With A-List Actors on Board, Anne Hathaway’s ‘Verity’ Debuts With a 46% on Rotten Tomatoes

Published 09/30/2026, 3:32 PM EDT

Credit: Alisha Wetherill/Amazon MGM Studios

Anne Hathaway's Verity has landed a mixed critic score ahead of its release. The upcoming movie already has a massive built-in awareness among BookTok and general readers, thanks to Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel. And from the very beginning, industry analysts and box office trackers have predicted a strong box office hit as well. However, a movie making a lot of money and a movie being loved by critics are driven by completely different metrics.

As far as critics are concerned, Verity has had a mixed reception, despite its cast featuring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.

Verity fails to win over critics

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Verity recently landed a critic score of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. That is more bad than good. However, it is still not considered a disaster. This would be Anne Hathaway's fifth movie release this year and the only one to receive a "rotten" score.  Early reviews from outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have also panned it as a "dud."  

Anne Hathaway USA. Anne Hathaway in a scene from (C)Amazon MGM Studios film: Verity (2026). Plot: Lowen Ashleigh gets hired by Jeremy Crawford to ghostwrite novels for his bestselling author wife Verity, who's unable to finish after an accident. Lowen uncovers Verity s disturbing truths while residing at the Crawfords home to work. LMK110-J11869-300726 Supplied by LMKMEDIA. Editorial Only. Landmark Media is not the copyright owner of these Film or TV stills but provides a service only for recognised Media outlets.

As for the box office, Verity could still have a strong run thanks to the huge readership behind the book. There was some doubt earlier because the film was about to compete with Tom Cruise’s Digger. However, with Digger also receiving a dismal critical response, the competition may not be as daunting anymore. 

The suspense may not be Verity’s strongest box-office weapon either since fans of the novel already know the major twists. That puts the focus squarely on the film’s execution, which critics say is where it falls short.

“Felt Like Such a Cheat“ - Anne Hathaway Reveals Why Working on ‘Verity’ Felt Like a Vacation

But for those who have not read the book, the premise of this 2026 thriller could be enough to draw them to theaters.

Verity could be the creepiest thriller of 2026

Verity centers on a struggling writer, Lowen Ashleigh, played by Dakota Johnson. It follows Lowen as she is hired by Jeremy Crawford, played by Josh Hartnett, to ghostwrite the remaining books in a highly successful series written by his wife, Verity Crawford, Anne Hathaway's character. 

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Dakota Johnson USA. Dakota Johnson in a scene from (C)Amazon MGM Studios film : Verity (2026). Plot: Lowen Ashleigh gets hired by Jeremy Crawford to ghostwrite novels for his bestselling author wife Verity, who's unable to finish after an accident. Lowen uncovers Verity s disturbing truths while residing at the Crawfords home to work. LMK110-J11869-300726 Supplied by LMKMEDIA. Editorial Only. Landmark Media is not the copyright owner of these Film or TV stills but provides a service only for recognised Media outlets.

As Lowen settles into the secluded Crawford estate to prepare Verity’s work for writing, she finds something far more disturbing than scattered notes. Hidden inside the chaotic home office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never wanted anyone to read.

“Hathahate” - Anne Hathaway Reveals How Her Most Difficult Career Chapter Shaped ‘Verity’

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What do you think about Verity's critical response? Let us know in the comments!

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Hriddhi Maitra

2342 articles

Hriddhi Maitra is an Entertainment Journalist and Primary Editor at Netflix Junkie. With over 2,000 articles under her belt, she blends her English Literature background with a flair for turning streaming trends into engaging, reference-rich stories. Hriddhi's sharp editorial instincts and versatility across genres make her a go-to voice for everything from on-screen drama to deep-dive cultural commentary.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

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