Robert De Niro’s New Netflix Thriller The Whisper Man Lands a Divisive Rotten Tomatoes Score
Robert De Niro’s latest Netflix film, The Whisper Man, has arrived with plenty of star power but a decidedly mixed critical reception. The crime thriller premiered on August 28, 2026, and currently holds a 41% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from 29 reviews, putting the film firmly in the “rotten” category.
The film marks another collaboration between De Niro and Netflix following the success of the political limited series Zero Day. That series was well received and became a major Netflix hit, but The Whisper Man has struggled to generate the same enthusiasm from critics.
The Whisper Man Adapts a Bestselling Novel
The new thriller is based on Alex North’s 2019 New York Times bestselling novel, The Whisper Man. The story centers on Tom Kennedy, a widowed crime writer whose life takes a devastating turn when his 8-year-old son is abducted.
With few options left, Tom turns to his estranged father, a retired police detective, for help. Their search soon leads back to a decades-old investigation involving a convicted serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.”
James Ashcroft directed the adaptation from a screenplay by Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer.
Severance star Adam Scott takes on the role of Tom Kennedy, while De Niro plays Detective Inspector Pete Willis.
The ensemble cast also features Michael Keaton as Frank Carter, Michelle Monaghan as Detective Amanda Beck, Hamish Linklater as Norman Collins, Owen Teague as Francis Carter Jr., Acston Luca Porto as Jake Kennedy, Will Brill as Sgt. John Dyson, Exavier Montanez as Neil Spencer, and Robert Clohessy as Víctor Tyler.
Critics Are Split on Netflix’s Crime Thriller
Despite bringing together major names such as De Niro, Keaton, and Scott, The Whisper Man has failed to make a strong impression with critics so far.
With 29 reviews currently counted on Rotten Tomatoes, the film sits at 41%. Several critics have taken issue with its execution, describing the thriller as overly familiar and unable to make the most of its talented cast.
Writing for Movies Thru the Spectrum, Al Alexander delivered one of the harshest assessments, calling the movie “a colossal mess” and “a tremendous waste of talent.”
The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee was similarly disappointed by the film’s direction. He felt the story seemed to promise something increasingly strange and unpredictable, only to ultimately deliver a much less satisfying conclusion.
The Times critic Kevin Maher also criticized the film for relying too heavily on familiar serial-killer thriller formulas. He compared its approach to elements from The Silence of the Lambs, Zodiac, and The Bone Collector, while arguing that De Niro gives a notably non-committal performance.
Audience Reaction Is More Mixed
While the critical score currently stands at 41%, there was no audience score available at the time of writing.
The audience reactions that have appeared are more varied, however, with some viewers responding positively to the film. One five-star review described The Whisper Man as a “Gripping dark thriller with a [stellar] cast.”
Another viewer praised the movie for its pace and willingness to keep the story moving, writing that audiences who approach it with an open mind could have “a great time.” The review also highlighted the film’s unexpected twists and turns.
With critics largely unconvinced but some viewers responding more favorably, The Whisper Man has emerged as one of Netflix’s more divisive recent releases.
The Whisper Man is now streaming on Netflix.