Jason Bateman Reveals Hilarious Reaction To Bad Reviews for Ozark

Jason Bateman spoke about Ozark’s negative reviews, and he admits it made him “laugh [his] a–off.” The actor recently opened up about reading every review of his work, why public perception matters to him, and how even the harshest critiques can tickle the funny bone.

Jason Bateman found Ozark review that called him ‘boring to watch’ funny

Despite a career spanning nearly five decades, Jason Bateman remains a self-described “people pleaser” who cares deeply about public and critical opinion. “I read all the reviews,” Bateman told Esquire. “I am doing these projects for public consumption, so it matters to me what the public thinks about them. It matters to me what critics think about them.”

But for Bateman, maintaining personal equilibrium is the ultimate priority. “What’s most important is that the weather inside is 72 and breezy,” he explained. “It takes a lot of work to stay happy, to stay clear, and to be proud of yourself.”

This mindset allowed him to laugh off one of his most memorable bad reviews. Bateman specifically recalled New York Times critic Mike Hale’s take on the Ozark pilot. “Mike Hale basically said I was so boring to watch, it reminded him of the person that he buys a ticket from in the airport,” Bateman shared. His reaction? “I laughed my a– off. I appreciate those that get creative with it.”

In his 2017 review, Hale wrote that Bateman played his character “with the aggressive blandness of an airline gate agent.” The critique stood in stark contrast to the acclaim the actor later received.

Bateman got four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Marty Byrde, along with multiple Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations throughout the show’s four-season run.

Ultimately, Jason Bateman focuses on the work and his own satisfaction, a lesson forged through ups and downs from child stardom to his current success.

Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.