Empire's Scores

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For 6,818 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:
  1. Positive: 3,006 out of 6818
  2. Mixed: 3,654 out of 6818
  3. Negative: 158 out of 6818
6818 movie reviews
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  1. Hidden Figures
    Essentially Parabolas & Prejudice, it isn’t the most nuanced piece of work out this month. But nuance be damned — an uplifting plea for equality, this is a story calibrated for maximum effect.
  2. Moonlight
    A genre-defying film. Its visual splendour belies its tough, surface-level subject matter, while the performances pull us deep below that surface with their soulful naturalism.
  3. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
    A flawed work held together by Alwyn’s tender presence.
  4. 20th Century Women
    An insightful and, on occasion, laugh-out-loud piece of filmmaking. Artfully shot and structured, while its warmth and wit shine as brightly as the Californian sun.
  5. Prevenge
    Alice Lowe’s directorial debut may falter in its grip, especially in story and tone, but it’s a daringly evocative film that marks a filmmaker of imagination and promise.
  6. 13 Minutes
    Despite moody flashbacks to the Nazi takeover, Hirschbiegel draws a blank. Elser remains an enigma, a great what-if whose German torturers cannot comprehend acted alone.
  7. The LEGO Batman Movie
    A highly quotable, visual treat that’s packed with in-jokes but is entertaining enough on its own terms to work for fans and non-fans alike. The best Batman film in years.
  8. Love Exposure
    Complicated and long but deftly handled adventure/caper/satire that ends up being thoroughly entertaining
  9. Christine
    Impeccably played by Rebecca Hall, this is a thoughtful reflection on life’s casual cruelties and how little attitudes towards women have changed since Watergate.
  10. Loving
    Less a ‘civil rights drama’ than a tender portrait of a marriage suffering unimaginable stress, Loving soars thanks to its narrative approach and career-best performances from Negga and Edgerton.
  11. Toni Erdmann
    Set in the unpromising world of German business consultancy, Toni Erdmann is a low-key triumph, especially for writer-director Maren Ade and star Sandra Hüller. A weird, thoughtful, affecting treat.
  12. Gold
    Nothing you haven’t seen done better elsewhere, this one’s a missed opportunity. McConaughey’s hard work is impressive, but that’s the only message Gold is interested in conveying.
  13. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
    Reasonably entertaining but hectic (supposed) finale for the up-and-down series.
  14. Fences
    A simply extraordinary film without crashes, bangs and wallops but full of towering performances delivered with intelligence, power and heart.
  15. John Wick: Chapter 2
    A brutal, bruising bullet ballet of a sequel that builds upon the promise of the original.
  16. Rings
    This mess isn’t likely to reboot or revive the American franchise.
  17. Hacksaw Ridge
    Occasionally soapy on the homefront but cataclysmic in combat, this is a worthy addition to the WWII canon. Garfield underpins it all with skill, showing that sometimes, war can be humanising too.
  18. Sing
    Although it’s like being assaulted by a jumping jukebox for two hours, Garth Jennings’ first animated movie has enough bounce and brio to carry the day. Immensely likeable.
  19. Denial
    A sturdy by-the-numbers legal drama that really belongs on the small screen.
  20. T2 Trainspotting
    In some senses T2 shares elements with its Terminator namesake. It’s inventive and full of surprises. But unlike Cameron’s sequel, it doesn’t reimagine the original in quite the same glorious way.
  21. xXx: Return of Xander Cage
    We've seen all these stunts pulled before, and seen them done better, but there's some pleasure to be had here — even if it's of the extremely guilty kind.
  22. Magnus
    An engaging study of a beautiful but mysterious mind, which also reveals the stressful nature of world-class chess tournaments and raises the deep question of where intelligence actually comes from.
  23. Split
    This psycho-thriller showcases an awards-worthy performance from James McAvoy. Shyamalan papers over plot-holes with dry black humour and well-judged suspense, and — as always — holds back some surprises.
  24. Lion
    An astonishing true story that’s treated with an admirably light and artistic touch, rather than an overly dramatic heavy hand. Despite a weaker second half, it is ultimately deeply moving.
  25. Jackie
    Jackie does what the very best biopics should: it makes you view someone you’ve seen countless times as if you were seeing them anew.
  26. Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies
    Rising to the challenge of doing something new(ish) with an overworked sub-genre, this may not be particularly scary or funny. But it belies its modest budget to splatter to knowing effect.
  27. Underworld: Blood Wars
    Blood Wars is tragically bereft of the pulp verve this nonsense needs to be tolerable.
  28. A Monster Calls
    Part fairy tale/creature feature/domestic melodrama, this adds up to far more than a ‘one boy and his monster’ story — and is a tougher emotional journey as a result.
  29. Irreplaceable
    Persuasively played by fine leads and a well-cast ensemble, this thoughtful treatise captures provincial life and the medical mindset with authenticity and tact.
  30. Live by Night
    A handsome period drama with the occasional impressive flourish, but despite its rich subject matter, it's Affleck’s weakest film yet as a director.
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