

As the Clayface movie has been certified fresh, the 76% is based on 152 submitted reviews, making it the second-highest-rated DC Studios feature, with Gunn's Superman from 2025 still at 83%. The villain-centric feature has surpassed Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, with its critics' score still at 52%.

However, when it comes to the Popcornmeter, Clayface's 94% score is officially the highest-rated one for DC Studios, surpassing both Superman's 90% and Supergirl's 72%. It's still key to take into account that the ratings for the horror release are still subject to change, as more users and members of the press register their scores on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning the % could get even higher or go down in the coming days and weeks.

The critical reception for Clayface, which also stars Naomi Ackie as Dr. Caitlyn Corr and Max Minghella as John Borrelli, is coming right after the successful run for HBO's Lanterns, which aired its finale on October 4. As of writing, season 1 is sitting at 91% and 67% for its respective critics' and audience scores, making it the second well-received DCU TV show for Gunn's superhero franchise, as Peacemaker season 2 is holding a 94% certified fresh and 79% rating on the Popcornmeter.

In ScreenRant's Clayface review, Graeme Guttmann praised Watkins' DCU project for how it "reaches for more depth in some of its storytelling, flirting with ideas of performance and embodiment, as well as Hollywood satire, but these aren't the movie's strong suits. Instead, Clayface is at its best when it gets gnarly or silly, often at the same time." Rating it 7/10, Guttmann also added how "director James Watkins (Eden Lake, Speak No Evil) isn't afraid to get gross pretty quickly, from early surgeries to fix Matt's face to the goopy transformation that begins when he finally meets Caitlyn."

As its box office results will be an interesting one to follow throughout its run, time will tell where viewers will see Clayface next in DC Studios' main continuity. With upcoming DCU movies such as The Brave and the Bold, which will serve as the Batman reboot for Gunn's franchise, the supervillain could always clash with the Caped Crusader in the future. For the time being, no plans have been announced for where Harries' Matt will be seen next after his 2026 debut.

Clayface is now playing in theaters.