Evolution
DreamWorks Distribution | Release Date: June 8, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
40
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
13
Negative:
10
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
30
Film.comTom Keogh
An excruciating misfire. Read full review
25
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
Director Ivan Reitman used to know how to tell a silly story, back around the time of "Stripes" and "Ghostbusters." Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyManohla Dargis
Amiably goofy, but it isn't especially funny. Read full review
63
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
Instead of scoring belly laughs, there's a run on randy guy banter between Duchovny and Jones. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
It's not good, but it's nowhere near as bad as most recent comedies; it has real laughs, but it misses real opportunities. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Visually witty and even marvelous when it comes to depicting the spectacular creatures evolving at a speed previously known only in the Bible. Read full review
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
Somewhat refreshingly aspiring to be nothing more than a disposable summer popcorn movie, this is a flick that delivers more smiles than laughs and has some wonderful special effects. Read full review
20
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Evolution is bad. How bad? Who cares? Do you ask how hot the fire is before running out of a burning building? No, you just run for safety. Read full review
70
VarietyTodd McCarthy
A consistently amusing action romp. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleEdward Guthmann
In a movie as hackneyed and as dull as Evolution, the small favors of Duchovny's performance stand out. Read full review
40
New Times (L.A.)Robert Wilonsky
Evolution is merely stale, sterile and, worst of all, safe. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
Demands to be treated with conviction as parody if not as science fiction. Read full review
38
Baltimore SunAthima Chansanchai
Tries to rock our world, but it regresses to a single-celled B-movie.
50
SlateDavid Edelstein
I laughed -- but mostly to keep from getting depressed about the devolution of mainstream movies. Read full review
40
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
Proceeds at such an amiable pace and features enough creepy-crawly effects that many viewers won't quite notice or care how rickety and second-rate it is. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The story isn't much -- the ever-evolving aliens are better served by the cute-but-icky effects than the simplistic script -- but it skims along on the cast's chemistry. Read full review
42
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Tired, clumsy and appallingly ugly to look at. Read full review
38
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Evolution devolves to the sight of a colossal alien expelling flatus over Arizona. So that's why this movie stinks. Play that flatulent music, white boy.
40
Rolling StonePeter Travers
It's refried comic beans that smell stale and smack of desperation. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Half a barrel of laughs. The other half is made of slime. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
There are a handful of funny moments, and the top end of the cast comes off rather well. Duchovny has some of that same easygoing likability that made Glenn Ford one of the biggest stars of the '50s. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesJohn Anderson
Reitman's attempt to show he can re-create the success of his biggest comedy ever. What he proves instead is that, given time and money, a comedy director can devolve into a lower life form. Read full review
50
The New York TimesDana Stevens
The movie itself evolves in reverse, starting life as a moderately clever grab bag of high-concept noodling and half-witty badinage before descending into the primordial ooze of explosions and elaborate lower- intestinal gags. Read full review
50
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
The special effects are variable, but even when they're good they don't have much impact because Evolution, with its self-trashing spirit, turns moviegoers into bemused bysitters.
20
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
Sodden mess, a mutation-invasion movie that passes "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!" going south. Read full review
20
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
Began life as a standard sci-fi horror script before mutating into the unfunny mess it now is. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeJay Carr
It's a ponderous but not unenjoyable comedy.
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
This unevenly paced comedy is an amusing parody of monster movies from "Them!" to "Alien." Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
This is "Ghostbusters" meets "Men in Black" meets a whole lot of butt humor.
30
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
The jokes just aren't there, which makes it very hard for the stars -- who are trying very, very hard -- to really make a dent. Read full review
40
Mr. ShowbizKevin Maynard
Reitman has truly lost his gift for comic rhythms, cluttering up the film with running yuks that aren't that funny the first time and certainly don't improve with repetition.
30
Washington PostRita Kempley
The insane casting: When was the last time Julianne Moore cracked you up? Read full review
More From This Movie

40 Critic Reviews

6.3 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL