Liam Neeson's latest action film The Mongoose hit theaters October 30, 2026, but Kalshi traders don't have high hopes for its Rotten Tomatoes score based on some early reviews. The Kalshi market currently forecasts the film will be deemed “rotten” with a 24.9% Rotten Tomatoes score.
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What is ‘The Mongoose’ about?
Liam Neeson plays a former Special Forces soldier with PTSD named Ryan "Fang" Flanagan who leaps into action when his ex-wife Tara (Marisa Tomei) is abused by her new partner, Todd (Brett Tucker). Fang’s confrontation with Todd leads to Todd’s death, and despite it being self-defense, Fang knows he’ll be convicted of the crime. In his attempts to escape, he becomes the center of a high-speed televised police chase that brings him national attention.
The positive reviews
The review embargo for The Mongoose lifted on October 28, bringing a wave of critical reviews that deemed the project acceptable for a “B-movie.”
The Hollywood Reporter called it an "above average Liam Neeson actioner," praising the stunt work in particular while calling the story "rudimentary." Critic Frank Scheck called The Mongoose "nothing if not propulsive," noting that "its 98 minutes are enlivened by numerous well-staged car chases and some great stunt sequences."
Men's Journal called the film Neeson's "best since Taken," referencing the 2008 film that solidified Neeson's action thriller movie star chops. Terrell Smith complimented the film's performances and appreciation of military vets, concluding that the film lived up to expectations.
"A dumb movie with a big heart," begins The New York Times review by Jeannette Catsoulis, which also praises Neeson's star power and refers fondly to the film's familiar story beats. For Catsoulis, enjoying the film means letting go of whether the film is believable or not. "Accept that, and you just might enjoy the ride," she writes.
The negative reviews
Many of the reviews currently logged on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes aren’t as favorable, contributing to the forecasted score in the Kalshi market. Detractors point to Neeson’s tired formula for his career and a misguided plot.
Mike McGranaghan of Aisle Seat observed that the veteran actor's performance indicates he "just doesn't care anymore." McGranaghan continued, "chase sequences in The Mongoose are not particularly exciting…and the most maddening flaw is the utter waste of Marisa Tomei."
Blu-ray.com also panned the film. "An incredibly dopey offering of action cinema with screenwriter Thompson Evans painting conflict with primary colors as the whole endeavor attempts to become a new Smokey and the Bandit for older audiences," writer Brian Orndorf said.
JoBlo added to the criticism by remarking that “there is so much about The Mongoose that makes little to no sense, and that doesn't even include the film's bizarre title.” Writer Alex Maidy continued, “the film tries to be a jingoistic and pro-veteran story that rallies everyone around Fang to help him escape the cops, but it never feels authentic in the least…the actors all appear to be there just to get a paycheck, and the stuntwork pales in comparison to what could have been a serviceable action movie.” Maidy concludes that The Mongoose is “not worth the price of admission.”
The takeaway:
Kalshi markets now predict:
The Mongoose will debut to a Rotten Tomatoes score of: 24.9%
Follow Radhika Menon on Instagram: @menonrad
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