Never Back Down
Summit Distribution | Release Date: March 14, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
39
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
12
Negative:
7
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Formulaic and derivative, but sufficiently well made to work as both teen-angst melodrama and bone-rattling brawl picture. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterStephen Farber
Although the movie set in the hot new arena of mixed martial arts is a bit short on star power, it's energetic and warm-hearted enough to become a word-of-mouth hit. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
The movie is just a cheesy, preposterous, semi-eroticized way of yelling, "Fight! Fight!," when two people go at it in the school cafeteria. Read full review
60
VarietyJohn Anderson
Best part, though, is the cast: Everyone's a model, everyone beats each other half to death, and no one looks as if they've ever suffered so much as a coldsore. Read full review
60
Village VoiceJim Ridley
A modest surprise: better acted than needed, better made than expected. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Director Jeff Wadlow and screenwriter Chris Hauty are so committed to following through on the "Karate Kid" formula that they don't care for novelty; it's enough for them just to hit their cues and play up the slo-mo MMA brutality. In the future, movies this derivative will be made by robots. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Jeff Wadlow directed this exploitation flick, which seems designed for students on spring break. Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
This movie isn't bad just because it follows a formula slavishly but because it does so without verve or passion. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesJan Stuart
A disposable sports drama. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleRuthe Stein
A junior version of "Fight Club," only with no movie stars and different moves. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
By the time ever-noble, ever-watchable Djimon Hounsou shows up to teach earnest young Jake honor and roundhouse kicks, the power-rock and smashmouth idiocy become like a fever dream, sweaty and hard to shake off. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleSteve Davis
Borrows from other movies almost shamelessly. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
It’s a little “Karate Kid,” a smidge of “Fight Club” (with none of the ironic ambivalence toward violence that David Fincher brought to that story), a lot of “The O.C.” (evil boy Gigandet played an evil boy on that series), and presto: probable hit. Read full review
40
Film ThreatFelix Vasques Jr.
About as bland, predictable, and self-important as you’d expect. Read full review
40
EmpireNick De Semlyen
"The Karate Kid" meets "Fight Club" but it's no way near as good as it sounds. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jason McBride
At times, the film is more fun than it deserves to be, and it's probably a lot more fun if you're a 13-year-old with an addiction to "Bully: Scholarship Edition." Read full review
30
The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis
The movie speeds up and slows down as though controlled by a director in the grip of competing medications. For those who make it to the final beatdown, however, the only pill worth taking is the one that makes you forget. Read full review
25
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
While too bland and stupid to be offensive, Never Back Down spouts a hollow message of nonviolence while celebrating the brutal satisfaction of beating the crap out of someone. Read full review
25
New York PostKyle Smith
A formula flick that should have tapped out in the script stage. Read full review
25
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Reprehensible. Read full review
25
Entertainment WeeklyGregory Kirschling
Movie is dopey. And with its emphasis on stupid violence, xylophone abs, and getting yourself on YouTube, it's yet another product that makes you feel bad about today's youth culture. Read full review
20
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Sitting through this is groan-inducing enough, but it's spiritually depressing to watch Djimon Hounsou, who deserves better. Read full review
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