Riddick
Universal Pictures | Release Date: September 6, 2013
7.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 440 Ratings
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Positive:
285
Mixed:
115
Negative:
40
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8
oblique15Sep 27, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Riddick did not disappoint until the end. I just wish he didn`t have to be saved. The movie overall kept my interest the whole time. It`s a good watch from the first time you see his hands.… Expand
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1
metamomFeb 24, 2014
Violent, dark, nasty, sexist, no plot, bad acting, too many of just one sort of alien slime-dwelling scorpion monsters. Oh, and the computer-generated jackal was killed off way too soon because it was the most interesting character in theViolent, dark, nasty, sexist, no plot, bad acting, too many of just one sort of alien slime-dwelling scorpion monsters. Oh, and the computer-generated jackal was killed off way too soon because it was the most interesting character in the whole movie At least no one involved with this silly sci-fi seemed to take it overly seriously, but even so, it had no real humor.… Expand
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8
mbeckfordOct 27, 2020
The third Pitch Black film "Riddick" is much more focused than its predecessor and a welcome return to the formula that worked so well for the original movie. Riddick is a bad-ass survivalist fighting an extinction level event that threatensThe third Pitch Black film "Riddick" is much more focused than its predecessor and a welcome return to the formula that worked so well for the original movie. Riddick is a bad-ass survivalist fighting an extinction level event that threatens everybody, with an assembly cast that is colorful and fun to watch.… Expand
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8
mijxeroFeb 12, 2014
This was a great movie that had exactly what I had hoped for, basically more of Riddick from the first two movies doing his thing. If you didn't like the first two then you wouldn't like this one.
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6
Jack_SunshineSep 29, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The bleak yellow panorama of an arid alien landscape heralds the opening of Riddick, narration courtesy of Vin Diesel’s resonating baritone, a rumble so deep that at times, you can barely understand what he’s saying. A hand protrudes from rubble, drawing the curiosity of a circling vulture, dramatically strangled as Diesel punches through the surface to begin his latest outing as the space faring mercenary known as Riddick.

This is the third reunion of producer/star Vin Diesel and writer/director David Twohy. Diesel’s clearly a sucker for his sci-fi and fantasy: aside from writing the foreword to Dungeons & Dragons retrospectives, one of the reasons he agrees to keep making new instalments for the Fast & Furious franchise is for the rights to keep making Riddick films. Twohy meanwhile spends years at a time honing the script, with all the overblown action lingo he can muster.

Looking briefly into the other films in the series, I have learned that this third instalment is something of a return to the series’ roots, after the higher budget blockbuster The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) which did more to expand on the universe’s mythology. Riddick is more monster movie than space opera.

The first act is a survivalist story, which sees Riddick navigating the harsh alien terrain. It’s an engrossing, character based introduction featuring little dialogue aside from Diesel’s continuing snippets of narration. Flashbacks reveal that Riddick was recently the Lord of a dark and violent alien race, but was deceived and marooned on the planet where the action takes place. The gig obviously did not suit his loner survivalist personality.

The locations are stylistically impressive. Far from claustrophobic, the wide other worldly vistas, every frame passed through an extremely yellow filter, emphasise the isolation of a single man, alone on a planet. It’s not clear how long Riddick spends struggling against the elements, but he manages to entomb himself within the ruins of an ancient civilisation to heal his injuries, develop an immunity to the poison of a vicious mud monster, and raise a canine companion, an alien jackal native to the planet, from a pup.

But from across the savannah, brewing in the ever approaching rain, comes the threat of a whole swarm of these mud monsters, prompting Riddick to call an end to his solitude. He activates a distress beacon, drawing two teams of mercenaries hungry for the huge bounty on his head.

The first are a rag tag band of piratical thugs led by the unhinged Santana (Jordi Molla, who plays well). They are soon joined by a second, more professionally organised team, who Santana resents for muscling in on his catch. The latecomers are helmed by a man named Johns (Matthew Nable). Johns has deeper reasons for being here that tie in to other films in the series. He and Santana are at loggerheads for much of the film, leading to some entertaining conflict. Their differences, naturally, become their undoing.

Until now, we have seen little other than Riddick, but the man of the hour takes a step back and becomes a creature in the shadows. The narrative moves to follow the mercenaries as they try to root Riddick out, but are toyed with and picked off in the process. His natural abilities and time on the planet enable Riddick to run rings around the pursuers, leaving cryptic messages in blood around the mercenary station where they are based. By the third act, the common foe (the aforementioned monster horde) forces the two sides together, revealing who is the most ruthless and desperate.

It is a testament to the versatility of the Riddick character that he can play lone protagonist, mysterious enemy and eventual saviour over the course of a single picture, elevating him above a mere muscle-bound one-liner spewing action hero. Most other ‘characters’ fall into simple archetypes and exist only as fodder for either Riddick or the monsters, and are swiftly dispatched. The monsters fall prey to classic movie conservation rules: one on its own is deadly, but by the time the swarm comes, they are frequently dispatched, left, right and centre, with relative ease.

Going to see a third Riddick film is essentially the sci-fi equivalent of going to see the latest Transporter, Die Hard, or indeed Fast & Furious. It’s pure cheesy action, full of violence, monsters and one-liners. There’s plenty of machismo, from the mercenaries, certainly (Dahl included) but especially from Riddick himself, who sets his own broken limbs and cauterises egregious wounds whilst fighting off hordes of alien beasts with an improvised jawbone machete.

It’s an easy entrance for newcomers, so casual viewers won’t be disappointed, but fans of the series and mythology may regret the lack of any development to the overarching chronicle, as Riddick does little to advance this. It exists entirely to indulge in the character, throwing him an outlandish situation, and a couple of hours of screen time.… Expand
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8
HaloFeverJun 19, 2014
"Riddick" starts where we expect a movie about Riddick to start, the consummate loner surviving on a desolate planet. It ends with Riddick using his skills to master his foes, yet always as a loner and always struggling.This is the kind of"Riddick" starts where we expect a movie about Riddick to start, the consummate loner surviving on a desolate planet. It ends with Riddick using his skills to master his foes, yet always as a loner and always struggling.This is the kind of films that would be a cult classic in the 80s and 90s, much like the original "Pitch Black" became something of a cult sensation in 2000. Certainly the genre is not for everyone. This is not a PG crowd pleaser like "Star Wars". As for gritty space dramas, "Riddick" is one of the best. Highly recommend.… Expand
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8
BatfinkskinnerMar 21, 2014
It's not perfect, but if you like vin diesel and the Riddick movies then you will enjoy this as well. The low budget hasn't hindered the film in any way. Dave Bautista has a role as a mercenary thug but still manages to stand out and KateeIt's not perfect, but if you like vin diesel and the Riddick movies then you will enjoy this as well. The low budget hasn't hindered the film in any way. Dave Bautista has a role as a mercenary thug but still manages to stand out and Katee Sackhoff lives upto her Battlestar persona as a hard ass tough girl. Action, Gore and Vin Diesel the way you like him. Great Movie!… Expand
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6
Meth-dudeNov 3, 2018
Despite the entertaining action sequences and the visually interesting creatures, Riddick falls flat in pretty much every other departments. Most of the times the CGI effects are quite bad, the acting is wooden and the story is bland andDespite the entertaining action sequences and the visually interesting creatures, Riddick falls flat in pretty much every other departments. Most of the times the CGI effects are quite bad, the acting is wooden and the story is bland and cliché. If you like to watch Vin Diesel fight CGI creatures, you might enjoy the movie, if not, you will probably be better off watching something else.… Expand
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10
walker14Apr 20, 2014
And once again, the critics fail so hard! I mean, how's this even possible? Just as the other movies, Riddick is an amazing movie! It's really good, seriously. Vin Diesel was awesome as Richard B Riddick. Such good characters and storyline.And once again, the critics fail so hard! I mean, how's this even possible? Just as the other movies, Riddick is an amazing movie! It's really good, seriously. Vin Diesel was awesome as Richard B Riddick. Such good characters and storyline. Loved it too much! And people who have dogs.. be careful! Very intense, with lots of action! Amazing.… Expand
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6
DCEdmondsNov 13, 2014
"Riddick" 10 Scale Rating: 6.0 (Decent) ...

The Good: You can tell that Vin Diesel enjoys playing Riddick and it was good to see him get back to the brutal savagery that defines the anti-hero. The backdrops and landscapes were well done,"Riddick" 10 Scale Rating: 6.0 (Decent) ...

The Good: You can tell that Vin Diesel enjoys playing Riddick and it was good to see him get back to the brutal savagery that defines the anti-hero. The backdrops and landscapes were well done, despite the lower budget. A handful of great action sequences and plenty of fantastic dialogue for the title character.

The Bad: The creatures and other wildlife on the planet were poorly done and looked like cartoons. Some of the action sequences were awful and while I can suspend belief to a point, some of the more impossible scenes were too much. Katee Sackhoff was disappointing and her character was more annoying than anything. The sexual tension between her and Riddick was also extremely forced.… Expand
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8
deathmachineptMay 29, 2016
The bad thing about this movie might be it's simplicity I'm a big fan of the Chronicles of Riddick and I was waiting for him to fight on the underverse and continue with the necromongers(I love these guys).

But Chronicles of Riddick wasThe bad thing about this movie might be it's simplicity I'm a big fan of the Chronicles of Riddick and I was waiting for him to fight on the underverse and continue with the necromongers(I love these guys).

But Chronicles of Riddick was very expensive and just broke even so this goes back to Pitch Black formula which for me is not as great since I'm a SciFi buff.

The movie is still very entertaining the characters are decently developed, the action is interesting and well pace, I found some CGI a little bit bad and a sort of pet is like an important character but I still found it interesting that focus and kinda fresh and pays good homage to Pitch Black I was not disappointed with the movie.… Expand
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2
RickDubsMar 24, 2015
I've never seen any of the other "Riddick" movies but I was told this one was really good. Greg was wrong. This movie was a complete waste of my time. The acting was terrible. I can't believe i had to wait till the movie was nearly over toI've never seen any of the other "Riddick" movies but I was told this one was really good. Greg was wrong. This movie was a complete waste of my time. The acting was terrible. I can't believe i had to wait till the movie was nearly over to see the most annoying character finally die, and then the way he does is so ridiculous. don't waste your time.… Expand
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3
Whizzy_ElephantMay 25, 2019
I was greatly excited by the first 25 mins. The atmosphere, music and visuals were astounding and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Then the mercenaries turn up, and the film pace slows to an absolute crawl. No more adventure. Very littleI was greatly excited by the first 25 mins. The atmosphere, music and visuals were astounding and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Then the mercenaries turn up, and the film pace slows to an absolute crawl. No more adventure. Very little Riddick. I couldn't finish it past the two and a half mark. I felt betrayed and upset by how far this was from the awesome start. Felt like a TV episode or a pilot that was extended with huge number of illogical fillers, and a waste of good acting.… Expand
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6
Experiment626Dec 26, 2020
Enjoyable action flick, but for me, was too much of a rehash of Pitch Black.
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7
hollowMaskApr 30, 2019
Enjoyable sci-fi romp.

Don't watch this if you're looking for high literature on-screen. It's fun, it's silly. It's for the fans.
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