Mankind: The Story of All of Us
History | The History Channel | History Channel | Release Date: November 13, 2012
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
New York PostLinda StasiNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: This excellent series has too many of the usual experts and way too many ridiculous sound effects. Read full review
83
NewsdayVerne GayNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: It aims for epic, and sometimes hits epic--but it's a bit shallow. Read full review
75
Boston HeraldMark A. PerigardNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: Mankind: The Story of All of Us is that college freshman survey course, a buffet of tasty data, a little bit about a lot. It might leave you hungry for more. Read full review
75
People WeeklyTom GliattoNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: The show works and it's fun. [12 Nov 2012, p.43]
75
RedEyeCurt WagnerNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: This is history lite, to be sure, but it's probably a lot livelier than your sixth-grade history class was. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleDavid WiegandNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: The series' historic recreations are convincing, for the most part, although at times, the History Channel can't help itself and falls back into some of it cheesier bad habits. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterAllison KeeneNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: Though there are millennia being covered, some may find the material oversimplified or oversanitized, but it's still an engaging and appealingly presented overview. Read full review
67
Uncle BarkyEd BarkNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: Stuck on hyper-drive and stuffed with hyperbole, Mankind: The Story of All of Us is history a-go-go from a programmer that used to obey a few speed limits. Read full review
63
St. Louis Post-DispatchGail PenningtonNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: Historical re-enactments almost always seem cheesy, especially when accompanied by a soaring score and melodramatic narration (by Josh Brolin). But these are arguably better than most. Read full review
60
New York Magazine (Vulture)Matt Zoller SeitzNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: The series' bludgeoning aesthetic is silly, but it works. Much of History's programming aims to intrigue viewers who might never crack open a book, while assuring literate history buffs that the filmmakers know what they're talking about. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsDavid HinckleyNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: The journey of mankind on the History channel, while ambitious and informative, at times comes off a little too much like a history lesson. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesMary McNamaraNov 13, 2012
Season 1 Review: If this seems a hodgepodge of ideas, well, that is the general feel of Mankind--a scattershot catalog of man's greatest hits, lovingly enacted by a cast of grim and grimy thousands and propelled ever forward by a relentless soundtrack and urgent narration by Josh Brolin. Read full review
50
The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: [The] preposterously grandiose title really needed to be strung out a bit to give an accurate picture of the program. Something like, "Mankind: The Story of All of Us, Delivered Somewhat Superficially by People You Know and Love, Because We Don't Want to Bore You." Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyKeith StaskiewiczNov 12, 2012
Season 1 Review: [Mankind is] filled with overdone battle reenactments, unqualified celebrity talking heads, and slo-mo iron smelting set to electronic dance music. Read full review
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