Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 30, 2025 · Entertainment

Daniel Day-Lewis' Comeback Criticized: 'Anemone' Labeled as His Worst Film

If Daniel Day-Lewis was 'overwhelmed by sadness' after announcing his retirement from acting, God only knows how he feels about the dismal response to his unexpected return

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS'S COMEBACK IS A DISASTER: THE IRISH ACTOR RETURNS TO SCREENS IN ANEMONE, BUT CRITICS ARE LEFT UNDERWHELMED

In a move that has left fans and critics alike scratching their heads, Daniel Day-Lewis has made his highly anticipated return to the big screen in Anemone, but it seems that the three-time Academy Award winner's comeback is off to a rocky start. The psychological drama, which marks the actor's first film since his 2017 retirement, has been met with scathing reviews and raised more than a few eyebrows in the industry.

According to insiders, Day-Lewis was "coaxed back" by a screenplay co-written by his own son, Ronan, who also directs the film. But it seems that even the Irish actor's impressive track record couldn't salvage this misfire. Reviewers have been brutal, with The San Francisco Chronicle's Mike LaSalle declaring Anemone to be "the worst film Daniel Day-Lewis has ever made."

The legendary Irish actor originally announced his retirement after starring in 2017 film Phantom Thread (pictured, with co-star Lesley Manville)

LaSalle's scathing review, published on Tuesday, set the tone for the rest of the critical backlash. "For 'Anemone,' he wrote the screenplay himself, in collaboration with his son Ronan," LaSalle writes. "And then, as if to ensure that no ameliorating outside influence could penetrate, he had Ronan direct the film, too." The review goes on to describe the film as a "total-nothing hand" and adds, "It's not even a pair of twos."

But what went wrong? Sources close to the production reveal that Day-Lewis was initially hesitant to return to acting, having announced his retirement in 2017 after starring in Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread. His representatives said at the time that he would be taking a break from acting and would not be commenting further.

However, speaking with Rolling Stone, Day-Lewis revealed that he had never actually intended to retire. "It just seems like such grandiose gibberish to talk about," he said. "I never intended to retire, really. I just stopped doing that particular type of work so I could do some other work."

Anemone sees Day-Lewis return as Ray Stoker, a former paramilitary soldier who retreats to the woods after suffering an unexplained trauma more than two decades earlier

Insiders claim that the decision to return to acting was largely driven by his son Ronan's desire to launch a film career of his own. But while Day-Lewis has earned a reputation for being fiercely protective of his family, critics are now wondering if his comeback was motivated more by paternal pride than artistic ambition.

Co-starring alongside Day-Lewis in Anemone is an impressive lineup of actors, including Sean Bean and Samantha Morton. However, it seems that even the presence of such established talent couldn't elevate the film above its glaring flaws.

RogerEbert.com's Monica Castillo writes, "Day-Lewis and Bean are excellent - their previous work can attest the men are practically incapable of turning in a bad performance - but the film's writing and direction leave much to be desired." Castillo goes on to describe the performances as being "the least of its problems," suggesting that even Day-Lewis's incredible abilities couldn't save Anemone from itself.

New film was co-written by Day-Lewis and his son Ronan, who also makes his directorial debut (pictured together at the New York premiere in September)

Variety reviewer Owen Gleiberman takes a similar tone, saying, "I think it's touching that Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement to launch his son's movie career. That's a dad for you! And I have no problem with the nepo babyness of it all." However, he adds, "But 'Anemone' is still a dud of a movie - aridly pretentious and static, with too much self-conscious art photography and gloomsday indie rock and not enough drama."

While some critics, such as The Guardian's Adrian Horton, have been more optimistic in their assessments, even they couldn't help but acknowledge the film's many shortcomings. "The younger Day-Lewis shows promise as a filmmaker - Anemone certainly looks serious," Horton writes. "But it's still a painful misfire."

As Anemone prepares for its October 3 release date, fans and critics alike are left wondering what went wrong. Was it the script? The direction? Or was it simply a case of nepotism getting in the way of good filmmaking?

Day-Lewis gained international recognition for his portrayal of cerebral palsy stricken artist Christy Brown in My Left Foot (pictured), for which he claimed his first Academy Award

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Daniel Day-Lewis's comeback has been met with disappointment, and Anemone is shaping up to be one of the biggest box office bombs of the year.

ANEMONE'S CAST AND CREW

  • Director/Writer: Ronan Day-Lewis
  • Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis as Ray Stoker, Sean Bean as Gem, Samantha Morton as Nessa
  • Cinematography: Robbie Ryan
  • Music: Howard Shore

In 2007 he took a starring role as ruthless Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood (pictured). The film would earn him his second Academy Award

CRAZY QUOTES FROM THE SET OF ANEMONE

  • "I just stopped doing that particular type of work so I could do some other work." - Daniel Day-Lewis on why he returned to acting
  • "It just seems like such grandiose gibberish to talk about." - Daniel Day-Lewis on his decision to return to acting
  • "The younger Day-Lewis shows promise as a filmmaker - Anemone certainly looks serious." - The Guardian's Adrian Horton

BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS

His portrayal of America's sixteenth President in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (pictured) earned him a third Oscar and further accolades at the BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards

Will Anemone be able to turn things around and attract audiences despite the scathing reviews? Only time will tell, but with its lackluster performance and dismal critical reception, it's hard to see this one making a splash at the box office.

TheScholarlyNote.com will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available. In the meantime, share your thoughts on Daniel Day-Lewis's comeback in the comments below!