Civil War Review Roundup: Critics Torn on Controversial Thriller

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Griff Griffin | Last updated Mar 18, 2024 9:00 AM ET

The reviews for Civil War are out, and they’re less keen than early audience reactions.

Currently, the film sits at a healthy 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. That means it’s one of the best-reviewed movies of the month, but doesn’t quite match the breathless praise coming out of pre-release screenings.

Few critics doled out the full five-star scores you would’ve expected, most varying between three and four stars. In the first wave of Civil War reactions, viewers call it a “modern masterpiece”. The same can't be said for reviews from The Guardian, Variety, and more. Read on below for their re

Civil War review roundup

The Guardian: “The writer-director’s much-anticipated look at the horrors of an America violently divided is an impressive technical feat yet an emotionally cold drama.”

IGN: “Civil War delivers a poignant, faithful representation of the toll war journalism takes.”

Roger Ebert: “...the final section brings every thematic element together in a perfectly horrifying fashion and ends with a moment of self-actualization I don't think I'll ever be able to shake.

Variety: “Alex Garland tears America apart, counting on divided audiences to prevent his worst-case horror show.”

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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