Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- acerbic
- darkly witty
- paranoid
- serious movie night
- period thriller night
What critics said
Critics found Ian McKellen compelling as the devious central figure, while judging the thriller's plotting and execution uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jimmy Erskine's influence as a powerful theatre critic becomes central to his manipulation of performers, employers, and enemies.
Erskine's threatened dismissal and involvement in blackmail and murder turn career survival into the thriller's central pressure.
The plot unfolds through London newspaper and stage circles, with critics, actresses, producers, and patrons entangled in deceit.
Erskine is famous for distributing bile rather than praise, and his hostile wit shapes the film's tense atmosphere.
Films like The Critic, and why
The Night Manager
period-set psychological intrigue, theatrical ambition, blackmail, and morally corrosive social power
The Picture of Dorian Gray
acerbic social satire, literary performance culture, and a charismatic antihero navigating scandal
Gosford Park
stylized period mystery driven by deception, murder, class anxiety, and sharp verbal conflict
Movie Details
- Director
- Anand Tucker
- Release Date
- 2024-09-13
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (118)
Cast
- Ian McKellen
- Gemma Arterton
- Mark Strong
- Lesley Manville
- Ben Barnes
- Romola Garai
- Alfred Enoch
- Ron Cook
- Claire Skinner
- Matthew Cottle
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Critic about?
- A venomous 1930s London theatre critic fights professional disgrace by manipulating a dangerous network of blackmail, ambition, and murder.
- What is The Critic like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Critic as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Critic violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Critic as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Critic?
- Critics found Ian McKellen compelling as the devious central figure, while judging the thriller's plotting and execution uneven.
- Which films are like The Critic?
- Films with a similar feel include The Night Manager, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Gosford Park.
- How long is The Critic?
- The Critic runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Critic?
- In United States, The Critic streams on Starz Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel.
