The controversy started when the film's trailer was dissected by a historian on TikTok. While the director remains unfazed by the negative reception, French critics have voiced their dislike for the movie.

Despite receiving positive reviews in various parts of the UK media, including Five Stars from the Guardian and Four Stars from The Times, the French reception has been less than favorable. Notably, French newspaper Le Figaro expressed their dissatisfaction, suggesting that the film could be renamed "Barbie and Ken under the Empire." French GQ also criticized the movie, highlighting what they considered as "deeply clumsy, unnatural, and unintentionally funny" moments, such as French soldiers shouting "Vive La France" with American accents.

The harshest criticism came from Patrice Gueniffey, a prominent Napoleon biographer writing for Le Point magazine. Gueniffey accused the film of being "very anti-French and very pro-British," provoking a response from Scott.

In an interview with the BBC, Ridley Scott defended his work, claiming that the French audience he showed the film to in Paris loved it. He also questioned the validity of the critics' opinions, stating, "Were you there? Oh, you weren't there. Then how do you know?"

Despite the controversy, Scott remains confident in his movie. The director stated that he believes the French critics' negative reception does not reflect the general audience's opinion. Scott's Napoleon biopic is set to hit theaters on November 22, allowing viewers to make their own judgments about the historical epic.