Critics have generally responded favorably to A Quiet Place: Day One, praising Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn and the film’s emotional focus amid a Manhattan invasion. The main reservation: viewers looking for relentless, novel scares may find it more reflective—and less frightening—than the first two films.
Is A Quiet Place: Day One good?
At the time Rotten Tomatoes was accessed on October 8, 2026, the film had an 86% Tomatometer from 288 critic reviews and a 72% Popcornmeter from more than 2,500 verified ratings. Those live scores can change. Rotten Tomatoes’ listing reflects a favorable critical response alongside a somewhat lower audience score.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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A Quiet Place: Day One | $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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A Quiet Place: Day One | $12.78 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![A Quiet Place: 3-Movie Collection [Blu-ray] Trilogy](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51O4TIkm2VL._SL160_.jpg)
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A Quiet Place: 3-Movie Collection [Blu-ray] Trilogy | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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A Quiet Place 2-Movie Collection | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Metacritic displayed a 68/100 Metascore from 53 critic reviews, classified as “Generally Favorable.” Its breakdown was 41 positive, 10 mixed, and 2 negative reviews. These numbers are different measures: Rotten Tomatoes reports the share of reviews counted as positive, while Metacritic presents a weighted score. They should be read separately, not averaged.
What are critics praising?
Nyong’o and Quinn’s performances
The leads are the strongest point of agreement. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus highlights Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, and its review roundup describes Nyong’o’s performance as affecting and captivating. Metacritic’s listed reviews likewise praise the actors’ work and the emotional connection they build.
#1 Best Overall
- Genre: Science Fiction; Horror
- Number of Discs: 1
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 100
- Director: Michael Sarnoski
A human story within the horror
Critics often describe the film as character drama as well as suspenseful horror. Its quieter passages give weight to the characters’ losses and choices, rather than making the invasion only a succession of monster attacks. That emotional emphasis is central to why some reviewers found this prequel affecting.
Manhattan as a disaster-film setting
Moving the franchise’s silence-based threat into Manhattan at the start of the invasion gives the story a city-scale canvas. Metacritic’s review selection includes praise for the disaster setting, while TIME’s review calls the prequel a fresh take on the near-silent apocalypse. The shift broadens the spectacle without abandoning the tension of trying not to make a sound.
Rank #2
- Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Suspense through sound and restraint
Reviewers praise tense set pieces built around the danger of being heard. The film’s restraint can make small sounds and pauses carry suspense; for critics who responded to its mood, that technique supports the character drama rather than competing with it. It does not, however, mean every reviewer found the scares especially novel or intense.
Is it as scary as the first A Quiet Place?
Not according to some critics. Rotten Tomatoes’ first-review roundup notes that a number found Day One less scary, and TIME argues that the franchise’s established premise makes its scares feel less novel. Viewers who most value the surprise and sustained fright of the earlier films may find this entry more measured.
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Rank #3
- If they hear you, they hunt you! Silence is survival in these 3 terrifyingly suspenseful thrillers.
The reservations extend beyond horror intensity. Rotten Tomatoes’ live page includes a later critic describing the origin story as thin; its roundup also includes a review that treats the film more as a footnote than a bold new chapter. That criticism coexists with praise for the performances and emotional payoff, so the response is mixed in emphasis rather than uniformly negative.
Is it a character drama or a monster movie?
It is both, but critics who favor it often respond most strongly to the character drama. The premise supplies the creatures and sound-driven suspense; the film’s distinctive emphasis is on how people respond to catastrophe. That balance helps explain why a viewer seeking emotional stakes may come away more satisfied than someone expecting the series’ most frightening installment.
Rank #4
- Movie dvd
Director Michael Sarnoski described the creative latitude of the setting to TIME: “One of the great things about the Quiet Place universe is that you have this sort of fundamental creature, and beyond that, you can explore any human story you want to in that world.” The film’s Manhattan setting puts that idea into practice by using the invasion as the backdrop for a personal story.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the film about?
A Quiet Place: Day One is a 2024 prequel set at the beginning of the alien invasion. In Manhattan, Samira, played by Lupita Nyong’o, and Eric, played by Joseph Quinn, face the unfolding crisis alongside Samira’s cat, Frodo. Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff are also in the cast. Michael Sarnoski wrote and directed the film. Paramount+ lists its theatrical opening as June 28, 2024, and its rating as PG-13.
For a concise sense of the critical split, Metacritic’s listing quotes IGN’s Eric Goldman, who called it “The opposite of the soulless franchise extension it could’ve been” and said it “elevates the series to new heights.” Other critics’ reservations about familiar scares and a thin origin story show why that level of enthusiasm is not universal.
Where can you watch it?
Rotten Tomatoes listed Netflix and Paramount+ streaming, plus Fandango rental or purchase, when its page was accessed. Streaming catalogs change by date and region, so check the services in your location. Paramount+ confirmed the film was streaming there in an article published August 27, 2024; that article also gives the June 28, 2024 theatrical opening date.
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