As Johnny Depp's comeback film in Cannes gets a lukewarm reception, what are people saying on Twitter?

For three years, international audiences have waited for Johnny Depp’s comeback to cinema following his highly-publicised defamation trial against Amber Heard.

What better way to say ‘I am back’ in the first major role than walking the red carpet on the opening night of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the sunny Riviera, while critics and fans prepare to watch Depp as Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry?

While some comebacks are legendary such as Sofia Coppola exchanging her role in front of the camera to behind as the director of Lost In Translation or Robert Downey Jr changing his life around for Iron Man, Johnny Depp’s was only ‘lukewarm’ according to critics.

The French-speaking film initially received a standing ovation but critics then responded with less enthusiasm, suggesting that the movie would not stand up on its own if it hadn’t been for the controversy surrounding Johnny’s resurgence from villain (in the alleged domestic abuse lawsuit) to once-again hero.

The Wrap’s Steve Pond said the first night of the 12-day Cannes festival tilted “between a movie and a lot of stuff that didn’t have much to do with the movie.

“Jeanne du Barry, just wasn’t strong enough…just isn’t potent enough to grab any headlines on its own.”

The aforementioned controversy draped around Depp’s return to film and the Cannes Film Festival can be seen from the viral hashtag #CannesYouNot.

It was reported that 123 actors and actresses had signed a column criticising the historical festival for ‘rolling out the red carpet to men and women who attack,’ relating to the Pirates of the Caribbean star.

Despite Depp winning the most recent court case against Amber Heard, the metaphorical jury is still out on his comeback after Fantastic Beasts dropped him from the cast list when he lost the first libel case when a newspaper called him a ‘wife beater’.

One fan tweeted: “While Johnny Depp struggles to pay himself back into people’s goodwill through his meritless movie in Cannes, do not forget that he’s a violent abuser r***ist.”

While another concurred: “I cannot cope with seeing Johnny Depp get standing ovations the same way Roman Polanski did. F***ing disgusting.”

Others shared pictures and videos of Johnny Depp arriving 45 minutes late to the Jeanne du Barry press conference as graphics were posted around Twitter detailing previous controversial moments in Cannes Film Festival history.  However it was later revealed that the delay was due to traffic issues rather than anything nefarious.