Savages
Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 6, 2012 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews
Positive:
24
Mixed:
10
Negative:
7
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
Total FilmKen McIntyreSep 1, 2012
Savages is punishing in places, but there are enough colourful characters and careening twists to make it worth the effort. Read full review
55
MovielineStephanie ZacharekJul 5, 2012
Stone's moralism, coupled with discreet but bloody beatings, shootouts and all manner of tawdry goings on, rings hollow. The picture is neither entertaining nor preachy – it is simply very loudly meh. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam LaceyJul 5, 2012
So why does Savages feel so calculated, cutesy, free of suspense and trashy only in the uninteresting sense? No doubt, Stone is trying... but it all feels more like flexing atrophied muscles rather than creating a believable experience. Read full review
50
USA TodayClaudia PuigJul 5, 2012
Savages comes off as director Oliver Stone trying to rekindle his "Natural Born Killers" mojo from 1994. But when the bigger-name stars show up here in cartoonish roles, things feel more silly than gritty. Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerSteven ReaJul 5, 2012
Who knows if it was Del Toro's idea, or Stone's, but at a particularly crucial - and criminal - moment, as a very bad thing is about to occur, the actor twirls his mustache menacingly, like a Mexican Snidely Whiplash. Yes, Savages is that kind of story. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesJul 5, 2012
The true schism here, however, is between the brainless fun of the action plot and Stone's cheap exploitation of the cartels' real-life sadism. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsJul 5, 2012
It's not as if Stone is above this sort of pulp. But as rejiggered for the movies, Savages has trouble making us care what happens to the beautiful people - the untouchables - at the center of the sun-baked fairy tale. Read full review
50
Village VoiceKarina LongworthJul 3, 2012
Soul is something Savages has in short supply, not least because Kitsch and Johnson register as blanks on-screen. In contrast, Hayek and del Toro, both sporting apparently intentionally terrible wigs, give big, scenery-chewing performances and earn our interest and empathy even while committing heinous acts. Read full review
40
EmpireWilliam ThomasSep 17, 2012
What could have been an effective excoriation of US drug policy and a proper look at the violence inherent in the trade is wasted on a simplistic thriller that offers very little, especially given who is behind the camera. Sorry if that harshes anyone's buzz. Read full review
40
Time OutJoshua RothkopfJul 3, 2012
This time, Stone is just sloshing around in the shallow end. When John Travolta and Benicio Del Toro show up for extended, cartoonish dialogues, you'll wonder what year it is, and let out a sigh of relief that the moment is long gone. Read full review
More From This Movie

59 Critic Reviews

6.4 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 71 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL