St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Select another publication »
For 1,847 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 66% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 32% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.6 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Movie review score: 68
Highest review score: 100 Asteroid City
Lowest review score: 0 The Divergent Series: Insurgent
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,361 out of 1847
  2. Mixed: 317 out of 1847
  3. Negative: 169 out of 1847
1847 movie reviews
view
per page
  1. Hidden Figures
    Hidden Figures is an admirable attempt to dramatize an overlooked aspect of American history. Working from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Allison Schroeder, director Theodore Melfi (“St. Vincent”) delivers a crowd-pleasing film that often resembles a sitcom but frankly addresses the social inequities of the period.
  2. Elle
    One of the best films of the year.
  3. Fences
    Fences is perhaps best appreciated as a showcase for the brilliant acting of Washington and Davis.
  4. Lion
    Director Garth Davis gets to the heart of the drama without slipping into sentimentality.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 63 Critic Score
    Sing
    Sing is like a medley of pop hits. You get a bunch of quick samples but long for the full song.
  6. Passengers
    The film eventually runs out of rocket fuel, piling on the special effects but arriving at a disappointing conclusion.
  7. Jackie
    Portman is simply brilliant, getting to the essence of Jackie without resorting to a mere impersonation.
  8. Collateral Beauty
    Collateral Beauty is based on a premise so preposterous that the film shouldn’t work. But the illusion of credibility is sustained just well enough to keep things from falling apart.
  9. La La Land
    Gosling is terrific as the coolly introspective yet disarmingly charming Sebastian. And Stone is deservedly generating Oscar buzz for her portrayal of an artist who can’t quite believe she’ll ever be anything other than a barista.
  10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
    Rogue One spins “Star Wars” into a whole new orbit.
  11. Miss Sloane
    If you’ve been wondering how Washington really works, this film is required viewing.
  12. Office Christmas Party
    This party is a dud.
  13. Man Down
    The best that can be said for this film is that it’s short.
  14. Manchester by the Sea
    With Manchester by the Sea writer-director Kenneth Lonergan (“You Can Count on Me”) confirms his status as a major American filmmaker.
  15. Nocturnal Animals
    Nocturnal Animals is far less imaginative than even your most banal nightmare.
  16. Allied
    An old-fashioned film that slyly nods to contemporary sensibilities, Allied is an engaging showcase for Pitt and Cotillard.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Moana
    Directors Ron Clements and John Musker use the island setting to create an authentic, vibrant world. They also make earnest efforts to be culturally sensitive to Pacific Islanders’ heritage, incorporating Maui’s storytelling tattoos and his wayfaring skills
  18. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
    This halftime walk is more like a long slog.
  19. Loving
    Far from being preachy, Loving is a beautiful film about daring to love, without fear or compromise.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    The Edge of Seventeen
    One of the pleasures of Edge of Seventeen is it makes you nostalgic for high school yet so relieved it’s over.
  21. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
    Shares the magical appeal of the “Harry Potter” movies, which should come as no surprise.
  22. Moonlight
    The performances are spot-on. Ali brings depths of feeling to Juan, giving us a drug dealer we haven’t seen before. Harris (Miss Moneypenny in the recent Bond films) is uncomfortably authentic as an ultimately repentant junkie.
  23. Arrival
    Arrival is science fiction in the classic sense and a film of otherworldly ambition.
  24. Sicario
    Far from being just another crime story, Sicario is cinema at its most ambitious.
  25. Doctor Strange
    Doctor Strange doesn’t always make sense — but so what? It’s a mind-blowing special-effects extravaganza, and the most exciting comic-book flick since “Deadpool.”
  26. Certain Women
    Certain Women requires patience from the viewer and isn’t for anyone, but it’s a film of quiet and lingering beauty.
  27. Inferno
    Don’t get burned by Inferno.
  28. Ouija: Origin of Evil
    Timed for the Halloween season, Ouija: Origin of Evil should have horror fans clutching their seats.
  29. Keeping Up with the Joneses
    Keeping Up With the Joneses is hardly worth the effort.
  30. American Honey
    In an Arnold film, plot is pretty much beside the point. Instead, she focuses on the subtleties of character — and her insights can be both enlightening and terrifying.
  31. The Accountant
    Fresh and delightfully offbeat, The Accountant proves that a thriller can be complex and nuanced while fulfilling its mission to entertain.
  32. Denial
    The fact-based Denial is a well-crafted and skillfully acted drama about standing up for the truth, regardless of how challenging that might be.
  33. The Birth of a Nation
    Placed under the microscope, The Birth of a Nation lacks some originality of thought, but it nonetheless offers the opportunity for necessary discussion as we continue to wrestle with the racist history of this nation and its continuing effects.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    The Girl on the Train
    A taut psychological thriller, just as tense for those who already know its conclusion.
  35. Deepwater Horizon
    This is very much an ensemble film, with Wahlberg, Hudson and Russell turning in performances that get the job done without begging for attention.
  36. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
    Burton delivers his most ambitious and engaging film since “Sweeney Todd” (2007). Although the story becomes increasingly complex as it goes along, the emotional payoff is more than worth it.
  37. Queen of Katwe
    An inspiring but formulaic film about triumph over adversity.
  38. The Magnificent Seven
    Only when there’s an opportunity to blow things up does Fuqua seem fully engaged. Another Western bites the dust.
  39. Our Little Sister
    Don’t be put off by the need to read subtitles. Rarely has a film more eloquently captured the universality of human experience.
  40. Snowden
    Gordon-Levitt turns in an Oscar-worthy performance as a man who’s all too aware of what he’s letting himself in for. And Woodley skillfully balances a range of emotions as Lindsay.
  41. Complete Unknown
    What the film has going for it is a terrific performance from Weisz, who renders Alice at once sympathetic and enigmatic.
  42. Sully
    It’s hard to imagine an actor more appropriate to portray Sully than Hanks, who brings to the role a bedrock decency and soulful introspection. And Eckhart is perfect as the droll, easygoing Skiles.
  43. Hands of Stone
    Isn’t a knockout of a film, but it’s light on its feet and throws a lot of good punches.
  44. Hell or High Water
    The year’s most exhilarating film.
  45. War Dogs
    Working from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Stephen Chin and Jason Smilovic, Phillips delivers a film that raises provocative questions about the economic imperatives of war while masquerading as a buddy comedy.
  46. 13 Assassins
    If what you seek from a samurai film is the friction between communal duty and personal honor, join the orderly queue to see 13 Assassins. But if what you seek is action, spend the talky first hour at a sushi bar before barging into the theater for the bloody good finale.
  47. Florence Foster Jenkins
    It’s not necessary to be a classical-music buff to be charmed by this thoroughly entertaining film that never hits a false note.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Sausage Party
    Sausage Party is cute and cheeky and harmless. But it is decidedly not for kids.
  49. Suicide Squad
    Suicide Squad had the potential to be as hilariously irreverent as “Deadpool,” a surprise box-office hit about a similarly sociopathic hero. Instead, it’s just another film that relies on special effects to distract the audience from a story that’s overblown and underwhelming.
  50. Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
    As a documentary, “Eat That Question” is kind of raggedy. But a more polished film might not have been in keeping with Zappa’s anarchic spirit.
  51. Café Society
    In his best performance since “The Social Network,” Eisenberg is perfectly cast as the neurotic Bobby. But the film truly belongs to Stewart, who brings to Vonnie a haunting luminousness.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Bad Moms
    Bad Moms starts with an edge but eventually turns sentimental. The most entertaining and honest moments zero in on motherhood and friendship — and busting the rules of the PTA.
  53. Jason Bourne
    Working from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Christopher Rouse, director Paul Greengrass has come up with a post-Snowden film that delivers nonstop thrills.
  54. Captain Fantastic
    Written and directed by Matt Ross — who is perhaps best known for his role as Alby on the HBO series “Big Love” — the film raises questions not only about what it means to be a responsible parent but also about what constitutes a meaningful life.
  55. Star Trek Beyond
    Pine brings a measured but engaging heroism to Kirk. Quinto is perfect as the logical but charismatic Spock. Urban lends the proceedings a much appreciated dose of humor. And even with his famously expressive face obscured by makeup, Elba elevates Krall to something more than a cardboard villain.
  56. Ghostbusters
    This reboot starring some of today’s finest comic actors — male or female — is a wonderfully hilarious and boldly imaginative creation in its own right.
  57. The Infiltrator
    Director Brad Furman (“The Lincoln Lawyer”) does a serviceable job of keeping the narrative elements in play but has trouble making us care.
  58. Wiener-Dog
    Looking for a feel-good movie? Fortunately, this film doesn’t qualify.
  59. The BFG
    If The BFG is unlikely to become a cultural phenomenon of the magnitude of “E.T.,” it’s a film that casts a unique and often mesmerizing spell. But it’s also a bit too talky, particularly in the early going, and Spielberg lets numerous opportunities for humor slip by.
  60. Swiss Army Man
    If you’ve been looking for a film that puts a daringly surreal spin on “Cast Away,” you’ll be in paradise.
  61. Art Bastard
    Cenedella may never become a household name, but Art Bastard argues persuasively that fame is overrated.
  62. Free State of Jones
    Aspires to greatness but fumbles badly.
  63. Genius
    Genius, like most films about the literary life, has trouble dramatizing what’s involved and making us care.
  64. Finding Dory
    One of Pixar’s most charming achievements.
  65. Now You See Me 2
    Working from a screenplay by Ed Solomon, director Jon M. Chu is more craftsman than poet, but the charismatic ensemble cast engages in the trickery with style.
  66. Maggie's Plan
    A sophisticated comedy about New Yorkers who might easily be mistaken for characters in a Woody Allen movie.
  67. The Lobster
    If you’re open to embracing a film that declines to pander to expectations, you should definitely make a date with The Lobster.
  68. Dark Horse
    It’s an old-fashioned tale of an individual overcoming the odds — only in this case, that individual happens to be a horse.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Me Before You
    Clarke and Claflin both turn in acutely human performances, rounding out their characters and sharing palpable chemistry. At the risk of sounding very British, it’s all lovely.
  70. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
    A scene involving wolves upset by Seal’s singing is worth the price of admission all by itself.
  71. Love & Friendship
    The film’s true scene-stealer is Bennett, who brilliantly portrays Sir James as a case study in cluelessness.
  72. X-Men: Apocalypse
    McAvoy and Fassbender appealingly reprise their frenemy chemistry. But Lawrence has little to do but look perplexed.
  73. A Bigger Splash
    A Bigger Splash? More like a small trickle.
  74. The Nice Guys
    Is this a family film? No way. Does it include scenes that some may find painful to watch? You bet. Will you be entertained? Thoroughly.
  75. The Man Who Knew Infinity
    The multiplexes are full of films that promise little more than a forgettable good time. The Man Who Knew Infinity is just as entertaining, but far more substantial.
  76. The Meddler
    Much like its main character, The Meddler exudes an irresistible charm.
  77. Captain America: Civil War
    At the end of the day, it’s still a comic-book movie, but one that actually raises serious questions about security, accountability and revenge.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 63 Critic Score
    The First Monday in May
    It's very inside baseball about the inner workings of a fashion event. That said, there's a delicious depiction of fashion as fantasy that's worth the price of admission.
  79. Keanu
    Keanu is an uneven but frequently hilarious comedy that relies heavily on the appeal of Key and Peele.
  80. The Invitation
    Psychological thrillers just don’t get any better than this.
  81. A Hologram for the King
    It’s true that not much happens — except cinema at its finest.
  82. The Jungle Book
    The vocal performances are spot-on, with Murray a standout as the slyly manipulative but ultimately courageous Baloo.
  83. Barbershop: The Next Cut
    If Barbershop: The Next Cut ends on an improbably upbeat note, the franchise is to be commended for daringly stepping outside its comfort zone.
  84. Demolition
    Offbeat and unpredictable, Demolition takes a wrecking ball to audience expectations.
  85. Everybody Wants Some!!
    The tale of Jake and his pals is something of a time capsule — and the kind of film from which sociologists decades from now might glean extremely useful information about American culture.
  86. Born to be Blue
    It’s not necessary to be a jazz fan to get lost in this poetic and poignant film.
  87. I Saw the Light
    If you’re interested in Williams and his music, this film is better than nothing — but not by much.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Marguerite
    Marguerite is a shining star, a film that will set you laughing and thinking in equal measure.
  89. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
    As potential blockbusters go, Batman v Superman is neither as stupid nor as stupendous as it might have been.
  90. Eye in the Sky
    This is the kind of intelligent, thought-provoking mainstream film that’s in danger of becoming extinct. Eye in the Sky is miles above the average multiplex flick.
  91. The Bronze
    There are some laughs in The Bronze, but more time in which we might wish it would end already. When it does, just like on Hallmark, lessons are learned. Perhaps for Rauch, the lesson is to write herself a better movie next time.
  92. Hello, My Name Is Doris
    An engaging but problematic film. Working from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Laura Terruso, director Michael Showalter (“The Baxter”) seems a bit uncertain in his approach.
  93. Embrace of the Serpent
    If the film is a bit too slow-paced, it’s also uniquely mesmerizing, with performances that perfectly complement the episodic narrative.
  94. Knight of Cups
    This is the kind of film that makes moviegoers long for good, old-fashioned storytelling.
  95. The Wave
    If you think foreign films can’t compete with Hollywood when it comes to delivering popcorn entertainment, prepare to be carried away by The Wave.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Zootopia
    Zootopia is visually rich, with a fully realized cityscape and an action-filled train station during commuter rush that would take several viewings to fully appreciate. It’s emotionally rich, too, a film that promises to have staying power far beyond spring break.
  97. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
    There’s a sharp comedy to be made about America’s misadventures in Afghanistan. This isn’t it.
  98. A War
    The story unfolds not as contrived drama, but with all the surprise and inevitability of real life.
  99. Triple 9
    It’s Affleck, as a cop whose skills are criminally underestimated, who makes the biggest impression.
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »