Viewership
Eenie Meanie entered Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list—a daily updated list of the platform's most-watched titles—a day after its premiere, climbing to No. 8 on the weekly list of the most-watched titles in the United States. It was the second highest-performing movie on the platform, behind the survival thriller The Bayou (No. 3). [16] JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 20 million users around the world, reported that Eenie Meanie was the most-streamed film in the U.S. from August 18–24. [17] The following week, from August 25–31, it ranked as the third most-streamed film. [18]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 41% of 44 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.40/10. [19] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [20]
John Nugent of Empire gave Eenie Meanie 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a "rollicking crime comedy with enough punchy jokes and exhilarating action" that deserves a wider audience due to its energetic direction and vibrant humor. [21] Ben Gibbons of Screen Rant rated the film 7/10, praising it as a thrilling and engaging action dramedy that expertly blends genres and delivers a coherent, gripping story, highlighting Samara Weaving's strong performance and the film's ability to balance emotion with high-energy action. [22] Bill Bria of /Film also rated it 7/10, believing the film successfully merges thrilling action with a nuanced exploration of morality while showcasing Weaving's standout performance. [23]
Carla Meyer of San Francisco Chronicle considered Eenie Meanie an enjoyable heist film that offers "mindless fun" with strong performances and authentic action, despite its derivative elements and a late tonal shift that undermines its initial charm. [24] William Bibbiani of TheWrap similarly praised the film for its "snappy dialogue, cool car chase, and great cast", but noted that it ultimately lacks memorability and could benefit from more dynamic action sequences. [25] Benjamin Lee at The Guardian gave the film 2 out of 5 stars and described the film as "a bumpy road" for audiences, feeling it is out of place in its streaming context; while it showcases effective action and Weaving's lead performance, it ultimately lacks originality and emotional depth in Shawn Simmons's screenplay. [3]
Natalie Winkelman of The New York Times found Eenie Meanie to be a chaotic heist film filled with "cheap thrills and tawdry action", struggling to balance self-awareness with serious melodrama. [1] Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film 1 out of 4 stars, criticizing it for its "lack of identity and almost zero organic tension", describing it as a heavy rip-off of Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright 's films, with no "thrills, stakes, or characters to care about". [26] Brianna Zigler of The A.V. Club described the film as a watchable yet frustrating heist drama in her C- review, deeming it ultimately condescending to its female lead for reinforcing regressive themes about women being defined by their relationships with men. [27]
