Daniel Day-Lewis’ Comeback Film Anemone Criticized as "Worst Ever" and "Serious Misfire" After Eight-Year Retirement; Son Ronan’s Directorial Debut Divides Critics

Daniel Day-Lewis’ Comeback Film Anemone Panned by Critics

[Image 1: Daniel Day-Lewis in Anemone, looking somber in a forest setting]

Seven years after retiring from acting, three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis returned to the screen with Anemone, a film co-written with his son Ronan, who also directed. Unfortunately, the project has been met with scathing reviews, leaving fans questioning whether the legendary actor’s comeback was worth it.

A Stellar Career vs. A Critical Flop
Day-Lewis, 68, is renowned for transformative roles in films like My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Lincoln (2012), earning him unmatched acclaim. His retirement after 2017’s Phantom Thread seemed final—until Anemone lured him back. The psychological drama follows Ray Stoker (Day-Lewis), a traumatized ex-paramilitary soldier living in isolation, alongside co-stars Sean Bean and Samantha Morton.

[Image 2: Day-Lewis and Ronan at the Anemone premiere]

Critics Slam “Pretentious” Storytelling
Despite its star power, Anemone has been universally panned. The San Francisco Chronicle called it “the worst film Daniel Day-Lewis ever made,” criticizing its “total-nothing” plot and self-indulgent direction. Reviewer Mike LaSalle quipped, “It’s a pair of twos in a poker game—no stakes, no payoff.”

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman compared Day-Lewis’ monologues to “reading a phone book,” while RogerEbert.com noted the film’s “repetitive” dialogue and underused cast. Even Samantha Morton’s role was reduced to “looking concerned,” per reviews.

[Image 3: Still from My Left Foot (1989)]

A Family Affair Gone Wrong
The project’s nepotistic roots—Ronan’s directorial debut and co-writing credit—drew mixed attention. Though The Guardian acknowledged Ronan’s “promise” with moody visuals, most critics blamed the script and direction for the film’s flaws. Day-Lewis’ performance, while “excellent,” couldn’t salvage what Variety deemed “aridly pretentious” storytelling.

Retirement Regrets?
In 2017, Day-Lewis called retirement a “compulsion” fueled by “great sadness.” Recently, he clarified to Rolling Stone: “I never intended to retire. I just stopped…to do other work.” Whether Anemone marks a permanent return remains unclear, but critics hope his next project—if there is one—recaptures his former glory.

[Image 4: Day-Lewis as Lincoln (2012)]

Legacy vs. Misfire
While Anemone struggles, Day-Lewis’ legacy as a method-acting titan remains untarnished. From his Oscar-winning turn as Christy Brown in My Left Foot to his ruthless oilman in There Will Be Blood, his filmography is a masterclass in craft. Even legends stumble, but as one critic conceded: “Day-Lewis is incapable of a bad performance—even in a bad film.”

Anemone releases October 3, but audiences may prefer revisiting the actor’s classics instead.

[Image 5: Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread (2017)]

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