Marlon Wayans isn’t letting critics define his latest project. The actor and producer took to Instagram to address the mixed reviews surrounding HIM, the Jordan Peele-produced horror film that marks a darker, more dramatic turn in his career.
Wayans acknowledged the film’s low Rotten Tomatoes score but reminded fans that numbers don’t always tell the full story.
To prove his point, he shared screenshots of ratings for some of his most beloved comedies—White Chicks (15%), A Haunted House (10%), and Scary Movie 2 (13%). All three were panned by critics upon release, but later became cult classics with massive fan followings.
“Just to be clear… I respect critics. Their job is to critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry,” Wayans wrote. “But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion. Some movies are ahead of the curve. Innovation is not always embraced and art is to be interpreted and it’s subjective. I’ve had a career of making classic movies that weren’t critically received and those movies went on to be CLASSICS. So don’t take anyone’s opinion—just go see for yourself. Love to all. HIM in theaters now.”
While Wayans built his career on comedy, HIM represents a shift into horror and psychological drama.
Directed by Justin Tipping, the film stars Wayans as Isaiah White, an eight-time championship quarterback who mentors rising star Cameron Cade (played by newcomer Tyriq Withers) after a life-threatening attack derails the younger player’s career.
What starts as an opportunity for redemption turns into a twisted descent into obsession, control, and body horror, all unfolding at Isaiah’s remote compound.
The film’s mix of sports drama, horror, and symbolism has divided reviewers, some praising its ambition, others calling it uneven. But Wayans, who has weathered critical pushback throughout his career, seems unfazed. For him, audiences, not critics, will decide the film’s place in the culture.
And if history is any indication, he might be right. The same films once dismissed by critics are still quoted, streamed, and celebrated today, proving that legacy can outlast early reviews.
In a world where cultural commentary spreads like wildfire on social media, audiences should experience art for themselves and decide what they do or don’t like.
Whether audiences embrace HIM as a bold new chapter in Wayans’ career or not, the film is sparking conversation—and that, he argues, is what art is supposed to do.
HIM is now playing in theaters nationwide.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
