The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Summit Entertainment | Release Date: November 20, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
44
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
16
Negative:
7
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Fan-ready and saga-solid. Read full review
80
SlateDana Stevens
Mopey, draggy, and absurdly self-important, the movie nonetheless twangs at some resonant affective chord. This viewer, at least, was catapulted back to that moment of adolescence when being mopey, draggy, and absurdly self-important felt like a passionate act of liberation. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Why does “New Moon” basically work, even with its grave self-seriousness? A few reasons. Weitz lets the material breathe, and his actors interact. The film does not try to eat you alive. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Given this swoon-inducer, Summit Entertainment would be well-advised to set up fainting couches in the multiplex lobby and provide smelling salts to those who need them. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchKevin C. Johnson
May be one of the most fun-free, angst-ridden teens we've seen on the big screen in a long time. Read full review
70
VarietyJordan Mintzer
Carried by Kristen Stewart's compellingly dark performance, but also by helmer Chris Weitz's robust visuals. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Once again, the three young leads give committed performances, with Lautner's character allowed a larger share of the spotlight this time around. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
The werewolves have it all over the blood-suckers in The Twilight Saga: New Moon. When these oversize, hirsute creatures burst onto the screen, they inject life into a rather inert story. Read full review
63
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
Despite melodrama that, at times, is enough to induce diabetes, there's enough wolf whistle in this sexy, scary romp to please anyone. Read full review
60
Time OutAnna Smith
Is this sequel defending its fan base and preempting criticism about its transparent agenda? This IS a soap opera, folks--and acceptable escapism for those old enough to see it yet still young enough to shriek at undead dreamboats. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Constrained by the plot of the novel, the film keeps the two lovers apart for quite a spell, robbing the project of the crazy-in-love energy that made "Twilight," the first entry in the series, such a guilty pleasure. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Weitz takes a looser approach than the series’ last director, Catherine Hardwicke, did. He has a better sense of humor, too. Read full review
60
EmpireHelen O'Hara
If you buy in to the central romance, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll swoon. Otherwise, the lingering glances, lip-chewing and regular de-shirting may cause uncontrollable giggles. Read full review
58
Portland OregonianM. E. Russell
More solidly crafted and insults its audience quite a bit less than its predecessor, and it sets up several nice emotionally complicated cliffhangers for the next installment. I hope its target audience has a blast. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Let's just say it: It's great there's a movie that makes teenage girls scream. Half the movies Hollywood makes are designed to make teenage boys scream, and those boy movies are just as ridiculous and a lot nastier than New Moon. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Where the first film’s director, Catherine Hardwicke, plugged into Meyer’s vision of supernatural teenage lust with abandon, Chris Weitz is stuck with a sequel that’s a morning-after mope-fest. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
In the sequel, Weitz lays on a pop song and slow-motion during a critical scene involving the sudden reappearance of a fearsome villain, giving everything an MTV-slick, teen-friendly gloss and reminding you this is just a movie -- a somewhat silly and hollow one. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Actress Kristen Stewart – coolly intense, androgynous, and intelligent – remains the series' strongest asset, as Bela, the emotional centre of the story. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Ever since "True Blood" glamoured me, Twilight seems even more sexless and toothless. I prefer my undead with a little life in them. Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The storyline is all over the place, with numerous unresolved subplots sprouting out of thin air and being left hanging (presumably to be resolved in future movies). Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
It probably won't make a jot of difference to all the screaming tweeners lining up to see this movie, but The Twilight Saga: New Moon is not wonderful. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJessica Hopper
The movie's script and production values represent a big step up from the nearly unwatchable predecessor and make it suitable viewing even for people who aren't Twilight nerds. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubGenevieve Koski
In spite of its wealth of conflict, New Moon suffers from a dearth of accompanying tension and excitement, thanks to the increasingly tedious relationship at its center. Read full review
40
The New York TimesManohla Dargis
The big tease turns into the long goodbye in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the juiceless, near bloodless sequel. Read full review
40
New York Magazine (Vulture)David Edelstein
Weitz’s pacing is so limp you’re going to need the electricity generated by a live audience to keep from yelling, “Hurry it up!” Read full review
38
New York PostKyle Smith
New Moon is supposed to be an exciting love story plus monster action. So where’s the excitement? Where’s the action? Read full review
38
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
The sequel to the 2008 hit “Twilight” makes no effort to satisfy outsiders. It's strictly for devotees who won't balk at plot absurdities, clunky dialogue and patchy characterizations. Read full review
30
SalonStephanie Zacharek
New Moon, on the other hand, merely follows a dictated formula. It's a cheap, shoddy piece of work, one that banks on moviegoers' anticipation without even bothering to craft a satisfying experience for them. Its pandering is an insult. Read full review
30
Village VoiceElla Taylor
Chaste, oddly bloodless, and nearly plotless saga. Read full review
30
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
I’m told Bella’s helplessness is true to the spirit of the novels, but so what? It’s almost 2010 – let’s get hip, people. Read full review
25
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The Twilight Saga: New Moon takes the tepid achievement of "Twilight" (1988), guts it, and leaves it for undead. Read full review
0
Film ThreatJessica Baxter
It’s intellectually and socially detrimental to both literature and cinema, simultaneously. Read full review
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