A Midsummer Night's Dream
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: May 14, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
11
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Hoffman (Soapdish, One Fine Day) leads a first-rate cast in an intelligent, fully realized adaptation of Shakespeare's most popular comedy that's at once highly cinematic and true to its source. Read full review
80
Dallas ObserverM. V. Moorhead
One of the best of the many delights of director Michael Hoffman's new film -- is that he manages to have it both ways -- the gauzy fantasy and the bacchanal. Read full review
63
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
The major flaw, the clash of acting styles, is at least fascinating to observe. [14 May 1999, Life, p.8E]
70
SlateDavid Edelstein
Hoffman has wedged the play into a weirdly inapposite setting, has stupidly cut and even more stupidly embellished it, and has miscast it almost to a player. And yet the damn thing works: Shakespeare staggers through, mutilated but triumphant. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
Most of the original play's magical speeches are preserved here, and however far this film may seem to stray from the original text, the delights remain. [14 May 1999, Friday, p.A]
75
San Francisco ExaminerWesley Morris
A gorgeous sliver of grown-up ambrosia. Read full review
70
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Hoffman introduces a memorable sensuality to the movie. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
A playful, sexy piece of work -- just what the Bard might have conjured up for a movie adaptation of his beloved spring-fever comedy. Read full review
89
Austin ChronicleRussell Smith
For my money the most gloriously, enchantingly trivial play in the Shakespearean canon, A Midsummer Night's Dream may also be the most screwup-proof of the bard's works. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
The well chosen cast helps -- no one strikes a false note. Read full review
80
Washington PostJane Horwitz
Only the title is clunky in this felicitous marriage of cinematic trickery, theatrical whimsy and the Bard's fabulous tale. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
It is an enchanted folly suggesting that romance is a matter of chance, since love is blind; at the right moment we are likely to fall in love with the first person our eyes light upon. Read full review
88
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
A thoroughly enjoyable piece of cinema that does credit to its director and cast. Read full review
More From This Movie

61 Critic Reviews

6.5 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL