Hold onto your arks, because the first wave of reactions for Noah has officially hit the internet—and it is making a massive splash.
Between a viral, “perfectly awkward” introduction from Emma Watson and critics warning that the film is much darker than the trailers suggest, social media is currently in a frenzy over director Darren Aronofsky’s big-budget Biblical epic.
The buzz kicked into high gear when the latest trailer dropped, featuring a special introduction by Watson herself. The Harry Potter alum, who plays Noah’s adopted daughter Ila, leans into what some are calling a “long-standing British tradition of extreme awkwardness” to present the footage.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to jump on the moment. “Emma Watson’s intro is so pure and slightly cringey, I love her,” one fan wrote, while another joked, “I’d follow Emma Watson onto an ark any day, awkward intro and all.”
But once the trailer actually starts, the tone shifts from charmingly awkward to world-endingly intense. While Russell Crowe takes the lead as the man with the vision, the footage puts a heavy focus on Watson’s character, Ila, as the emotional heart of the story.
As the film prepares to hit theaters on March , early screenings have left critics and audiences stunned—and a little divided.
Director Darren Aronofsky, known for edgy hits like Black Swan, reportedly told a crowd at the Mexico City premiere: “It’s a very, very different movie… Anything you’re expecting, you’re f—ing wrong.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, that premiere received a mixed response, with some audience members clapping for seconds from their seats while others complained the film “dragged” or felt “slow.”
Online, the critical community is warning fans that the marketing might be slightly misleading. Peter Sciretta of /Film noted on X that the movie is “a much different film than what’s being advertised,” describing it as a “Biblical epic meets fantasy, with a philosophical core.”
Others are pointing out that the movie doesn’t shy away from the grittier aspects of the deluge. “What I wonder is how audiences will take the way Noah himself gets dark,” tweeted Devin Faraci. “The film doesn’t shy from the fact he leaves LOTS of people to die.”
The film has already faced its fair share of drama behind the scenes. Reports previously surfaced that the studio added disclaimers to marketing materials to appease religious viewers—reportedly without Aronofsky’s consent.
However, early buzz suggests the director’s singular, divisive vision has remained intact. Nathan Adams of Temple of Reviews teased that the second half of the film is actually a “character-based thriller” filled with “heavy fantasy elements.”
Joining Crowe and Watson in the star-studded cast are Jennifer Connelly as Naameh, and Logan Lerman and Douglas Booth as Noah’s sons.
Will audiences embrace this dark, “polarizing” take on one of history’s oldest stories, or will it sink at the box office like Aronofsky’s previous cult-favorite The Fountain?
One thing is for sure: with Emma Watson at the helm and a “dark” Noah at the wheel, this is one voyage the internet won’t stop talking about anytime soon.
Are you boarding the ark on March , or waiting for the storm to pass? Let us know in the comments!
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
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