Risen
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: February 19, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
51
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews
Positive:
10
Mixed:
13
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
EmpireJonathan PileMar 14, 2016
It has its moments, but it blows the interesting premise — the resurrection of Jesus told as a mystery — too early for an overlong, overly religious finale. Read full review
60
New York Magazine (Vulture)Bilge EbiriFeb 22, 2016
Still, for a film that could have easily become bogged down in Sunday School reverence, or culture-war opportunism, Risen presents an intriguing, oblique approach to a Bible movie. Read full review
60
Time OutJoshua RothkopfFeb 19, 2016
It’s not often that faith-based films, competing in the same marketplace that rewards action, embrace the deeper, more difficult idea of meeting hate with love, but Risen tries. It’s a drama that neither seeks to convert viewers, nor confront true believers with anything uncomfortable—only reaffirm their bedrock convictions, the ones that are worth repeating. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckFeb 18, 2016
Risen is fairly engrossing in its thriller-like section, with Fiennes' restrained performance providing a solid dramatic anchor and the Maori actor Curtis being a nice change from the usual blonde-hair/blue-eyed Jesus. But when the film shifts into inspirational territory it ironically becomes far more prosaic, depicting the miracles in a low-budget, low-key fashion that will hardly win any converts. Read full review
60
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzFeb 18, 2016
The film, directed and co-written by Kevin Reynolds ("Fandango," um, "Waterworld"), is a nice-enough telling of the Resurrection of Jesus, which at times seems like it also wants to be a Very Special Episode of "CSI: Jerusalem." It's well-made and well-acted. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsStephen Whitty Feb 18, 2016
In the end, you get a Sunday morning sermon when what you really want is a Saturday midnight screening. Read full review
58
The Film StageMichael SnydelFeb 19, 2016
Even at its most transparently manipulative, Risen doesn’t feel punishing. It’s universally good-natured without feeling too conniving. Read full review
58
The A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyFeb 18, 2016
Refreshingly unpretentious, Risen reimagines the Gospel as an ancient Roman cop movie. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovFeb 24, 2016
Surprisingly, it’s distinctly one of the better faith-based films in some time to wander down the road to Galilee. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMichael NordineFeb 23, 2016
Cliff Curtis is appealingly low-key as Christ, humble in a way that the film around him would have done well to emulate. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperFeb 18, 2016
Give the Sony Pictures-backed Affirm Films and Risen director and co-writer Kevin Reynolds credit for making a different kind of Biblical semi-epic. Read full review
50
Washington PostAnn HornadayFeb 18, 2016
Risen turns out to be an intriguing, if ultimately frustrating, retelling of the familiar story, here reconfigured as a detective procedural. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshFeb 18, 2016
Risen is a fascinating cultural artifact, but as a film, it's destined for no glory greater than as an appropriate cable rerun on Easter. Read full review
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