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Jay Ledbetter

Jay Ledbetter's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer® when published at Tomatometer-approved publication(s).
Biography:

Jay Ledbetter is a finance manager by day, film critic by night living in Atlanta, Georgia. He began writing about film in 2013 and is not afraid to confront people of all ages if they are too loud in the theater. In addition to his work at Awards Watch, Jay has written and hosted podcasts for Film Inquiry and InSession Film. He is an auteur obsessive, regularly diving deep into the filmographies of celebrated filmmakers. Jay is a proud member of the Atlanta Film Critics Circle and the Georgia Film Critics Association. You can follow him on Twitter @MrJayLedbetter.

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Send Help (2026) 94% B+ EDIT “Send Help is not in the upper-tier of Raimi’s work, but it’s hard not to love seeing him back where he belongs: making graphic, hilarious movies with morally ambiguous characters.” – AwardsWatch Jan 26, 2026 Full Review The Running Man (2025) 62% C+ EDIT “It's a testament to Edgar Wright that The Running Man feels like a little bit of a letdown, as it never bores and has ideas on its mind, which is more than most movies can say” – AwardsWatch Nov 11, 2025 Full Review Lilo & Stitch (2025) 72% C+ EDIT “In many ways, Lilo & Stitch is a refreshing throwback to the movies of the 80’s and 90’s in which dread was not only allowed but encouraged in children’s films. It often has the energy of a Home Alone or The Iron Giant.” – AwardsWatch May 21, 2025 Full Review Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) 78% C+ EDIT “Make no mistake, though, Deadpool and Wolverine is a comedy first; a vulgar, R-rated, often juvenile comedy that provides an abundance of laughs, if for no other reason than it throws out more jokes than any other movie this year. ” – AwardsWatch Jul 23, 2024 Full Review The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) 68% B+ EDIT “After being smothered by the self-seriousness of Zack Snyder’s DC universe, Ritchie unleashed Cavill’s charm in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Cavill is even better in Ungentlemanly Warfare, harnessing a smug, roguish confidence and charisma.” – AwardsWatch Apr 18, 2024 Full Review Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) 42% D- EDIT “The tone is muddled, to be sure, but that is just the state of “comedy” on the big screen these days. Gone is the willingness to push the boundaries, as is the sense of in-universe intelligence.” – AwardsWatch Mar 20, 2024 Full Review The Beekeeper (2024) 71% C- EDIT “Stuck in a purgatorial genre, The Beekeeper just lies in front of you, begging for a push in one direction or the other; its attempts at establishing multiple identities end up making it devoid of one entirely.” – AwardsWatch Jan 10, 2024 Full Review The Iron Claw (2023) 89% A EDIT “Durkin may have a broad diagnosis for the fate of the Von Erichs, but he also has an appreciation for their commitment and a spiritual, almost Malickian inquisitiveness with regards to their very existence.” – AwardsWatch Dec 12, 2023 Full Review Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) 95% B EDIT “The stakes could not be higher, but director Jeff Rowe manages to squeeze a great amount of humor out of the film’s darker elements, as well as give the supporting cast of villains real, believable arcs over the course of the film.” – AwardsWatch Aug 1, 2023 Full Review Extraction 2 (2023) 80% B EDIT “Somewhere in between the balletic symphony of violence that is the John Wick franchise and the grounded brute force of Paul Greengrass’ work on the Bourne films sits Extraction 2.” – AwardsWatch Jun 15, 2023 Full Review Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) 49% D- EDIT “There are few superhero movies that have lower human stakes.” – InSession Film Mar 21, 2023 Full Review Jackie (2016) 87% EDIT “The great performance of Natalie Portman, the incredible score by Mica Levi, and the direction of Pablo Larraín make a very relevant reflection on modern celebrity culture.” – Film Inquiry Feb 7, 2017 Full Review Assassin's Creed (2016) 18% EDIT “The filmmakers get a few points for effort but, in the end, Assassin's Creed is a failure.” – Film Inquiry Jan 12, 2017 Full Review Manchester by the Sea (2016) 96% EDIT “Manchester by the Sea features brilliant work from director Kenneth Lonergan and all of its actors, especially Casey Affleck.” – Film Inquiry Jan 4, 2017 Full Review Enemy (2013) 73% EDIT “Featuring a tremendous performance by Jake Gyllenhaal and bold direction from Denis Villeneuve, Enemy is a masterfully crafted film with a tricky but very fulfilling premise.” – Film Inquiry Dec 7, 2016 Full Review Snowpiercer (2013) 94% EDIT “Snowpiercer is a great entry into the sci-fi canon and one of the best films released in 2014.” – Film Inquiry Dec 7, 2016 Full Review Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) 20% EDIT “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a pretty bad movie, but it isn't because of the reasons you will see on message boards or comment sections.” – Film Inquiry Dec 7, 2016 Full Review Fury (2014) 75% EDIT “Fury, the true feel-bad film of the year packs a whole lot of style but, as seems to be David Ayer's M.O., it lacks substance.” – Film Inquiry Dec 7, 2016 Full Review Bridge of Spies (2015) 91% EDIT “Bridge of Spies may be devoid of spectacle, but it is still full of wonder and well worth a watch.” – Film Inquiry Dec 7, 2016 Full Review Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) 91% EDIT “Birdman is equal parts funny, crazy, manic, beautiful, honest, and heartfelt.” – Film Inquiry Dec 6, 2016 Full Review Inherent Vice (2014) 73% EDIT “Inherent Vice may not be one of Paul Thomas Anderson's better films, but there is enough there to make it more enjoyable than not.” – Film Inquiry Dec 6, 2016 Full Review Hail, Caesar! (2016) 86% EDIT “A middling effort by the Coen Brothers' standards is still a damn good film, and that is exactly what Hail, Caesar! is.” – Film Inquiry Dec 6, 2016 Full Review Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) 79% EDIT “Films like Popstar will only get better with age, as we realize the members of this comedy troupe were ahead of their time.” – Film Inquiry Dec 6, 2016 Full Review Jason Bourne (2016) 55% EDIT “Jason Bourne is a misfire that looks promising early on and devolves into a generic action film that has nothing to say.” – Film Inquiry Dec 6, 2016 Full Review
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