The Adam Project
Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): March 11, 2022 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
55
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 48 Critic Reviews
Positive:
22
Mixed:
19
Negative:
7
Watch Now
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
IGNRyan LestonMar 9, 2022
The Adam Project is a thoughtful, witty mash-up of all the movies from my childhood. It’s Back to the Future meets The Last Starfighter with a slew of wonderful performances from a cast that clearly loves the concept as much as I do. Ryan Reynolds is on top form as Adam, while Walker Scobell matches him punch for punch with a great debut performance. Read full review
88
RogerEbert.comNell MinowMar 10, 2022
There is genuine tenderness in his realization that anger does not prevent sadness and that second chances are possible. The action and fantasy are fun, but this is what families will want to talk about after they watch it together. Read full review
80
The Observer (UK)Wendy IdeMar 13, 2022
The high-concept plot is held together more by force of will (and some decent special effects) than by logic, but the core of this engaging, kid-friendly Netflix production is a big-hearted tale of broken families made good. Read full review
80
Wall Street JournalJohn AndersonMar 11, 2022
What’s lovely about The Adam Project is its treatment of grief, the love between mothers and sons and, to a slightly lesser extent, fathers and sons. Read full review
80
Screen RantChris AgarMar 9, 2022
The Adam Project is a charming and fun sci-fi throwback, fueled by a strong script and one of Reynolds' best performances. Read full review
80
SlashfilmBen F. SilverioMar 9, 2022
Not only are "Free Guy" director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Reynolds reuniting to send characters back in time to save the world, but the movie itself is like a time machine, transporting you back to a period in your life when a trip to the movie theater or the video store was your ticket to a world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy. Read full review
80
Arizona RepublicAlexis PotterMar 9, 2022
It's not often anymore that you find a film everyone in the family can enjoy, but The Adam Project is that and more. Think "Guardians of the Galaxy" vibes, but a little more low-key. Read full review
77
CNETRichard TrenholmMar 9, 2022
Ryan Reynolds stars as a wisecracking time-flyer in Netflix's breezy but heartfelt version of ET, Back to the Future and Flight of the Navigator for the Marvel era. Read full review
75
PolygonKatie RifeMar 11, 2022
The Adam Project is zippy, agreeable sci-fi fun that produces a few good chuckles. But in moments where undiluted sweetness is required, the film’s glib writing stands out in a negative way. Read full review
75
ObserverEmily ZemlerMar 9, 2022
Still, for all its adventure and flash, The Adam Project welcomes feelings. Levy doesn’t shy away from heart-warming, tear-jerker scenes, just like those beloved films of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeMark FeeneyMar 9, 2022
With so much going on, that means a lot of balls need to be kept in the air. Some of them drop. Of course they do: The Adam Project is entertaining but no masterpiece. What’s unusual, and impressive, is that the dropped balls often keep bouncing. That’s a tribute to the movie’s wit, energy, and imaginativeness. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperMar 9, 2022
With echoes of “Back to the Future,” “The Terminator” and even a little of “Heaven Can Wait,” this is a consistently entertaining comedy-actioner with a lot of heart — and the perfect ending. Fine work, Adam(s). Read full review
70
We Got This CoveredScott CampbellMar 11, 2022
It isn’t always entirely successful, but when The Adam Project is firing on all cylinders and zeroing in on the family drama that’s never too far away from the surface, you may just find yourself fighting back tears. Read full review
70
ABC NewsPeter TraversMar 11, 2022
Ryan Reynolds leads an A-list cast in this ‘Back to the Future’ nostalgia trip that coasts down well-worn roads instead of paving new ones with fresh imagination. But there are still laughs and tears to be had this cynicism-free throwback to ‘80s family entertainment. Read full review
70
VarietyOwen GleibermanMar 9, 2022
The movie is a total trifle, but it’s often a diverting one — a wide-eyed sci-fi adventure with a screwball buoyancy. Read full review
67
UproxxVince ManciniMar 11, 2022
It’s a toe-tapper, and Levy excels at this kind of upbeat, PG-friendly action rendered in major key. It looks great, and you can tell what’s happening — a bar most action movies fail to clear these days, including the most recent one, The Batman. Read full review
67
The PlaylistNick AllenMar 10, 2022
When this time travel story is at its best, it gives Reynolds space to convey the frustration one can have about their past, including when facing their younger self. The movie doesn’t fill out this concept with too much imagination about time travel or villains, but it does wind up with a powerful parable about healing. Read full review
67
ConsequenceLiz Shannon MillerMar 9, 2022
The truth of the matter is that even a subpar Ryan Reynolds movie features a crap ton of Reynolds Reynolds-ing it up in every scene, and that can be a pretty enjoyable flavor of ice cream, in moderation. The problem is that like ice cream, there’s not much nutritional value here; there are far worse ways to spend 106 minutes of your life, but The Adam Project seems likely to fade from the memories of Netflix viewers relatively quickly — meaning it’s pretty in line with most of the Netflix original films that have come before it. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyLeah GreenblattMar 9, 2022
For all its earnest sentiment and questionable science, though, Adam barrels along on movie stars and charm, from futures past and back again. Read full review
63
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanMar 10, 2022
The Adam Project isn’t especially smart, but it does leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Its science grade is only passing, but its emotional IQ is above average. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliMar 10, 2022
The premise is intriguing and the cast is top-notch but, taken as a whole, The Adam Project comes up short. As a way to fill an unpretentious couple of hours, it’s fine (especially as part of a bigger streaming package), but as a destination film, it’s a disappointment. Read full review
63
The Associated PressLindsey BahrMar 10, 2022
Pathos and action are found in equal parts in The Adam Project, the latest attempt by Netflix to create the kind of throwback blockbuster that you might have paid to see in movie theaters. Read full review
More From This Movie

55 Critic Reviews

6.6 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