Super Troopers 3 has finally debuted in theaters, and first impressions from critics are not impressive. The long-awaited comedy sequel opened to the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the franchise, continuing the series’ trend of receiving mixed-to-negative reviews.
At the time of writing, Super Troopers 3 has a 33% “Rotten” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on 18 critic reviews, the film has an average rating of 4.7/10, with 12 reviewers giving it a rotten review.
The score makes the latest film the lowest-rated entry in the franchise. The original Super Troopers film holds a 37% critics’ score based on 90 reviews. Meanwhile, the second entry sits at a 35% score from 102 reviews. None of the films have impressed critics, but this one dips even lower.
What are critics saying about Super Troopers 3?
Mainstream critics have summed it up as the latest film not matching the humor of earlier films. The Hollywood Reporter‘s Frank Sheck summarized his review in just a few words, writing, “You’ll be exhausted from not laughing.”
Variety‘s Guy Lodge said the sequel is “reliant on the evident affection and chemistry between its players.” He also said that “none of that really amounts to a persuasive reason to exist on the big screen.” TheWrap‘s William Bibbiani wrote that “the new ‘Super Troopers’ movie feels less like it needed to be made” and concluded that “those films are still mostly funny and the new days aren’t so good.”
While most reviews were negative, a handful of critics gave the film a Fresh rating. Screen Rant‘s Brandon Zachary wrote that “Super Troopers 3 is the epitome of a familiar franchise that old fans will love.” He also said newer audiences may not buy into their “goofy antics”. He added that there are “enough successes with this hit-or-miss comedy that fans will get some laughs.”
Despite the poor critical reception, the Super Troopers franchise has never relied on reviews for its popularity. The original film made $23 million, while the second installment grossed $31 million during its theatrical run.
The first film became a cult comedy classic while its sequel found a loyal audience years later. Whether Super Troopers 3 follows that same path remains to be seen.
