Netflix’s controversial Cleopatra documentary scores a shocking 2% on Rotten Tomatoes

Netflix's controversial documentary about Queen Cleopatra has debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a shockingly low score.

While there have been plenty of TV shows and movies that have been criticized by critics in the last few months and years, few have attracted such vitriol like this project.

The documentary first raised eyebrows when a trailer showed the iconic Egyptian leader as a Black woman, even though records show she originated from Macedonian Greek heritage.

The series features a whole array of reenactments alongside expert interviews to share a whole new side to the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Starring the likes of Adele James, Craig Russell and Jada Pinkett Smith, who also acted as executive producer, the official Netflix synopsis informs audiences that the documentary will explore 'the lives of prominent and iconic African Queens'.

However, the project was accused of 'Blackwashing' history and the criticisms have now filtered into review websites like Rotten Tomatoes.

Queen Cleopatra has scored just 10 per cent on the critic rating.

Camilla Long from The Times said: "It is patchy sub-Game of Thrones cosplay interwoven with academics you’ve never heard of."

Anne Brodie from What She Said added: "Re-enactments, mostly florid, are brought back to earth with excellent background provided by experts. It’s stunning how much is known about the Queen, hers was an extraordinary life, but much of what we know thanks to Hollywood is pure rot."

Movies and Munchies' Chris Joyce wrote: "While the information is comprehensive, the presentation works against the scholarly authority by creating melodramatic sequences with cringey sequences that come across as fiction rather than fact."

Netflix

Scoring just 10 per cent is enough to make any director wince, however the audience rating is even worse.

After more than 5,000 reviews, Queen Cleopatra sits at just 2 per cent from regular folk.

It's only been on Netflix for less than a week, but that hasn't stopped thousands of people from review-bombing it.

There were plenty of people from Egypt and Greece who raced to give their opinion on the documentary and virtually none of it was positive.

One viewer summed up the sentiment with: "I am Greek and this piece of garbage is polluting our history. Useless random guys sitting on the other side of the Atlantic without any fundamental knowledge Blackwashing everything in their path. Block them, sue them, revolt against them, revenge us."

You can watch it for yourself on Netflix now.

Topics: Netflix, Film and TV

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

@stewartperrie