Antebellum
Lionsgate | Release Date (Streaming): September 18, 2020 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
43
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
21
Negative:
11
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
38
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireSep 17, 2020
While Antebellum is dazzling to the eyes, it also leaves an icky taste in your mouth in its leering, exploitative depiction of violent, slavery movie tropes. Read full review
37
Washington PostAnn HornadaySep 15, 2020
Even Monáe’s magnetism can't elevate Antebellum above roots that are firmly planted in the blood and soil of pulp exploitation, shaky liberal earnestness and rank opportunism. Read full review
33
ConsequenceJenn AdamsSep 16, 2020
Antebellum makes every moment meaningful or teachable. And under the strain of making its many, many points, Antebellum forgets to be a good movie, which is ultimately what draws audiences in and allows them to connect the dots for themselves. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesJen YamatoSep 17, 2020
Antebellum ultimately trips over its gimmicky plotting en route to a conclusion that rings false. Read full review
30
The New York TimesA.O. ScottSep 16, 2020
Written and directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, and propelled by the charisma of Janelle Monáe, it lines up moments of possible insight and impact and messes up just about all of them. Read full review
30
IGNSiddhant AdlakhaSep 3, 2020
The psychological thriller-horror film Antebellum mishandles its sensitive & painful subject matter on multiple levels. Read full review
20
The TelegraphTim RobeyApr 1, 2021
Antebellum doesn’t so much concertina the past and the present as do a leering jig back and forth, then blow you a callous raspberry instead. Read full review
20
The AtlanticDavid SimsSep 19, 2020
It loads up on visceral scares and disturbing imagery in service of a shallow film that feels like a gory theme-park ride showcasing the horrors of slavery. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleRichard WhittakerSep 17, 2020
Neither inspired enough to work as a fable nor sufficiently grounded to bear up to even an instant of examination, Antebellum is a woeful misfire. Read full review
20
New York Magazine (Vulture)Angelica Jade BastienSep 14, 2020
Antebellum is ultimately a travesty of craft and filmmaking with a perspective that hollows out the Black experience in favor of wan horror. Read full review
10
PolygonRobert DanielsAug 31, 2020
Though the filmmakers hoped to balance the historical atrocities of slavery with contemporary racial oppression, Antebellum — yet another unnecessary slave movie — rarely feels like a horror flick. Instead, its needless brutality, ropy character work, and misguided twist make it easily 2020’s worst movie so far. Read full review
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