Updated October 12, 2026. If you have seen claims that MGM+’s new Treasure Island is already sitting at a “mixed” Metacritic score, there is an important distinction to make: at the time of this check, a verified Metascore for the 2026 series could not be confirmed on Metacritic’s listing. That means there is not yet a reliable series score to break down.
The early critical picture is still taking shape. Rotten Tomatoes’ page for Treasure Island (2026) currently lists zero critic reviews, while individual reviews are beginning to appear elsewhere. So the most useful score breakdown right now is not a made-up number—it is a look at what the available criticism says, what the review aggregators do and do not show, and how to read the first wave responsibly.
Is Treasure Island (2026) officially “mixed” on Metacritic?
Not on the evidence currently available. A search for Metacritic’s Treasure Island results can surface older productions with the same title. Those are not the new MGM+ series, and their scores should not be attributed to David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell’s 2026 adaptation.
For example, Metacritic has a separate page for the 2012 television miniseries Treasure Island, which shows a 58 Metascore based on seven critic reviews. That is an older production, not a score for the current MGM+ show. The 1950 Disney film has its own separate page and a different score again. Search-result snippets can blur these entries together, so check the year and format before repeating a number.
What do the early reviews actually say?
The first reviews suggest a divided conversation about the adaptation’s creative choices, but that is different from having a settled aggregate score. In a review published by The Times, the production is described as visually handsome and David Oyelowo’s Long John Silver is singled out as a compelling presence, while the overall tone is criticized for struggling to balance family adventure with darker material.
RogerEbert.com’s review is considerably harsher, arguing that the expanded role for Jim Hawkins’ mother and the grittier approach do not sufficiently justify reworking the familiar story. These are individual critics’ judgments, not a consensus percentage—and two reviews cannot establish a dependable audience-wide verdict.
Why the first Metacritic number may take time
Metacritic calculates a weighted score from eligible professional reviews. It is not simply a count of positive and negative reactions, and it does not necessarily publish a score as soon as a show premieres. A small sample can also make an early aggregate volatile: one additional review may have an outsized effect when only a handful are included.
- Metascore: a weighted aggregate of eligible critics’ reviews, when a score is available.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: the percentage of counted critic reviews classified as positive, not an average rating out of 100.
- Audience ratings: a separate measure that may appear later and can reflect a different group of viewers.
These metrics answer different questions. A show can have a low average review score while still earning a high percentage of positive reviews, or vice versa. Avoid comparing them as if they were interchangeable.
What critics appear to be debating
Based on the reviews available so far, three questions are emerging:
1. Does the expanded role for Bess Hawkins work?
Hayley Atwell’s Bess is positioned more centrally than in many familiar versions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s story. That gives the series another adult point of view and changes the mother-son dynamic. For some viewers, this can make the adaptation feel more contemporary; for others, it may pull attention away from Jim’s coming-of-age journey.
2. Is Long John Silver compelling enough to anchor the series?
Oyelowo’s performance has been a notable point of discussion in early coverage. The key question is whether Silver’s menace, charisma, and shifting loyalties can hold together a six-part story, not merely whether the actor makes a strong first impression.
3. Can the show balance grit with classic adventure?
A more violent or psychologically serious Treasure Island can distinguish itself from lighter adaptations, but tonal consistency matters. If scenes feel as though they belong to different kinds of shows, some viewers may experience the result as uneven rather than daring.
How to track the score without getting misled
- Open the Metacritic TV listing for Treasure Island and confirm the year and production before quoting a score.
- Check the Rotten Tomatoes page for the 2026 series for the current critic-review count.
- Read more than the headline or score. A review’s reasoning often tells you more about whether the show matches your taste.
- Recheck after additional reviews are published. Early scores and review counts are provisional snapshots, not final verdicts.
For more coverage, read our Episode 1 ending-twist breakdown and our guide to Jim Hawkins’ photographic memory and the treasure map.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Metacritic score for MGM+’s Treasure Island (2026)?
At the time this article was checked on October 12, 2026, I could not verify a published Metascore for the 2026 series. Check Metacritic directly for the latest listing.
Why are some search results showing a mixed score?
Metacritic has separate listings for older productions with the same title, including a 2012 television miniseries. Always confirm that a result refers to the 2026 MGM+ series before citing its score.
Does Rotten Tomatoes have a critic score yet?
The Rotten Tomatoes page for the 2026 series showed zero critic reviews at the time of checking. That status can change as more reviews are added.
Is Treasure Island being reviewed positively or negatively?
The early reviews located for this article are not uniformly enthusiastic: one praises Oyelowo’s presence while questioning the show’s tonal balance, and another criticizes the adaptation’s expanded and darker choices. That is an early sample, not a complete critical consensus.
Reporting note: Scores and review counts can change. This article distinguishes verified aggregator listings from individual reviews and will need updating as more reviews appear.
By Shivam Das
