The Critic

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The Critic

R

2024

1h 34m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Academy Award Nominee Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings, The Good Liar) stars as a powerful London theater critic who lures a struggling actress into a blackmail scheme with deadly consequences. A suspenseful thriller co-starring Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace), Mark Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Lesley Manville (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris).

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Critics Consensus

Everyone's a critic, and Ian McKellen is better than most at playing one, but even his character would give this rote melodrama a so-so review.

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Joe Leydon

Variety

Ian McKellen balances desperation and laughs in this splendid mix of bitchy mirth and melodrama.

Jan 14, 2025

Full Review

Stephen Romei

The Australian

It’s entertaining throughout, especially for McKellen’s acerbic performance, even if it becomes a tad over-theatrical towards the end.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2024

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

The Critic never quite comes together: there’s something wonky about the structure, as if Marber had given up halfway on the challenge of reshaping his source material, Anthony Quinn’s 2015 novel Curtain Call.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 3, 2024

Full Review

Monita Roy Mohan

Women Write About Comics

The Critic is too much, and yet it says so little. This cast of actors deserves so much more as do this setting and these characters. There’s an art to making adaptations, and The Critic proves that it’s tough to get it right.

Aug 20, 2025

Full Review

Jorge Ignacio Castillo

The Canadian Crew

Outside McKellen and Mark Strong's performances, the writing is also worth your attention...As thinking movies go, this one is serviceable, if not memorable.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 15, 2025

Full Review

Patrick Cremona

Radio Times

Still, it's a joy to see one of our finest actors sink his teeth into a meaty role.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 30, 2025

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fran k

Incredible performance by Ian Mckellan playing a totally despicable character. Engrossing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

Full Review

Denise T

Ian McKellan is simply sinister in this film. Storyline fails a bit but the acting is good.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

Full Review

Milo W

Smart, classy thriller. Strong performances. McKellen was excellent. Highly recommended.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/18/24

Full Review

Bernard S

Liked actors and story

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/17/24

Full Review

Sue

Wonderful acting, every actor involved is excellent, interesting story line, amazing sets

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

Flicka

As expected, Mr. McKellen was fantastic and the best part of this movie. There were heartbreaking scenes and pieces that make you think, but doesn't need to be seen in theatres. Not the best movie in the world, but worth watching once for a lesson in excellent acting. The direction was a bit distracting with so much focus on eyelashes instead of full faces, but maybe that is just my personal preference.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

Full Review

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Anand Tucker

Director

Ian McKellen

Jimmy Erskine

Gemma Arterton

Nina Land

Mark Strong

David Brooke

Lesley Manville

Annabel Land

Ben Barnes

Stephen Wyley

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The Critic: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Academy Award Nominee Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings, The Good Liar) stars as a powerful London theater critic who lures a struggling actress into a blackmail scheme with deadly consequences. A suspenseful thriller co-starring Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace), Mark Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Lesley Manville (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris).

Director: Anand Tucker
Producer: David Gilbery, Bill Kenwright, Jolyon Symonds
Screenwriter: Patrick Marber
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Culmination Productions, BKStudios
Rating: R (Some Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 29, 2024
Runtime: 1h 34m

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