Elstree 1976
FilmRise | Release Date: May 6, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
10
Mixed:
4
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperMay 5, 2016
Elstree 1976...is a sweet, quietly funny, fascinating and contemplative study. Read full review
80
The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerMay 5, 2016
"Star Wars” fans will, of course, love this film, but it’s also a thought-provoking exploration of the dawning of our current age. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayMay 5, 2016
Visually, Elstree 1976 is often striking, thanks to some haunting extreme close-ups of these actors’ Star Wars action figures. Read full review
75
Movie NationRoger MooreApr 12, 2016
The whole adds up to a charming portrait of the micro-fame and full, rich (not that rich) lives of the big actors who played little roles in the most carefully watched and memorized movie since “Citizen Kane.” Read full review
75
The PlaylistOliver LytteltonOct 22, 2015
Without patronizing or condescending, it’s an examination of how fame can change us and haunt us, and of the complicated relationships that survivors of something like “Star Wars” can have with it. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranMay 5, 2016
The best parts of "Elstree," not surprisingly, are the war stories these nine men and one woman share, their vivid memories of a shoot one calls "as primitive as it gets." Read full review
70
Screen DailyCharles GantMay 5, 2016
Elstree 1976 entertainingly explores the world of the character actor and bit-part player. Read full review
67
The Film StageJared MobarakMay 17, 2016
While Elstree 1976 appears to target a niche audience of Star Wars aficionados, you may be surprised to find it’s just as informative for cinephiles seeking insight into the industry as a whole. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyMay 9, 2016
There are some stretches of the film that are frankly a bit boring and wouldn’t be missed if they were cut. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comOdie HendersonMay 6, 2016
At 105 minutes, Elstree 1976 became a bit of a slog for me. Visually, the talking heads-style of documentary can be very dull. Read full review
60
TheWrapTricia OlszewskiMay 8, 2016
It’s inarguable that some fans, somewhere, will relish every detail. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterStephen DaltonMay 5, 2016
This is a genial, humane project with obvious fan appeal. But for anyone expecting a definitive behind-the-scenes film about the making of Star Wars, this is not the documentary you have been looking for. Read full review
60
Village VoiceBilge EbiriMay 5, 2016
The most interesting part of Elstree 1976 comes when these actors express ambivalence about their odd celebrity. Read full review
50
Slant MagazineNick PriggeMay 2, 2016
It too often fails to examine how the long shadow cast by Star Wars affected its its background actors' lives. Read full review
38
New York PostKyle SmithMay 5, 2016
Elstree 1976 is an amazing experience. I’m shocked that a documentary revisiting the making of “Star Wars” could be this boring. Read full review
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