Pelé: Birth of a Legend
IFC Films | Release Date: May 13, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
39
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
7
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
63
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenMay 26, 2016
Inspiration, old-fashioned style, is the main course being served in Pelé: Birth of a Legend. In essence commissioned by the soccer icon, who is credited as one of the picture’s executive producers, “Pelé” is hagiography. But appealing hagiography. Read full review
58
The Film StageJared MobarakMay 10, 2016
Libatique isn’t messing around and his involvement is proof that the movie shouldn’t be dismissed. The cinematography got my attention and Pelé’s artistry (re-enacted or not) earned my emotional investment. Read full review
50
Washington PostAlan ZilbermanMay 19, 2016
Pelé: Birth of a Legend is too earnest and single-minded to be hagiographic, and the final moments are moving in spite of their predictable trajectories. Read full review
50
RogerEbert.comGlenn KennyMay 13, 2016
A well-meaning and sometimes interesting effort written and directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMichael NordineMay 11, 2016
Co-directors Jeff and Michael Zimbalist stick to the playbook throughout, from typical moments of uplift to a Pelé cameo only slightly less fan-serving than Stan Lee's Marvel spots. Read full review
50
Movie NationRoger MooreApr 19, 2016
A sometimes entertaining, dazzling-on-the-field biography built around an utterly colorless lead performance. Read full review
40
The GuardianJordan HoffmanMay 17, 2016
Considering this is the first biopic of one of the world’s most beloved athletes, it’s too bad such a predictable and ham-fisted kids’ flick was the goal. Read full review
40
The New York TimesNicolas RapoldMay 12, 2016
The film’s director of photography, Matthew Libatique, makes “Pelé” more than an eye-moistening anthem for a built-in global audience. Read full review
38
Slant MagazineNick PriggeApr 25, 2016
The beautiful game, as Pelé called football (or soccer to us Americans), has never felt like such a sedate slog. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenMay 12, 2016
The childhood years of Brazil’s national treasure have been given a lamentably pedestrian big-screen treatment by Pelé: Birth of a Legend. Read full review
30
TheWrapRobert AbeleMay 12, 2016
Who knows what Pelé: Birth of a Legend could have been had it tapped more into that mysterious life force and the true messiness in harnessing it and making it glorious. Instead we get what the man himself was canny enough to ignore: a familiar game plan tediously followed. Read full review
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