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Beowulf

Beowulf (2007)

tomatometer

71

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Reviews Counted: 194
Fresh: 137 | Rotten: 57

Featuring groundbreaking animation, stunning visuals, and a talented cast, Beowulf has in spades what more faithful book adaptations forget to bring: pure cinematic entertainment.

70

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 37
Fresh: 26 | Rotten: 11

Featuring groundbreaking animation, stunning visuals, and a talented cast, Beowulf has in spades what more faithful book adaptations forget to bring: pure cinematic entertainment.

audience

52

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 308,822

My Rating

Movie Info

"Beowulf" will be digitally converted into IMAX 3D and re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience (R) through IMAX DMR (R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Inspired by the ninth century English epic poem, "Beowulf" combines a digitally enhanced live-action filmmaking technology with an all-star cast. In a legendary time of heroes, the mighty warrior Beowulf battles the demon Grendel and incurs the hellish wrath of the beast's ruthlessly seductive mother.

Feb 13, 2007

$82.2M

Paramount Pictures

All Critics (194) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (146) | Rotten (59) | DVD (35)

An excellent showcase for the advantages of computer-generated animation.

November 24, 2007 Full Review Source: CNN.com | Comment
CNN.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

I had a hell of a good time at this movie.

November 19, 2007 Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Their story arc brings some legitimate dramatic interest to Beowulf's climactic battle with the dragon.

November 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's imaginative, and it has the barreling forward motion and lurching thrills of a Dark Ages theme park, even when it's exercising battle-worn clichés.

November 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | Comment
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Heads roll, arteries gush and spleens spill across the IMAX screen in Beowulf, just as you'd expect in a screen adaptation of the oldest surviving epic poem in the English language.

November 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You want to read Beowulf? Get the book, I'm not stopping you. You want bloody adventure with a brain, see the movie.

November 16, 2007 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's a superb action flick that will have you wide-eyed in awe at its effects; just don't go expecting any kind of literary discussion.

July 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Digital Spy | Comment
Digital Spy

Beowulf is a well conceived and technically excellent rendition of the ancient legend, but it doesn't follow its ideas through all the way, and some strange choices on the part of Zemeckis ultimately make it a little less than the sum of its parts.

January 7, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | Comment
ComingSoon.net

Beowulf is pretty to look at, but lacks soul. Perhaps it is time for Robert Zemeckis to return to the land of the living.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Matt's Movie Reviews | Comment
Matt's Movie Reviews

The Old English poem ponderously, gracelessly expanded into an epic bore

August 25, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comment
CinePassion

Beautiful and bold animation for a beautiful and bold story.

August 3, 2009 Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | Comment
3BlackChicks Review

It drops its epic posture and spews far too many double entendres.

April 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | Comment
Boston Phoenix

700 A.D. is now 21st Century American 3-D. It's a hell of a transformation. The 3-D version of Beowulf -- the one you must see if you see the film -- is a wild roller coaster ride.

February 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | Comment
Fayetteville Free Weekly

...the initially impressive visuals are ultimately negated by the annoyance of the technology.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

A worthy cinematic adaptation, with interesting and provocative mythic ideas of its own, and suprisingly lyrical images to match. [Blu-Ray]

August 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment

The bane of English majors for 1,300 years makes it back to the big screen, now with 75 percent more hostility toward Christianity!

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | Comment
Sacramento News & Review

...visually fascinating yet emotionally frustrating, action-filled yet oddly dull, colorful yet flat. (Blu-ray Edition)

July 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

The story contains plenty of action and great-looking graphics, but it hasn't much heart.

July 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Throw on your 3-D glasses and prepare to have your mind blown away.

May 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Watertown Daily Times | Comment
Watertown Daily Times
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Beowulf

A dazziling effects masterpiece. Just a wonderful visual feast.

March 2, 2008
jmanard52

Super Reviewer

It's been a while since I've seen this but if I could recall what happened, I remember that this movie had incredible CGI and a good cast. But that was about it; the movie was incredibly boring. It brought new light to the classic story though.

August 16, 2011
Albert Kim

Super Reviewer

    1. King Hrothgar: She's not my curse... not anymore.
    – Submitted by Naomi P (44 days ago)
    1. Beowulf: If we die... it will be for GLORY, not gold.
    – Submitted by Nusfish K (3 months ago)
    1. Beowulf: I am Ripper... Tearer... Slasher... Gouger. I am the Teeth in the Darkness, the Talons in the Night. Mine is Strength... and Lust... and Power! I AM BEOWULF!
    – Submitted by rob g (13 months ago)
    1. Grendel's Mother: Are you the one they call Beowulf? The Bee-Wolf. The bear. Such a strong man you are with the strength of a king. The king you will one day become.
    – Submitted by rob g (13 months ago)

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