The Blind Side (2009) - Rotten Tomatoes

critics consensus

It might strike some viewers as a little too pat, but The Blind Side has the benefit of strong source material and a strong performance from Sandra Bullock. Read critic reviews

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The Blind Side Photos

(L-R) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher, Jae Head as S.J., Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Lily Collins as Collins in "The Blind Side."

(Right) Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, Ray McKinnon as Coach Cotton and Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher and Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Director John Lee Hancock and Sandra Bullock on the set of "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Lily Collins as Collins, Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, Jae Head as S.J. and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher and Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher and Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

(Center) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Jae Head as S.J., Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher and Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Kathy Bates as Miss Sue and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher and Lily Collins as Collins in "The Blind Side."

Sandra Bullock (center) as Leigh Anne Tuohy, Phillip Fulmer (center, orange hat) as himself, Ray McKinnon (center, visor) as Coach Cotton and Quinton Aaron (right foreground) as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Jae Head as S.J. and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

(L-R) Jae Head as S.J. and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher in "The Blind Side."

Jae Head as S.J. in "The Blind Side."

View All Photos (67)

Movie Info

Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless black teen, has drifted in and out of the school system for years. Then Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her husband, Sean (Tim McGraw), take him in. The Tuohys eventually become Michael's legal guardians, transforming both his life and theirs. Michael's tremendous size and protective instincts make him a formidable force on the gridiron, and with help from his new family and devoted tutor, he realizes his potential as a student and football player.

Rating:

PG-13 (Drug References|Brief Violence|Sexual References)
Genre:

drama, biography
Original Language:

English
Director:

John Lee Hancock
Producer:

Gil Netter, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove
Writer:

John Lee Hancock
Release Date (Theaters):

Nov 20, 2009 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Oct 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA):

$256.0M
Runtime:

2h 8m
Production Co:

Gil Netter
Sound Mix:

SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Cast & Crew

Sandra Bullock
Leigh Anne Tuohy

Tim McGraw
Sean Tuohy

Quinton Aaron
Michael Oher

Jae Head
S.J.

Lily Collins
Collins

Ray McKinnon
Coach Cotton

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for The Blind Side

Definitive Sandra Bullock Movies

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Blind Sides and Fantastic Foxes

Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead

Critic Reviews for The Blind Side

All Critics (206) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (136) | Rotten (70)

This is a horrid film, and I hated it, and while, I suppose, you can't argue with a true story, you can always argue with the way it is told.

August 30, 2018 | Full Review…

Deborah Ross
The Spectator
... I must say that I doubt I'd like the film as much had it not been Christmas and just a plain ole good family flick to see with my mom.

September 12, 2017 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
The movie is done with crispness, vigor, down-home humor, and an over-all tang of good feeling, but the pushing of buttons is the work of extraordinary calculation.

January 24, 2014 | Full Review…

Richard Brody
New Yorker
As a fable about the power of giving, it hits pretty hard.

January 24, 2014 | Full Review…

J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Generally enjoyable, but it isn't until the credits roll that you'll realize what a major sentimental impact it has on you.

August 14, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Perri Nemiroff
CinemaBlend
A Photoshopped image of reality that is bland, parochial, and stereotypically acted by a cast who have nothing like the subtlety and range of Trey Parker's puppets from Team America: World Police.

March 26, 2010 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
There's too much emotional manipulation and huge problems seem to get solved a little too easily for it to be 100 percent believable, but it is an entertaining movie anchored by two very good, but very different actors.

January 31, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
The plot of uncommon human kindness and charity is a formula for box office success and reasonable entertainment, but the execution is incredibly conventional.

November 28, 2020 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…

Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
The Blind Side is that rare formulaic flick that actually works.

September 3, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0 | Full Review…

Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Issues of race and racism are not left on the side, though, and the onscreen chemistry that [Sandra] Bullock and [Quinton] Aaron score is a game winner from the get-go.

May 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
It felt tired and clichéd and the frequent and obvious emotional button-pushing failed to ignite any real response from me.

September 11, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Kate Rodger
Newshub (NZ)
[It] is all about the family's altruism and turns a blind eye to silent Michael, with father Sean offering up the excuse: "Michael's gift is his ability to forget." I'm not convinced but that didn't stop me from enjoying the film and admiring Bullock.

August 23, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Brigit Grant
Daily Express (UK)

View All Critic Reviews (206)

Audience Reviews for The Blind Side

Jan 07, 2017

Excellent. Great film, one of the best sports films ever made.

Stephen S Super Reviewer
Jul 27, 2013

Sandra Bullock is rapid and compelling in this true story of tragedy-turned-triumph. The Blind Side is an enjoyable that some may consider a bit too soft or safe. Though it won't completely win moviegoers over, they'll still be in awe of the bold lead actress. 4/5

Eugene B Super Reviewer
Jul 01, 2013

The Blind Side is well acted, well written, and a fun film to watch. However, the feel good moments become a bit too much after a while, and its tone and story can sometime be unfocused for its own good. Still, The Blind Side is a very good film, and one that is definitely worth seeing.

Joey T Super Reviewer
Mar 22, 2013

Sandra Bullock does give a great performance, and the story is a great one. But the film overall is rather weak, especially due to less-than-stellar performances from Bullock's costars.

Matthew Samuel M Super Reviewer

See all Audience reviews

The Blind Side Quotes

Leigh Anne Tuohy:	I'm here to investigate your odd predicament
Leigh Anne Tuohy:	I'm here to investigate your odd predicament.

Elaine:	(talking about the Tuohy's Christmas card with Michael in it) He looks so big compared to you like Jessica Lange next to King Kong. (amidst chuckles)
Beth:	Hey, does Michael get the family discount at Taco Bell? Because if he does that Sean is gonna lose a few stores.
Leigh Anne Tuohy:	He's a good kid.
Elaine:	Well, I say that you make it official and adopt him. (laughs)
Leigh Anne Tuohy:	He's gonna be eighteen in a few months but it doesn't make much sense to legally adopt. (they all stare at her)
Sherry:	Leigh Ann, is this sort of white guilt thing?
Elaine:	What would your Daddy say?

Leigh Anne Tuohy:

One-Mississippi - Joe Theismann, the Redskins quarterback takes the snap and hands-off to his runnin' mate. Two-Mississippi - it's a trick play, a flea-flicker. And the runnin' back tosses back to the quarterback. Three-Mississippi - up 'til now the play's been defined by what he doesn't. Four-Mississippi - Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player in the NFL. And has been from the time that he walked onto the field as a rookie. He will also change the game of football as we know it... Legendary quarterback Joe Theismann never played another down of football.

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