After Earth Reviews

Weak performances, a pathetic protagonist, and an overuse of flashbacks make After Earth more painful to choke down than the air of the quarantined planet.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10

After Earth smacks of [Shyamalan's] worst tendencies - performances hamstrung by awkward and stiff dialogue, and a bloated sense of self-importance.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4

If you thought the Smiths had a hard time of it in their last movie, heaven knows they're miserable now.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

After Earth is an extremely uneven and flawed film, but for moviegoers who are intrigued by the initial premise, it's not the throwaway disaster that some might claim.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

From its opening montage to its closing shots, "After Earth" comes across as an extremely generic effort written by an elementary school student.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4

With "After Earth," Smith can't even save himself, his film, or his director

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10

For a father-son film project, there's strangely little emotional connection between the pair onscreen.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

After Earth is no Titan A.E.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10

Ultimately, the film is an ill-conceived and poorly executed star vehicle that doesn't possess the creativity or filmmaking prowess necessary to turn it into anything more.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

It takes itself far too seriously, wasting Will's natural charisma and easy going screen presence.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

All the neat visuals on Earth can't cover up that this is a movie Will Smith is hoping will make Jaden a star.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5

After Earth is dragged down by, yes, Will Smith's apparent desire to share his boring concerns about parenthood with a blameless audience.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

The dejected Will Smith is forced to inject himself with pain relief. The label warns that the drug could cause extreme drowsiness and impaired vision. One can only imagine that Will was suffering from both when he agreed to film this daft script.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/10

Think The Happening, plus bloodthirsty baboons.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

Jaden is fine at running, jumping, fearful trembling, and affecting steely resolution. He doesn't yet have his father's charisma; perhaps to help him out, dad opted not to bring that charisma to the set.

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"I wanna work with Mom," says Jaden at the close. It's not just his on screen Dad he's talking to.

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"After Earth" is a clunky sci-fi tale that is surprisingly dull and filled with a lot of unfortunate creative choices.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5

Part Scientology tool, part extremely ill-conceived familial gift (wouldn't it be better to let your kid go to school than ask him to endure endless takes in a greenscreen studio?) and part blatant money-making attempt.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

Shyamalan's sensibility may not be enough to turn After Earth into a great (or even very good) film, but it does yield interesting-and at times strikingly realized-results.

Full Review | Original Score: C+

Much of Will's dialogue consists of life lessons imparted to the boy, and they sound like a motivational seminar.

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