The Book of Eli

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The Book of Eli

R

2010

1h 52m

Adventure

Action

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

206 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Thirty years after war turned the world into a wasteland, a lone warrior named Eli marches across the ruined landscape, carrying hope for humanity's redemption. Only one other man understands the power of what Eli carries, and he is determined to take it for himself. Though Eli prefers peace, he must risk death to protect his precious cargo, to fulfill his destiny to help restore mankind.

Critics Consensus

It's certainly uneven, and many viewers will find that its reach exceeds its grasp, but The Book of Eli finds the Hughes brothers injecting some fresh stylish fun into the kind of post-apocalyptic wasteland filmgoers have seen more than enough of lately.

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Ed Koch

The Atlantic

01/16/2018

This picture is one big waste of time, including that of the actors and those in the audience who pay to see it.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/11/2017

D+

The Book Of Eli is just one hot mess with choppy biblical undertones... The filmmakers just tried to get too deep with something that was not fully developed.

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

11/08/2016

1.5/4

Post-apocalypse films are a dime a dozen, so what makes The Book of Eli so different? Not much, except an evangelical subplot that is not strong enough to be this film's savior.

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Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

May 23

2/5

This is too predictable and unfun to be worth most of these actors time. Denzel Washington gives a performance worth noting, but it's not enough to save the movie from itself.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/25/2023

2.5/4

The most admirable aspect of the production is its use of Washington in a samurai-esque role.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

10/26/2022

A violent action spectacle. [Full review in Spanish]

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Kevin K.

@Ltpickles Apr 25

Dude, this movie was surprisingly good. It had a post apocalyptic Sixth Sense twist at the end.

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Steven M.

@klrk1400 Apr 19

With the title “The Book of Eli” you know going in had religious overtones. Eli often offers others a way to not be harmed which they just ignore out of indifference or lack of understanding. He just walker (traveler). In the end he regrets many of his misdeeds asking for forgiveness.

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Ian T.

@IanTrombley Dec 31

only reason that it is rated so low is because it has religion in it, should most definitely be rated higher

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Joseph M

@Jmads06 Dec 28

The reason I'd call it underrated is because it's unique, despite being part of an overdone post-apocalyptic genre obviously inspired by mad max. If the only thing that made it stand out was the Bible themes, I'd give it a worse review, but it also has good acting and production, except for the annoying bleak filter that's over the entire movie to make it seem more apocalypse-y, because that got on my nerves.

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Lance C.

@CapRossTheBoss Dec 24

RT won’t let me post my review and I’m not sure what words I was using to violate the community guidelines. Anyways, simple story, characters weren’t memorable, highlights power and faith, cinematography was incredible at times.

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Dec 18

The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington is a gripping post-apocalyptic action-drama that blends intense storytelling with deep character study. Denzel delivers a commanding performance as Eli, perfectly embodying a determined, morally-driven man navigating a desolate world while protecting a sacred book. The director masterfully balances action sequences with quieter, introspective moments, allowing viewers to see not just Eli’s physical journey but his inner struggles and humanity. While the screenplay has some flaws—occasional uneven pacing and minor logical inconsistencies—it still effectively conveys tension, survival, and the ethical dilemmas Eli faces. Supporting characters add depth without overshadowing Denzel, whose presence remains the film’s anchor. The cinematography captures the barren landscapes beautifully, complementing the stark tone and atmosphere. Overall, it’s a compelling, rewatchable film that combines action, philosophy, and character-driven

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Allen Hughes

Director

Albert Hughes

Director

Denzel Washington

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Synopsis

Thirty years after war turned the world into a wasteland, a lone warrior named Eli marches across the ruined landscape, carrying hope for humanity's redemption. Only one other man understands the power of what Eli carries, and he is determined to take it for himself. Though Eli prefers peace, he must risk death to protect his precious cargo, to fulfill his destiny to help restore mankind.

Director: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
Producer: Joel Silver, Denzel Washington, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, David Valdes
Screenwriter: Gary Whitta
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Silver Pictures
Rating: R (Some Brutal Violence|Language)
Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 15, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $94.8M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS