Bubba Ho-tep
Vitagraph Films | Release Date: September 26, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
57
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews
Positive:
14
Mixed:
12
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Film ThreatPete Vonder Haar
I loved this film; from the opening “Ben-Hur” nod to the hieroglyph subtitles, it's simultaneously hilarious and poignant, with great performances. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterDavid Hunter
A zinger-filled crowd-pleaser that open-minded Elvis fans (but by no means all) will have fun with. Read full review
80
NewsweekDavid Ansen
A one-of- a-kind horror movie: hilarious, a little scary and strangely poignant. Campbell’s cranky, valiant, sad-sack King is a soulfully funny creation. Read full review
80
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
Campbell is flat-out great, muting his beloved Sam Raimi shtick in favor of a genuine character turn, an act of transformation that makes you wonder why he's never been called on to interpret Elvis before. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarrit Ingman
A charming surprise, the kind of neat little low-budget movie that seems more like a collaboration among friends than it does a corporate investment. Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
Not a comedy of guffaws and goofy gags, but a wry, underplayed little piece with an undercurrent of loss and abandonment. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
As a satire and an off-the-wall comedy, Bubba Ho-Tep hits the bullseye. As a horror movie, it's less successful. Maybe we're too busy laughing to be scared. Read full review
75
New York PostMegan Lehmann
It's a credit to the actors, particularly the superb Campbell, that completely preposterous material can be made strangely touching. Read full review
75
PremiereAaron Hillis
A wildly creative amusement, thanks mostly to Campbell, whose weathered yet still-taking-care-of-business Elvis is alone worth the price of admission. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Hartlaub
Surprisingly good as a quirky triumph of human spirit. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Endearing and vulgar in about the right proportion. The movie doesn't exactly work, but sometimes when a car won't start, it's still fun to look at the little honey gleaming in the driveway. Read full review
70
Dallas ObserverLuke Y. Thompson
This horror-comedy about an aging Elvis in a haunted rest home proves not only is "Evil Dead's" Bruce Campbell a good actor, but possibly a great one. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
Much of the film is sub-sophomoric, but Campbell and Davis give hilarious deadpan performances. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
The film's good humor is often betrayed by its low-budget roots, however, as though it couldn't afford to be more original or ambitious than its premise. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Based on a short story by Joe R. Lansdale, this low-key oddity stresses character over broad laughs and shock effects, allowing Campbell and Davis to develop a quirky rapport that's a real pleasure to watch. Read full review
60
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Playing against rubber-faced type, cult icon Bruce Campbell grounds his Elvis in a wry, understated swagger that holds the film's wacky excesses in orbit and does more honor to the legend himself than a thousand Vegas lounge-show wannabes. Read full review
60
EmpireChris Hewitt
Diehards might be disappointed at the lack of chainsaw wielding, but this is Campbell’s finest hour since you-know-what. Read full review
50
VarietyTodd McCarthy
Mismatched marriage of offbeat character study and unimaginative horror riffs. Most compelling element by far is Bruce Campbell's inspired performance as a nursing home patient who insists he is the real Elvis Presley. Read full review
50
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
It's the sort of sophomoric exercise that will be appreciated chiefly by viewers already convinced they love it even before they've bought their tickets. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneKevin M. Williams
Coscarelli, the man behind the long-running "Phantasm" splatter series, can't quite conjure a complete movie out the concept and stretches the material until its humorous conceits repeat ad nauseum. Read full review
50
Washington PostDesson Thomson
A leisurely paced, subtly funny, though verbally crude chamber piece. Read full review
42
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Don Coscarelli, writer-director of the logy, fatuous Bubba Ho-Tep, is trying to will a cult movie into existence -- which, of course, never works. Read full review
40
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
There is a grungy high spirit during the first third of this film, but then it dissipates like a mist from an aerosol can. Read full review
40
Village VoiceEd Halter
Though unpainfully entertaining, its greatest dose of otherworldly mojo must have been spent warding off straight-to-video status. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Limp spoof. Read full review
40
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Adapted from a story by Joe R. Lansdale, this might have squeaked by as a half-hour "Twilight Zone" episode, albeit with jokes about toilets and erections in old age. Read full review
30
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
The film stars Bruce Campbell of the "Evil Dead" series as Elvis in a touching, funny and at times grotesque performance that is actually the best thing about the movie. Read full review
25
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Davis contributes his usual dignity -- not easy when you're playing a character who thinks he's John F. Kennedy dyed black -- but it's not enough to save this silly thriller-comedy. Read full review
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