Cameron Diaz’s long-awaited comeback to Hollywood with her new Netflix movie Back in Action has received a solid audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Helmed by Horrible Bosses director Seth Gordon, Diaz stars in the action-comedy alongside Jamie Foxx as Emily and Matt, former undercover CIA agents who go on the run with their children after their identities are discovered by a mysterious enemy. Marking the first pairing between Diaz and Foxx since 2014’s Annie, critics have not been kind to Back in Action, netting it a 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now, with the movie in its debut weekend on Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes has calculated Back in Action’s Audience score. With over 250 reviews calculated on the review aggregate, the action-comedy currently sits at a 64% approval rating from viewers. This is not only more than double that of its decidedly negative critics’ score, but also gives it a Fresh score from audiences, marking a promising start for Diaz’s comeback with viewers.
What This Means for Diaz’s Return

Back In Action’s Scores Are Significant For Her Future

Although the film has not fared well with critics, with many finding fault with the script and pacing, Diaz’s return to Hollywood is still being praised as one of the movie’s better elements. On the other hand, audience members seem to have enjoyed the new Netflix action-comedy, with many citing Back in Action as a perfect movie to watch with family, and also praising the leads for their performances. This divide highlights Diaz’s star power’s ability to captivate viewers, even when the script may fail to deliver.
Another major takeaway from Back in Action’s positive score from audiences on the platform is that it’s Diaz’s first Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes in over 15 years. The majority of her films through the 2000s and 2010s were poorly received by critics, while even audiences were decidedly mixed on them, her last Fresh score coming from audiences in the 2009 drama My Sister’s Keeper. Check out the Rotten Tomatoes scores from Diaz’s movies since My Sister’s Keeper in the chart below:

Title

RT Critics Score

RT Audience Score

My Sister’s Keeper

47%

72%

The Box

42%

24%

Shrek Forever After

58%

54%

Knight and Day

51%

49%

The Green Hornet

45%

43%

Bad Teacher

45%

36%

What To Expect When You’re Expecting

23%

47%

Gambit

17%

24%

The Counselor

33%

24%

The Other Woman

27%

57%

Sex Tape

16%

33%

Annie

28%

59%

The positive response from the audience indicates that there is still a great desire to see more of Diaz on screen. Her comeback is an encouraging sign for those who were awaiting her return, as it demonstrates she can still hold her own in a fast-paced action-comedy, even after a decade away from the spotlight. While the film may not receive awards buzz, it does reaffirm Diaz’s status as a beloved figure in Hollywood, while also demonstrating Netflix’s ability to draw viewers through high-profile stars.
Our Take On Cameron Diaz’s Comeback

A Warm Welcome Back

Cameron Diaz’s return to acting is a reminder of her talent and charm, and of why she became a household name in the first place. Although Back in Action may have not wowed critics, the audience reception indicates that the public is glad to have her back. If Diaz continues to choose projects that cater to her strengths and capitalize on her star power, she could see an even bigger resurgence in her career, whether it’s through another Netflix project, a Back in Action sequel, or a different venture entirely.
Back In Action’s Fresh Audience Score Bodes Well For Cameron Diaz’s Other Upcoming Projects

Back in Action is only the first of several projects to mark Diaz’s long-awaited return. She has been cast in Outcome, an upcoming dark comedy movie directed and co-written by Jonah Hill. In addition to Diaz and Hill, Outcome’s cast includes Keanu Reeves, Matt Bomer, David Spade, and Laverne Cox. Diaz has also joined the cast of Shrek 5, with the sequel in the long-running franchise scheduled to debut in theaters on December 23, 2026.

If Diaz is able to garner such a positive reception for Back in Action, the reception will likely be even better for Shrek 5 and Outcome.

Even though Back in Action did not receive strong reviews, the Popcornmeter score proves that the majority of audiences are enjoying Diaz in a new movie again, and that her performance is one of the best parts of the action comedy film. If Diaz is able to garner such a positive reception for Back in Action, the reception will likely be even better for Shrek 5 and Outcome. Back in Action has the appeal of seeing Diaz and Foxx reunite, but Shrek 5 has the even greater appeal of Diaz reuniting with Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy.

Related

Back In Action Cast & Character Guide

Netflix’s Back in Action finally reunites Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, and here are the other stars who appear in the new Netflix action film.

Diaz’s star power is enough to get many audiences interested in any project that she stars in and that will likely continue to be the case in the coming years. With Back in Action being exclusive to streaming, it will be intriguing to see how her stardom contributes to the box office performance of a theatrical movie. There is a good chance that Diaz’s next movies will be well-received because of her, which can translate to box office success.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Back in Action follows former CIA operatives Emily and Matt, who are thrust back into espionage years after retiring to raise a family. Released on January 17, 2025, the film unravels their return to the clandestine world when their identities are exposed.

Release Date

January 17, 2025

Cast

Cameron Diaz
, Jamie Foxx
, McKenna Roberts
, Glenn Close
, Kyle Chandler
, Andrew Scott
, Jamie Demetriou
, Fola Evans-Akingbola
, Anna Stadler
, Tom Brittney
, Adam Basil
, Erol Ismail
, Lee Charles
, Alfredo Tavares
, Ruth Clarson
, Julia Westcott-Hutton
, Katrina Durden
, Robert Besta
, Bashir Salahuddin
, Ben VanderMey
, Jude Mack
, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo
, Tobi Bamtefa

Character(s)

Emily
, Matt
, Alice
, Ginny
, Chuck
, Baron
, Nigel
, Wendy
, Uncredited
, Dylan
, Perilla de Volka
, Guardaespaldas del pasillo Tate
, Chica tatuada de Volka
, Balthazar Gor
, Coach Chris
, Tyler
, Daphne
, Airport Immigration Officer Keita
, MI6 Agent Obasi

Director

Seth Gordon

Producers

Beau Bauman
, Jamie Foxx
, Jenno Topping
, Sharla Sumpter
, Tim Lewis
, W. Mark McNair
, Brendan O’Brien
, Datari Turner

Writers

Seth Gordon
, Brendan O’Brien

Studio(s)

Exhibit A
, Chernin Entertainment
, Good One Productions

Distributor(s)

Netflix

Expand