Gaten Matarazzo’s latest comedy Pizza Movie has opened to a solid early score on Rotten Tomatoes, giving the film a promising start ahead of its April 3, 2026 theatrical debut. Directed by Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher, the film centers on two college roommates whose night spirals out of control after taking a strange substance.

What Pizza Movie reviews are saying

Pizza Movie has drawn a range of reactions from critics, with many highlighting its comedic tone and its throwback approach to comedy.

Zachary Lee of RogerEbert.com described the film as “the type of low-calorie guilty pleasure that offers just enough new ingredients to a meal you’ve had many times before.” He noted that it ultimately works because of how it approaches its genre, calling it “the type of spasmodic delight that elevates its genre rather than simply leaning into it.”

Similarly, Ross Bonaime of Collider highlighted the film’s throwback appeal, referring to it as “a charming throwback to the stoner comedies that inspired it.” He concluded, “Pizza Movie is a clever bit of fun, and we definitely need more broad comedies like this in the world.”

Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky wrote, “This film is a loud, proud, and hilariously ridiculous ride that is packed to the brim with silly humor and – I’m being literal here – fart jokes that somehow actually work.” Smith also highlighted the performances, stating, “Together, Gaten Matarazzo and Sean Giambrone are comedy gold,” noting that their chemistry helps carry the film.

Abe Friedtanzer of Awards Buzz reported, “It doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a stoner movie but manages to feel pretty fresh anyway, laying out its expectations clearly and delivering quite well on them.”

Pizza Movie’s early Rotten Tomatoes score revealed

On Rotten Tomatoes, Pizza Movie holds a 79 percent critics score based on 14 reviews. Meanwhile, an audience rating on the Popcornmeter is not yet available.

These scores may change as additional reviews are published.