46% Rotten Tomatoes debut for Anne Hathaway’s 'Verity' despite an A-list cast

Verity is arriving with a split decision from critics: Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the thriller at 46% based on early reviews, a mixed score landing ahead of release. It ’s not a wipeout, but it’s notably cooler than the buzz swirling around the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller.

Despite the star power of Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, early write-ups — including negative notices from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter — point to issues with execution rather than shock value. That tracks with the challenge of adapting a wildly read page-turner: many fans already know the big twists, so the filmmaking has to carry the suspense.

Commercially, the outlook is still rosy. Hoover’s massive readership and the book’s outsized presence on BookTok give the movie a built-in audience, and box-office watchers expect curiosity alone to draw crowds once it opens.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46% (early reviews)

The setup

Based on Hoover’s novel, the film follows struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, who’s hired by Jeremy Crawford to complete his wife’s bestselling book series. Installed at the couple’s secluded home to sift through notes, Lowen stumbles onto an unfinished autobiography Verity never meant anyone to read — and the pages point to something far more disturbing than writer’s block.

• Dakota Johnson — Lowen Ashleigh
• Anne Hathaway — Verity Crawford
• Josh Hartnett — Jeremy Crawford

For Hathaway, this marks her fifth movie to bow this year — and the only one earning a “rotten” tag so far on Rotten Tomatoes. That stat underscores how unusually divided the reaction is around this particular title, even with major talent attached.

Verity is slated to hit theaters in 2026 .