Exodus: Gods and Kings stars Christian Bale and tells the story of Moses and his brother Ramses.
It's due in cinemas on Boxing Day although top movie reviewers are unlikely to be at the box office queue.
"Exodus turns out to be part of a time-honored tradition: the old-fashioned, super-spectacular Hollywood bomb," said Newsday.
It's not the first time the film has faced criticism. Last month there was a protest at the decision to cast all white actors when it was likely Moses would have been black.
The Washington Post said: "It's understandable that people were angry about the whitewashing of Egypt. But no aspiring actor of colour should think of this as an opportunity missed so much as a bullet dodged."
Director Ridley Scott's also facing a backlash for his biblical epic. L.A. Weekly said: "Ridley Scott can't decide if making rivers run with blood is heroic or horrific - you sense he'd rather make Gladiator II: Attack of the Frogs."