Empire's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
For 6,821 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 54% higher than the average critic
  • 3% same as the average critic
  • 43% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.9 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Movie review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 Oppenheimer
Lowest review score: 20 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Score distribution:
6821 movie reviews
  1. Interesting portrait of the shallow nature of fame but overall this fails to engage on an emotional level.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Holocaust drama shot like costume drama, creating a sense of aesthetic disharmony.
  2. Guy Ritchie delivers a nice surprise: an LA neo-noir with high-voltage action and an ice-cube-cool Statham. If it gets a bit tangled up in its time-hopping reveals, it’s largely 
an enjoyable, rattlesnake-mean thriller.
  3. More style than substance... but such sexy, sexy style...
  4. Weightless, but not without its enchantments, this is Woody Allen coasting. But where better to coast than the loveliest coast of all?
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    You'll know exactly where it's going, but it still has Clint doing full-on-cranky and is a fun finger-up at corporate suits the world over.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Not as good as The Full Monty or Brassed Off but better than Swimming With Men and Fisherman’s Friends, Military Wives is a familiar, entertaining hymn to the power of people coming together in adversity.
  5. Nearly as good as the last film — the starrier cameos compensating somewhat for the more scattershot plot — this is fun but could have been more deeply felt.
  6. In spite of what may seem like a direct-to-VOD vibe, this is a slick, nasty thriller with a throwback quality, neither too self-serious nor too self-aware. While it’s not especially fresh, it’s still solid genre filmmaking.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    One of the best Amicus anthology movies, this is an enjoyable affair full of affectionate horror homage.
  7. Okay video-dungeon-style horror, a bit marooned on the big-screen but nevertheless murky fun.
  8. Klayman exploits the opportunity to follow a man at the eye of a cultural and political storm, although more detail on his creative process and private life would have welcome.
  9. Despite its admirable strengths and the fact of it being a true story, there is somehow a failure to completely connect with the fierce boy, giving his unhappy and alienating youth an unfortunate air of unreality.
  10. Well played across the board, The Riot Club is an entertaining glimpse into the dark side of privilege. Yet it lacks the richness and insight to be anything more.
  11. The latter half of Chevalier is a little by-the-numbers compared to its energetic opening violin duel — though it is uplifted by its sharp critique of white institutions, and a strong performance from Kelvin Harrison Jr.
  12. It won't do anything to win over those not already partial to Tarsem's style, but it has more than enough blood, guts and glamour to satisfy – and Cavill looks like a superman.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Anchored by a steadfast James Norton, Mr. Jones doesn’t grip as it should, but is a timely, well-made reminder about the importance of reporting the truth when the world doesn’t believe you.
  13. Filmically it's more of a pleasantly diverting kick about in the park than a 90th minute back-of-the-net at the world cup final.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Dive uses its underwater setting to add new thrills to a formulaic survivalist story, even if its attempts at emotional depth end up feeling a little shallow.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Judd is well cast as the small town gal looking to start afresh and gain her independence in this chick flick about learning who you are. The supporting cast allow Judd to spar of them, with the result a pleasing but by no means exciting story.
  14. A rare grown up thriller, full of interesting bits and a strong turn from Wahlberg. But as a whole Wyatt’s film doesn’t grip as it might.
  15. A compelling, if well worn , topic — work/life balance — is brought vividly to life by a great Binoche performance.
  16. Some wonderful visual flourishes and two brilliant central performances by Wright and Lawrence help to illuminate the Gibbons sisters’ headspaces. But without important context, true insight and understanding remains elusive.
  17. It’s an energetic survival thriller and terrific showcase for Lively’s chops, but iffy plotting and a sloppy climax detract from the terror.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Unable to strike enough fear in an audience, this brave foray nevertheless takes a hatchet to the notion that it had gone soft.
  18. A great cast and promising premise get swamped in an awkward mix of airport-novel noir and blokey family melodrama.
  19. It rips a few too many pages from familiar playbooks, but when it indulges in its own weirdness this film casts off those heavy caterpillar tracks and soars.
    • 35 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    For its target teen audience, it's a decent enough movie.
  20. It does slow down a bit too much for endless walking hither and thither scenes in the woods, as we ebb toward the grand reveal, but the mystery proves strong enough to hold you.
  21. Workmanlike suspenser, with plenty of cold water but sparse chills. When it comes to James Cameron scuba thrillers, "The Abyss" still has the edge.

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