Children of Men

2006

Children of Men

Critics Consensus

Children of Men works on every level: as a violent chase thriller, a fantastical cautionary tale, and a sophisticated human drama about societies struggling to live.

92%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 247

85%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 530,769
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Movie Info

A futuristic society faces extinction when the human race loses the ability to reproduce. England has descended into chaos, until an iron-handed warden is brought in to institute martial law. The warden's ability to keep order is threatened when a woman finds that she is pregnant with what would be the first child born in 27 years.

Cast

Clive Owen
as Theo Faron
Julianne Moore
as Julian Taylor
Michael Caine
as Jasper
Chiwetel Ejiofor
as Luke
Charlie Hunnam
as Patric
Clare-Hope Ashitey
as Kee
Pam Ferris
as Miriam
Danny Huston
as Nigel
Peter Mullan
as Syd
Oana Pellea
as Marichka
Paul Sharma
as Ian
Jacek Koman
as Tomasz
Yolanda Vazquez
as Spanish Woman
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Critic Reviews for Children of Men

All Critics (247) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (227) | Rotten (20)

  • Children of Men founders in its latter moments -- not a lot, but enough. Its failure is less one of plot than of something deeper, a composing idea to undergird the plot.

    Apr 1, 2015 | Full Review…

    Christopher Orr

    The Atlantic
    Top Critic

  • If you thought the battle scenes in... Saving Private Ryan were tough going, the final 20 minutes of Children of Men will not only shake you, they'll have you revising your expectations about just how realistic cinematic portrayals of combat can get.

    Apr 1, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

    Jim Schembri

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • Cuaron asks us to find hope in a grim nativity story where a reluctant hero and scared would-be mother try to find shelter in a land that desperately needs a newborn savior.

    May 15, 2009 | Rating: A | Full Review…

    Amy Nicholson

    I.E. Weekly
    Top Critic

  • Cuaron fulfills the promise of futuristic fiction; characters do not wear strange costumes or visit the moon, and the cities are not plastic hallucinations, but look just like today, except tired and shabby.

    Oct 5, 2007 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • You feel as if you're accompanying a war photographer who's lost a bet. Slogging unflinchingly through humanity's worst hours, the movie laces the narrative's forays into science-fiction grandstanding with a gut-wrenching dynamic.

    Feb 3, 2007 | Rating: 4/5

    Joshua Rothkopf

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • What I find particularly irksome about it is its pseudo-humanism and its calculating political correctness.

    Jan 17, 2007 | Full Review…

    Andrew Sarris

    Observer
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (247)

Audience Reviews for Children of Men

  • Jan 29, 2016
    Another movie that can never get enough praise, It works on so many levels and has something for most people, It's very violent, Very realistic, Very moving, Brilliantly acted by a strong cast, The camera work was incredible, With some fantastic single shot scenes and a fantastic ending, If you don't like this movie then I'm afraid you don't know what true cinema is.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Sep 28, 2015
    If you are a fan of filmmaking and world-building sci-fi then Children of Men is a must-see for the production values (reminiscent of Brazil in that respect). It looks like a lot of work went into the sets and there are so many extras; it is quite a spectacular, cinematic experience.
    Robert B Super Reviewer
  • Jul 22, 2015
    A modern masterpiece worthy of anyone's attention for a strikingly long list of reasons. The thumbnail for the trailer alone alludes to Clive Owen's incredible performance. Some minor flaws and debatable design choices do not hamper what I would consider to be a must watch. It is almost criminal the film lost so much money at the box office.
    Paris S Super Reviewer
  • Jun 16, 2015
    Every aspect of this film would at least be good. The story was interesting, the execution was great, the acting was utterly convincing. Adding up all the good parts, as in considering it from one aspect to another, makes this a good film, but seeing it as a whole, as in looking at it as one complete artwork and not dividing it into its parts, makes it even better.
    Maymay A Super Reviewer
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