Curtis claps back at harsh Freakier Friday review

Jamie Lee Curtis responds to a Time critic's harsh take on Freakier Friday, prompting a look at how reviews influence a sequel's reception.

Curtis Defends Freakier Friday Against Harsh Review

Jamie Lee Curtis weighed in on Time critic Stephanie Zacharek’s takedown of Freakier Friday, calling the review “SEEMS a TAD HARSH” in an Instagram comment. The post quotes Zacharek’s line that no one, as far as we know, actually asked Disney for a sequel to 2003’s Freaky Friday. Despite the clash, Freakier Friday enters theaters with strong early indicators, while Rotten Tomatoes shows a 73% critic score and a 94% audience approval.

Deadline and Rotten Tomatoes place the film on course for a roughly 30 to 32 million opening, underscoring how star power and nostalgia continue to draw audiences even amid mixed critical chatter. The movie reunites Jamie Lee Curtis with Lindsay Lohan and follows Tess and Anna Coleman decades after their original body swap, now expanding the family dynamic with new generations at the center.

The exchange reveals how actors and critics influence public perception in real time, especially on social media where a single comment can shift attention from a film’s content to the debate around its reception. It also shows how a sequel relies as much on star charisma and fan sentiment as on the merits of the script. In a crowded market, public dialogue around a film can become a marketing asset or a distraction, depending on how fans respond.

This moment highlights a larger pattern: nostalgia sells, but it invites scrutiny. If fans rally behind the film, a positive social narrative can buoy the opening despite a tough critic line. If backlash grows, studios may adjust messaging or further lean into family themes to preserve momentum.

Highlights

Public debate over reviews continues to shape the reception of sequels in a crowded market.