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Hancock

Hancock (2008)

tomatometer

40

Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 213
Fresh: 85 | Rotten: 128

Though it begins with promise, Hancock suffers from a flimsy narrative and poor execution.

33

Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 27

Though it begins with promise, Hancock suffers from a flimsy narrative and poor execution.

audience

67

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 485,680

My Rating

Movie Info

A hard-drinking lush finds himself thrust into superhero mode in director Peter Berg's unconventional look at the private life of a crime-fighter. Will Smith stars as the embittered do-gooder whose lifestyle is more akin to a rock star than a role model, and who has grown as disillusioned with his once-admiring public as they have of him. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

PG-13, 1 hr. 32 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy

Vy Vincent Ngo, Vince Gilligan

Nov 25, 2008

$227.9M

Columbia Pictures

Hancock Trailer & Photos

More Photos (70)
More Trailers and Videos (13)

Cast

Critic Reviews for Hancock

All Critics (216) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (87) | Rotten (134) | DVD (21)

The strain of messianism in Will Smith movies is becoming ever more pronounced.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Train wrecks are intrinsically spectacular, and Will Smith's new movie offers a doozy. Two of them, in fact.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: CNN.com | Comments (3)
Tom Charity
CNN.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's definitely a mish-mash, but really good performances.

July 14, 2008 Comments (3)
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As popcorn movies go, this is fleet, funny, and even thoughtful: its central question, nicely underplayed by director Peter Berg, is why power and altruism never seem to intersect.

July 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The problem is that director Peter Berg, aided and abetted by Smith and Theron and third banana Jason Bateman, seem to have made it literally, not realizing its out-of-whack tonalities and grotesque plot twists were meant to be played for laughs.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comments (2)
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As soon as the hero becomes another wounded demigod brooding on rooftops, the movie loses its sting.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: Slate | Comment
Dana Stevens
Slate
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Kicks into tired oh-it-sucks-to-have-superpowers territory and opens up a can of racial issues it has no intention of investigating

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comment
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

I have no problem signing on to recommend this. Get it? Signing on...John Hancock... nevermind.

August 3, 2009 Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | Comment (1)
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review

When the credits roll and you see two screenwriters listed, the first thing that occurs is, 'did they write a half each?'

May 12, 2009 Full Review Source: SFX Magazine | Comment
Ian Berriman
SFX Magazine

A few actors such as Clint Eastwood, marry substance and popularity. But very few. Most actors' egos lead them to slum in the box office. I'm reminded of this often when a major, talented actor opts for popularity instead of substance when the latter beck

February 1, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | Comments (2)
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly

...an engaging and thoroughly innovative spin on the superhero genre...

November 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

A superhero movie with soul, a magically endowed boozer, and quirky chemistry fueled between those two dramatic heavyweights, Will Smith and Charlize Theron, who go at it like Hillary and Obama duking it out at a presidential primary.

November 23, 2008 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | Comment
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze

Will Smith as an unlikable alcoholic superhero in need of Alcoholics Anonymous, anger management and a new image.

November 22, 2008 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | Comment
Kam Williams
NewsBlaze

What an odd movie!

November 21, 2008 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | Comment
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Like the main character, Hancock has an identity crisis.

November 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
James Plath
Movie Metropolis

The special making of featurettes on this disc consists mostly of your typical 'Will Smith is a real swell guy and a blast to work with' interview shtick . . .

November 17, 2008 Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page | Comment
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Hancock

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I had somewhat low expectations going in but Will Smith again proved to me he can carry a movie with his acting and charm. He has come a long way from Fresh Prince of Bel Air. A good movie with good laughs good action.

January 4, 2009
jmanard52
John Manard

Super Reviewer

Although this movie was a pleasure of the senses, there was little or no real sense to it. The beginning of the film started out hopefully, as a slap dash comedy of a generically unique origin as the trailer led us to believe it would be. Then the heart came in and I was a little confused, but by the end of this I was

October 5, 2011
theunknownhobo
Unknown Hobo

Super Reviewer

Hancock Quotes

View All

    1. Michel: Asshole.
    2. Hancock: [leans in close to Michel] Call me an asshole one more time.
    3. Michel: Asshole.
    4. Hancock: [grabs Michel and launches him into the sky; turns to chubby kid] You got a problem Thickness? [chubby kid shakes his head; turns to kid with glasses]
    5. Hancock: How about you Goggles? [kid with glasses shakes his head]
    – Submitted by Kerwin M (2 months ago)
    1. Hancock: Gotta wonder, though. What kind of bastard must I have been, that nobody was there to claim me? I mean, I'm... I'm not the most charming guy in the world, so I've been told, but... nobody?
    – Submitted by Chris P (10 months ago)
    1. Red: Upon us all, Hancock. You're no different. Time to shut her down, Hancock. It's been a nice run. Oh, we are all sincerely gonna miss you. But it is time for you to move on. And maybe to a happier place. You can thank me if you want to... superhero.
    – Submitted by Chris P (10 months ago)

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Latest News for Hancock

January 19, 2012:
Peter Berg Is Still Talking About Hancock 2
"We're all interested, but we literally just have trouble getting into the same room at the same...

December 1, 2009:
Don't Hold Your Breath for Hancock 2
Yes, Will Smith and Peter Berg are game for a "Hancock" sequel -- and just as importantly, so is the...

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