City of Ember
Fox-Walden | Release Date: October 10, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
58
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
9
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
TV Guide MagazineCammila Albertson
A fun and moving family film with a subtly dark feel rarely seen in kids' movies since the '80s, City of Ember succeeds despite its shortcomings, not only because of its fun and inspiring story, but because most of its flaws are things kids won't notice anyway. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
An impressive and imaginative fantasy. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
If older kids and adults seek out this picture, which 20th Century Fox and Walden Media clearly aren't sure how to sell, they may well find themselves drawn into a subterranean world of considerable imagination. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
City of Ember has almost anything one could want from a science fiction-based family adventure film: likeable characters, an imaginative setting, and a fast pace. Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
It scores few points for originality, but it's a fuzzier, less pretentious and more enjoyable movie. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
Ember is seldom riveting, but it's consistently compelling, and its uncompromising literal and metaphorical darkness renders its climax enormously satisfying. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyEd Gonzales
The story subtly evokes Rand and scripture, colliding secular and spiritual values, and, as such, appeals to the blue- and red-minded alike. Read full review
70
Washington PostNeely Tucker
It's not an entirely convincing trip, but it is the sort of satisfying movie you wished they would make more often. Read full review
67
Portland OregonianStan Hall
Entertainment-wise, City of Ember is a good family deal: exciting and simple enough for anyone over 8 to follow yet mature and mildly satirical enough for parents. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyGregory Kirschling
The story, which follows two kids who try to save their burg from blackouts, isn't well-executed, losing itself to unclear mythology and sci-fi gibberish. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
At its best when sticking to a classic sci-fi-fantasy format. But when it tries to be a generic thrill ride, it loses its originality and peculiar charm. Read full review
63
New York PostKyle Smith
For a kiddie adventure, the movie, based on the Jeanne DuPrau book, has a pleasingly moody, eerie quality. Read full review
63
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
It's lumpy, odd and tonally all over the place, but its vision gets to you, and its payoff delivers a tough kid's catharsis. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
City of Ember lacks the vision and scope of "WALL-E," but it's based on a pretty good kids' book and it makes a pretty good "Twilight Zone" episode, with hope dangling at the end rather than one of Rod Serling's cosmic black jokes. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The movie begs for a a third-act showdown but, instead, the dramatic tension is allowed to leak away. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
It's innocent and sometimes kind of charming. The sets are entertaining. There are parallels in appearance and theme to a low-rent "Dark City." Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
All the running, the hiding, the escaping (from giant moles, from giant Murray) are decidedly less exciting, and compelling, than City of Ember wants to be. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Though the film ultimately falls short of its considerable promise, there's more than enough here to keep thoughtful moviegoers - of any age - intrigued. Read full review
60
EmpireDan Jolin
With Ember's hydro-electro-punk charms, Kenan's convinced us he's one of Hollywood's most exciting (and excited!) visualists. But on the evidence of this, his storytelling skills still need honing. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Ultimately, it's undone by the overfamiliar nature of Doon and Lina's quest, the outcome of which, while breathlessly paced, is never really in question. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
Stalls at the intersection of fantasy and science fiction. Read full review
50
VarietyJustin Chang
A fabulously designed underground metropolis proves more involving than the teenagers running through its streets in City of Ember, a good-looking but no more than serviceable adaptation of Jeanne Duprau's 2003 novel. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
The movie is an exceedingly slight tale whose entire second half consists primarily of special effects and wonderful set designs. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
You long for things to go bump in the night, but the movie muffles every risk in a blanket of bland. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesRobert Abele
None of this means that the film is necessarily enjoyable to watch, however, which is often the problem when the rigors of inspired storytelling can't live up to an imaginatively designed filmic world. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen Holden
At only 95 minutes, the movie feels as though it had been shredded in the editing room. In Hollywood-speak, it has a weak second act. Read full review
30
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
A murky, directionless plot sinks this big-budget fantasy despite Martin Laing's elaborate production design; the dark, industrial-looking sets often recall "Brazil" but without that film's thrilling sense of an imagination run amok. Read full review
More From This Movie

58 Critic Reviews

6.4 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