I Used to Be Funny
Utopia | Release Date: June 7, 2024 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Johanna SchnellerJun 10, 2024
Mostly I love how Pankiw drops important pieces of information in almost casual ways, because she knows that’s how people, especially funny people, talk. Read full review
88
RogerEbert.comMonica CastilloJun 9, 2024
I Used to Be Funny works through its themes in a thought-provoking way, structuring the story more like a mystery to be solved for its main character to move forward and touching on issues of consent and relationships along the way. Read full review
85
Film ThreatSumner ForbesJun 20, 2024
It’s blend of emotional realism, a fantastic lead performance, and exacting direction from Pankiw (a filmmaker making the transition from television with aplomb) make for one of the essential movies of the season. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshJun 12, 2024
In her film debut, [Pankiw] delivers a full and fulfilling narrative arc that is anchored by a surprisingly complex performance from Sennott. Rooted in a specific sense of place, character and emotional truth. The movie is a rare indie gem worth discovering. Read full review
80
The New York TimesAmy NicholsonJun 6, 2024
The perceptive dramedy I Used to Be Funny features a mic-drop performance by Rachel Sennott as a rising stand-up comedian derailed by a vague, internet-viral crime. Read full review
75
The Film StageJake Kring-SchreifelsMay 30, 2024
To her screenplay’s credit, Pankiw manages to avoid a full-on mystery. The worry in these kinds of movies is that the effort to obfuscate and hint at the heart of the problem doesn’t pay off. But the reveal here is thoughtfully constructed. Read full review
75
ColliderEmma KielyMay 2, 2023
It is a beautiful, haunting, and heartwarming look at the tidal wave that trauma brings not just to one person but their entire circle. With subtle but sharp notes on MeToo, cancel culture, online trolling, and sexual assault, I Used to Be Funny is a searingly relevant film without making that its main objective. Read full review
70
VarietyDennis HarveyJun 6, 2024
That convoluted storytelling tack at times threatens to muffle “Funny’s” potent narrative agenda. Yet in the end, this ambitious, imperfect drama does pull off a complex thematic mix. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubEmma KeatesJun 4, 2024
While the writing is mostly good, none of these highs would have been nearly as high without Sennott, who makes a real bid for future dramatic roles here. Read full review
67
The PlaylistJason BaileyMay 2, 2023
Above all, I Used to Be Funny is a fine showcase for Sennott’s considerable gifts. Read full review
63
Movie NationRoger MooreSep 10, 2024
The milieu may be familiar, and the third act revelations and actions are both predictable and somewhat clumsily handled. But Sennott wraps herself completely around this character, giving us vulnerability behind the cocky facade, worry and responsibility in a profession not known for producing the stable and well-adjusted. Read full review
63
ObserverEmily ZemlerJun 10, 2024
I Used to Be Funny reflects on essential concepts, even if it doesn’t always grasp them in a satisfying way. Still, it’s worth watching Sennott in almost anything. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineRoss McIndoeJun 5, 2024
The nimble way that Rachel Sennott hops between the two versions of her character easily makes up for the odd narrative misstep that I Used to Be Funny makes along the way. Read full review
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