Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy Starred in a 0% Rotten Tomatoes Flop
Of all the Harry Potter alumni, Tom Felton might have had the roughest time escaping the shadow of Hogwarts.
While Daniel Radcliffe embraced chaotic indie roles and Emma Watson bounced between prestige dramas and blockbusters, Felton — who played Draco Malfoy across all eight Potter films — quietly slipped into a series of forgettable roles, none more infamous than the 2017 action thriller Stratton.
Directed by Simon West (Con Air), Stratton was meant to be a slick, British military thriller. What it became was a film so uninspired that not a single critic gave it a positive review.
Here's how the numbers landed:
- Rotten Tomatoes (critics): 0%
- Rotten Tomatoes (audience): 23%
Critic Leigh Monson summed it up best:
"It may sound like I'm really laying into Stratton because I hated it, but hate would be much too strong a word for something so entirely devoid of passion... Stratton doesn't even rise to that occasion. How dull."
Felton's role in Stratton wasn't a leading one, but the film marked a turning point — a reminder that outside the Potter bubble, roles weren't exactly flooding in. He had a brief run on The Flash and a supporting part in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but otherwise, most of his post-Potter work has flown under the radar.
These days, Felton is back in the wizarding world — literally. He's currently playing adult Draco Malfoy in the Broadway run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. While some fans are thrilled to see him back, others have criticized the move as a creative retreat, especially since the play itself has been accused of offering more fan service than actual substance.
His continued association with the franchise has also drawn attention to something he's been notably quiet about: J.K. Rowling.
While Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint have all publicly distanced themselves from her over her transphobic remarks, Felton has largely avoided the topic altogether. For some fans, that silence has made his return to the Potter universe feel more awkward than nostalgic.
To his credit, Felton doesn't seem particularly bitter about where his career has landed. He's been vocal about his gratitude for Harry Potter, and he's embraced fan events and reunions with genuine enthusiasm. Still, with projects like Stratton on the resume and no major breakout role post-Potter, it's hard not to wonder if he'll ever step out of that Slytherin robe for good.