The Secret of Kells
GKIDS | Release Date: March 5, 2010 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
81
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
19
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Boxoffice MagazinePam Grady
The exquisite art and fairytale ambience will win over animation fans and children alike. Read full review
90
Village VoiceElla Taylor
Gorgeously mounted tale of enlightenment through art and courage. Read full review
90
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
A gorgeous transcription of medieval decorative art and its themes into a contemporary animated narrative, one that should enthrall children older than 8 or so, along with the adults lucky enough to watch with them. Read full review
90
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
It is only fitting that a movie concerned with the power and beauty of drawing -- the almost sacred magic of color and line -- should be so gorgeously and intricately drawn. Read full review
90
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
This wonderfully strange and exquisite little feature was created, especially for young children, to celebrate the book through another kind of illumination that's been falling into disuse--hand-drawn animation. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Teaches important lessons in the most casual, joyful way. How it manages to do that is probably the biggest secret of all. Read full review
88
New York PostLou Lumenick
Quite unlike anything I've ever seen before. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeTy Burr
A visually overwhelming labor of love, a hand-drawn medieval adventure tale that seeks and finds cosmic connections. Read full review
88
USA TodayClaudia Puig
The Secret of Kells is a magical adventure unlike anything we've seen on screen before. Read full review
85
NPRBob Mondello
There's something kind of captivating about a film that's been painstakingly drawn to glorify the craft of illustration, and that's comfortable using retro techniques. Because after all, what else makes sense for bringing to life the gold and scarlet ornamentation in ancient manuscripts? Read full review
80
VarietyLeslie Felperin
With its jewel-bright colors and intricate use of lines, the result is absolutely luscious to behold. Read full review
80
Time OutJoshua Rothkopf
The movie isn’t quite suitable for the extremely young, but its apocalyptic tint may be catnip for smart preteens. They’ll breathe in the chilly air of a mysterious forest--the way forests should be. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Kells proves that in the increasingly high-tech world of feature animation, there still can be a place for old-time tradition. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Gorgeous work, and its imagery and themes dovetail perfectly: a story about creating art, artfully created. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The movie has a wide appeal, with a gap in the middle. I think it will appeal to children young enough to be untutored in boredom, and to anyone old enough to be drawn in, or to appreciate the artistry. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleAmy Biancolli
In its small, stubborn way, the film is a love letter to traditions that have endured since cave dwellers painted the walls at Lascaux. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
The Secret of Kells manages to feel simultaneously old-fashioned and mesmerizingly modern,and the slight story at its center has the emotional weight of a classic fable: A boy's wild, fantastical adventure, simply told. Read full review
63
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Not nearly as accomplished narratively as it is visually. Read full review
63
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike Scott
Don't expect there to be a run on Secret of Kells action figures any time soon. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Regrettably, the film's story is so busy yet flat that the effect isn't magical -- it's more like watching the tale of some very enchanted wallpaper. Read full review
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