The incredible Denzel Washington film that has an unforgivably low Rotten Tomatoes score-Brooke Ivey Johnson-Entertainment – Metro

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Rotten Tomatoes isn’t always right.

While some films deserve to be certified Rotten, the review aggregator site sometimes pans a film that deserves better, and 2002’s John Q is one of those movies.

Helmed by Denzel Washington, the all-star cast includes Robert Duvall, James Woods, Anne Heche, Kimberly Elise, and Ray Liotta.

While the movie was not a hit with critics, audiences loved it, and it made an impressive $102million (£80.6m) against a $36m (£28.6m) budget.

John Q has reentered the cultural zeitgeist in the last few days for the way its plot eerily mimics the assassination of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson.

Denzel plays the titular character who – disgruntled with the inefficacy of the American healthcare system – takes a hospital waiting room hostage in order to get his son the heart transplant he needs.

Denzel Washington and James Wood star in the film (Picture: Evolution Entertainment)

In the film, John discover’s his son Michael’s heart transplant will cost $250,000 and if he doesn’t receive it he will die.

John and his wife are behind on their house and car payments and cannot afford the down payment required to put Michael on the transplant list, forcing John to take drastic action to save his son’s life.

He also discovers the family’s insurance will not cover the operation.

Roger Ebert wrote of the film: ‘I agree with its message– that the richest nation in history should be able to afford national health insurance–but the message is pounded in with such fevered melodrama, it’s as slanted and manipulative as your average political commercial.’

Ray Liotta goes up against Denzel (Picture: Evolution Entertainment)

Still, subtlety isn’t what most people are looking for in their action films, and even Ebert praises how well Denzel handles the intense role.

And it seems your average viewer connects with the film far more than the critics would have you believe.

@atticus_winch1 wrote on X: ‘The murder of the United Healthcare CEO & Luigi Mangione’s arrest/proposed motive reminded me of one of my favorite films, John Q, starring Denzel Washington & Kimberly Elise. The film is basically a referendum on the American healthcare system and how deeply flawed it is.’

@carolinerenard_ posted: ‘John Q was one of Denzel’s best films.’

Many fans think the film is underestimated (Picture: Ava V Gerlitz/Evolution Ent/New)

Many fans online have been comparing the plot to the Luigi Nicholas Mangione’s possible motivation in the fatal shooting of Thompson.

It’s known that Mangione had undergone major back surgery for  spondylolisthesis, a rare back condition caused by the vertebrae in the spine slipping out of place.

Mangione was charged Monday with second-degree, multiple weapons possession-related charges and forgery in Thompson’s death. 

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