Monster Trucks
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: January 13, 2017 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
41
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
11
Negative:
7
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
The New York TimesAndy WebsterJan 12, 2017
It’s an eco-fable devoid of didactic overkill, delivered with energy, winking mischief, unobtrusive effects and a skilled cast. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)John SemleyJan 12, 2017
It may not have the easy, feel-good family flick sheen to win over the box office, but it’s clever and compassionate enough to pay down a few big-ticket karmic debts. Read full review
70
TheWrapSam FragosoJan 15, 2017
Levy and Till prove to have chemistry together despite their predictable romantic arc. Wedge (whose other previous credits include “Robots” and “Epic”) knows how to keep the proceedings generally casual and breezy. The action sequences unfold with an air of lightness and youthful irresponsibility. Read full review
70
We Got This CoveredMatt DonatoJan 10, 2017
Monster Trucks is a weird, wacky ride that's made better by its sense of good-natured, juvenile fun (for the most part). Read full review
63
Washington PostAlan ZilbermanJan 12, 2017
The idea is unabashedly silly, yet Monster Trucks is more involving than it sounds. Characters and conflicts are sharply defined, and director Chris Wedge handles the action with clarity. Read full review
60
Total FilmNeil SmithDec 27, 2016
Rob Lowe provides colour as a Southern-accented sleazeball, while the Free Willy finale has enough vehicular mayhem to excuse its dodgy FX. Read full review
58
Entertainment WeeklyChristian HolubJan 11, 2017
The final result is… rather unspectacular. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshJan 13, 2017
On first glance, Monster Trucks looks so-bad-it’s-hilarious, and it’s a bit heartening to report that it’s not quite that. The monsters are cute and charming, the production value is high, and the trio of Lennon, Levy and Lowe bring just enough quirk to brighten up the humorous beats. Read full review
50
RogerEbert.comSusan WloszczynaJan 12, 2017
The main problem of Monster Trucks is how content it is to take its sweet time before shifting into high-action gear. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubJesse HassengerJan 11, 2017
Monster Trucks, in all its stupid, misguided, laughable anti-glory, is difficult to hate. Its stupidity is, at times, vaguely likable, and if not redeemed by strong craft, not harmed by technical deficiencies. Read full review
40
Time OutTom HuddlestonJan 10, 2017
While Monster Trucks may be bizarre, haphazard and deeply silly, hey, it’s a movie about monsters that live in trucks. It was never going to be Citizen Kane. Read full review
40
The GuardianMike McCahillDec 27, 2016
It has tentacles and hot wheels, yes, but not the legs or bright ideas to sustain itself. Read full review
40
The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenDec 27, 2016
While Wedge’s animation background comes in handy during some inventive chase sequences (shot in rural British Columbia), Monster Trucks is otherwise a clunky nonstarter. Read full review
40
The TelegraphTim RobeyDec 27, 2016
As much as you may find yourself rooting for the film, it’s too blandly directed by Chris Wedge (Ice Age) to repay the favour with anything out of the ordinary. Read full review
40
VarietyPeter DebrugeDec 27, 2016
Like it sounds, Monster Trucks is a lame kids’ movie reverse-engineered from a worse pun. Read full review
40
EmpireHelen O'HaraDec 26, 2016
Objectively ridiculous but mostly fun, this is better than you could have predicted given the title but squarely aimed at a young and undiscerning audience. Read full review
38
Boston GlobeTom RussoJan 12, 2017
Monster Trucks might not be a complete lemon, but it’s hardly cherry. Read full review
38
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenJan 10, 2017
The main monster communicates in noises that sound like belches. Appropriate for a picture that’s the equivalent of a cinematic burp: gassy and inconsequential. Read full review
33
IndieWireDavid EhrlichJan 11, 2017
The scenes where Creech and co are outracing the Terravex death squads are playful and inventive enough to provide a glimpse of what this movie could have been if it weren’t so remarkably bad in most other respects. Read full review
30
Austin ChronicleSteve DavisJan 18, 2017
The most distressing thing is the complete lack of accountability for Tripp and Creech’s destructive joyride, which results in a significant amount of vehicular damage and possible human injury. Read full review
25
Rolling StonePeter TraversJan 13, 2017
Monster Trucks is a wreck, fueled by the crazy belief that noise and repetition can disguise the lack of credible writing, directing, acting and FX. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleDavid LewisJan 12, 2017
This is a film that, in some ways, is too complex for the kids, yet leaves the adults feeling left out, too. Read full review
25
Slant MagazineEd GonzalezJan 12, 2017
The film cartoonishly admonishing Big Oil while hypocritically fetishizing the gas-guzzling appetite of a cute and cuddly machine-creature hybrid. Read full review
More From This Movie

41 Critic Reviews

5.4 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