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The Critic

Play trailer 2:23 Poster for The Critic R 2024 1h 34m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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51% Tomatometer 94 Reviews 65% 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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The Critic

The Critic

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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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Critics Reviews

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Joe Leydon Variety 01/14/2025
Ian McKellen balances desperation and laughs in this splendid mix of bitchy mirth and melodrama. Go to Full Review Stephen Romei The Australian 10/08/2024
3/5
It’s entertaining throughout, especially for McKellen’s acerbic performance, even if it becomes a tad over-theatrical towards the end. Go to Full Review Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) 10/03/2024
2.5/5
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. Go to Full Review Monita Roy Mohan Women Write About Comics Aug 20
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. Go to Full Review Jorge Ignacio Castillo The Canadian Crew 02/15/2025
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Patrick Cremona Radio Times 01/30/2025
3/5
Still, it's a joy to see one of our finest actors sink his teeth into a meaty role. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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fran k 09/21/2024 Incredible performance by Ian Mckellan playing a totally despicable character. Engrossing. See more Denise T 09/20/2024 Ian McKellan is simply sinister in this film. Storyline fails a bit but the acting is good. See more Milo W 09/18/2024 Smart, classy thriller. Strong performances. McKellen was excellent. Highly recommended. See more Bernard S 09/17/2024 Liked actors and story See more Sue 09/16/2024 Wonderful acting, every actor involved is excellent, interesting story line, amazing sets See more Flicka 09/15/2024 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. See more Read all reviews
The Critic

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Cast & Crew

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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

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Movie Info

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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