The Emoji Movie hits surprising success despite harsh critiques

Gene (T.J. Miller) is an emoji without a filter who can express various emotions. However, he wants to be normal, like other emojis, which he attempts to achieve with the help of his best friend Hi-5 (James Corden) and code-breaking expert Jailbreak (Anna Faris). They embark on a journey through the apps. Meanwhile, the phone in which they live faces great danger.

"Emojis help us express ourselves in ways we don’t have time to express, or don’t have the forethought to express, or are afraid to express. When I get a heart-eyes emoji from my mom, it actually means something – it makes me smile. In this world of technology, the human heart has found a way to connect," explained the creators of the animation. "The Emoji Movie," however, was crushed by critics on its premiere night. "I truly felt a sense of despair that I never believed possible. I do not know how this movie exists. I do not know why some legitimately great comedians and actors decided to appear in it. I do not know if I will ever see Emojis the same way again. I do know that The Emoji Movie hates us even more than it hates itself. I do know that The Emoji Movie is pure, nefarious, corporate evil. And I wonder if The Emoji Movie is a test, or perhaps punishment for our sins. We atone, Emoji Gods. Please, free us from this prison. No one deserves this. Except, maybe, T.J. Miller," wrote a critic from Decider.

On Rotten Tomatoes, "The Emoji Movie" received only 9 positive reviews out of 133 collected there. The animation performed poorly in American theatres.

Seven years after its theatrical release, viewers in the United States seem to have forgotten the negative reviews. Animation has been the most popular film streaming in the USA for several days. Statistics show that "The Emoji Movie" is the lowest-rated title that has become number one on Netflix. Considering the generally low quality of many of the platform's productions, it is a noteworthy "achievement."