critics consensus

R#J represents an admirable attempt to update Romeo and Juliet, but alas, its bounty is not quite as boundless as the sea. Read critic reviews

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R#J Photos

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Movie Info

In fair Verona, a war as old as time is brewing between rival houses--but it's being captured in a new way. Montague and Capulet Gen Zers are using their cell phones to document the eruptions of violence plaguing their communities. In the middle of it all, Romeo discovers Juliet's artwork at a party, and the two inevitably fall in love. As tensions between their families escalate, the two plead for peace and desperately search for a way to escape their star-crossed destiny.

Genre:

drama, romance
Original Language:

English
Director:

Carey Williams
Producer:

Alex Sobolev, Timur Bekmambetov, Igor Tsay, John J. Kelly, Anna Soboleva
Writer:

Carey Williams, Rickie Castaneda, Alex Sobolev
Runtime:

1h 31m

Cast & Crew

Camaron Engels

Francesca Noel

David Zayas

Diego Tinoco

Siddiq Saunderson

Russell Hornsby

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for R#J

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (13)

Only so much of a relationship can be told through gifs before it begins to feel trite.

March 25, 2021 | Full Review…

Laiken Neumann
Austin Chronicle
Intellectual audiences might assume in the beginning that the two are simply boning up on their British literature or practicing for a recital. Nope, buckle up, this is the entire ride.

February 23, 2021 | Full Review…

Candice Frederick
The Grio
It's hard to keep track of the plot's machinations where the supporting characters are involved, and the script - and pacing - are further hampered by the film's liberal borrowing from Shakespeare's own dialogue...

February 16, 2021 | Full Review…

Inkoo Kang
Hollywood Reporter
R#J never quite delivers a refreshing and bold take on Romeo and Juliet, the ideas are there, but it never quite comes together.

February 2, 2021 | Full Review…

Aramide Tinubu
Shadow and Act
Barreling toward a finale that includes live-streamed suicides, the wheels come off this concept.

February 1, 2021 | Full Review…

Kristy Puchko
RogerEbert.com
"R#J" certainly looks new, but flashy graphics can't detract from the problems that lurk inside its structure and its script...

January 31, 2021 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Kate Erbland
indieWire
The problem here is twofold: there is very little thematic payoff that justifies the visual approach and the approach itself is inconsistent in its execution.

March 25, 2021 | Full Review…

Kevin L. Lee
Film Inquiry
In this updated revision, R#J reaches modern audiences with its use of diverse actors, technology, social media, and revised storytelling.

March 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Donnie Lopez
Black Girl Nerds
Instead of mining richness from the material, Williams's use of Screen Life is nothing but cheap pandering to "the teens."

March 17, 2021 | Rating: D+ | Full Review…

Orla Smith
The Film Stage
I was surprised at how successfully R#J wooed and charmed me with its mix of Shakespeare and modern youthful exuberance.

February 16, 2021 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Eric D. Snider
Crooked Marquee
[In] a time of social media, it seems inevitable that we would find our two star-crossed lovers in this modern iteration.

February 10, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Therese Lacson
Nerdophiles
It had such a talented and energized young cast [and] felt so accurate and authentic to the [...] Gen Z social media age.

February 10, 2021 | Full Review…

Kristen Maldonado
Kristen Maldonado