Annie
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 19, 2014 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
33
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
19
Negative:
14
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
Arizona RepublicKerry LengelDec 18, 2014
Annie has never been the most sophisticated of children's stories. The latest version is formulaic and predictable, but it has its charms, not the least of which is Wallis' easy smile and sassy screen presence. Read full review
60
The DissolveGenevieve KoskiDec 17, 2014
When Annie isn’t functioning as a showcase for Wallis’ tiny preternatural charm, it’s tonally varied to the point of discombobulation. Read full review
58
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerDec 19, 2014
Considering this musical has its roots in Depression-era American, Gluck’s contemporary take on the material is eerily lacking in observations about the rich/poor divide in this country. Read full review
50
USA TodayClaudia PuigDec 18, 2014
Quvenzhané Wallis is adorably plucky as the lead in Annie. She and Jamie Foxx as the newfangled Daddy Warbucks character have an appealing chemistry and their songs together are the best moments in the movie. But the rest of Annie is banal, shallow and markedly cynical. Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliDec 18, 2014
The movie feels like a vanity production, although it's difficult to determine whose ego is being stroked by this expensive adaptation. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeTy BurrDec 18, 2014
The unforced cleverness of the opening scenes gives way to lazy plotting, awkwardly staged musical numbers, and car chases. By the end, the movie resembles just another formulaic, family-friendly piece of product, one the kids will enjoy and you’ll endure as it goes in the DVD player for the 40th time. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesMary HoulihanDec 18, 2014
Musical theater versions often seem dated, so moving the story into the 21st century does make sense (as does the multicultural casting), but in the process Gluck and his all-star cast create a chaotic film that tries too hard and fails to capture the charm and heart of the musical. Read full review
50
Washington PostStephanie MerryDec 18, 2014
There are some very funny moments in the movie, even for grown-ups, including a video of Will that goes viral. The absurd machinations of Will’s smarmy political adviser are also good for a laugh. But ultimately, Annie is so fixated on being current that it will never be more than a passing fancy. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldChristine DolenDec 18, 2014
The problem is that hardly anyone in the cast can sing or dance on a level that’s more than passable (Foxx is a fine exception). And that’s a problem when the movie is a musical. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKatie RifeDec 17, 2014
Broadway purists determined to hate Annie need not fear, because there’s plenty worth complaining about. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleKimberley JonesDec 17, 2014
Little girls will love it. I used to be a little girl once, too. I didn’t care much for the Top 40 glossy coat slathered over every song, but this heart will never harden to a spunky kid who’s certain the sun’ll come out tomorrow. Read full review
50
TheWrapInkoo KangDec 14, 2014
No amount of self-referential jokes can make up for a lack of heart and spirit. Thankfully, Annie lacks neither. Read full review
42
Portland OregonianMarc MohanDec 19, 2014
Even the show-stopper "Tomorrow" comes off as half-hearted and obligatory. The choreography looks like it was improvised by the young actors who play Wallis' fellow foster kids — all listless jumping and arm-folding, no inventiveness or energy. Read full review
40
EmpireOlly RichardsDec 22, 2014
A mushy mix of sentiment and some off-key singing lets the air out of this beloved musical's limo tires. Read full review
40
CineVueAllie GemmillDec 18, 2014
As far as holiday films go this is perfect for lightening the holiday hangover but ultimately it's equal parts onerous and energetic, overreaching in its attempt not buckle under the weight of previous iterations. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanDec 17, 2014
For all the talent involved, the overall effect is surprisingly flat. Foxx appears disconnected, Byrne is wasted and a painfully hammy Diaz seems to be in another movie altogether. Read full review
40
Village VoiceAmy NicholsonDec 16, 2014
It presumes that children care a great deal about cellphone towers, political campaigns, and Twitter. Still, Quvenzhané Wallis, as Annie, is raw, charismatic, alive, and unpredictable. Read full review
40
Time OutDavid EhrlichDec 16, 2014
Perhaps the most hypercurrent thing about Gluck’s film is how it espouses the value of family while actually celebrating products as the only true form of modern connection. Read full review
40
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike ScottDec 15, 2014
Unfortunately, the longer this Annie goes on, the more steam it loses. Read full review
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