Before scored a career-low score on Rotten Tomatoes for star Billy Crystal. The actor, best known for his roles in comedies including When Harry met Sally, Monsters, Inc.and City watchmenstars in the Apple TV+ series as widowed psychologist Eli, who discovers he has a mysterious connection to his newest patient. THE Before The cast also includes Jacobi Jupe, Maria Dizzia, Ava Lalezarzadeh, Rosie Perez, Judith Light, Itzhak Perlman and Miriam Shor.
Rotten tomatoes already tabulated a score for Before among 12 reviews from different critics. While it may vary as more reviews are added, at the time of writing this article, are 33% firmly rotten. This marks the worst Rotten Tomatoes score for a project with Crystal in a major role since 2012, when he starred in both Parental Guidance (18%) and Small Apartments (30%). Overall, it’s its worst score since 2016 The comedian (24%), in which he made a special appearance as himself.
What This Before Rotten Tomatoes Score Means for Billy Crystal
You are in the last quarter of your entire career
This 33% score for Before marks one of the worst scores of Crystal’s entire career, whether on the big or small screen. The Apple TV+ program is currently tied for his eighth worst score of all time with the 2001 romantic comedy America’s sweetheartsand marks one of only 16 splats he has received throughout his career, which includes 32 film and TV titles that have received official Rotten Tomatoes scores. Below, see a breakdown of each Billy Crystal-scripted title that received a score of at or below Before:
|
Title |
RT Score |
|---|---|
|
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold (1994) |
15% |
|
Parental Guidance (2012) |
18% |
|
My giant (1998) |
21% |
|
The comedian (2016) |
24% |
|
Father’s Day (1997) |
25% |
|
Analyze this (2002) |
26% |
|
Small Apartments (2012) |
30% |
|
America’s sweethearts (2001) |
33% |
|
Before (2024) |
33% |
These dark Before reviews, which largely criticize the show’s downbeat and overwrought story, long runtime, and mediocre construction, despite many praising Crystal’s performance, could doom the show before it even has a chance to establish itself after its two-episode debut. Several Apple TV+ dramas led by big stars have languished and been canceled after one season, even ones with recent scores like Elisabeth Moss Bright girls (84%). While Before is conceived as a miniseries, if audiences feel the same as critics, it may not receive the viewership needed to justify its budget.
Our take on the previous Rotten Tomatoes score
Billy Crystal can recover quickly
While Rotten Tomatoes scores it for Before is a big stumble for Billy Crystal, it comes at a time when your recent work has been very well regarded. Ahead of the new thriller drama’s debut, two of its three scripted projects released since 2019 have received new scores, including the Disney+ show Monsters at Work (an average of 65% over two seasons) and the dramatic film Rising, falling (Certified Fresh at 87%). So the show isn’t part of a long negative streak and Crystal’s next project could have a solid chance of earning her another Fresh score.
Before airs on Apple TV+ on Fridays until December 20th.
Source: Rotten tomatoes