Angela's Ashes
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 22, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
54
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
12
Negative:
5
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
SalonStephanie Zacharek
Dramatic, massive in scale, at times very moving. And yet, somehow, it comes up short in terms of essential poetry. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
The question is not whether the movie exactly duplicates the experience of the book, but whether the movie stands on its own. Angela's Ashes clearly does. Read full review
75
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
It really gets gloomy. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldCurtis Morgan
Something of Angela's Ashes does gets lost in translation -- mainly, its fiercely funny voice.
75
Philadelphia InquirerDesmond Ryan
Parker has honored the core of the work and in the process turned a great memoir into a memorable movie.
70
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
If this beautifully made if flawed film sends people back to his book, it will have done good work for sure. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
Haunts the conscience, troubles the spirit.
63
Boston GlobeJay Carr
While the film dutifully reproduces many incidents from the book, it lacks the spirit and vitality of its source. And - no small problem - it lacks McCourt's voice knitting the vignettes together. Read full review
75
San Francisco ExaminerWalter Addiego
The author calls the movie "perfect" - reassurance that the director hasn't tried to pull any fast ones. Read full review
88
New York PostJonathan Foreman
Lacks the humor and charm that fills the book and makes it so much more than a catalog of suffering.
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
What is wonderful about Angela's Ashes is Emily Watson's performance, and the other roles that are convincingly cast. Read full review
88
USA TodayMike Clark
True to the book's squalor but also finding honest humor where it can. Read full review
85
TNT RoughCutChristopher Brandon
I didn't want it to end. I could have easily sat there for another two-and-a-half hours to find out what happens next.
70
VarietyTodd McCarthy
Artfully evokes the physical realities of Irish poverty, but mostly misses the humor, lyricism and emotional charge of Frank McCourt's magical and magnificent memoir Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
At times an uneasy mix of cold-eyed neorealism and soft-headed sentimentality, but after its initial struggles it presents itself as a moving film, made with loving craft, a painterly eye and luscious language.
More From This Movie

54 Critic Reviews

6.8 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