1917
Bad Boys for Life
Jojo Rabbit
Star Trek
Got more questions about news letters? Email support@rottentomatoes.com
Already have an account? Log in here
Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password.
We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified.
Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service.
Its intentions are sometimes easier to appreciate than its execution, but The Public remains an earnest and reasonably engaging social advocacy drama.
Tap to review this movie
Super Reviewer
Rate this movie
Oof, that was Rotten.
Meh, it passed the time.
It’s good – I’d recommend it.
Awesome!
So Fresh: Absolute Must See!
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Step 2 of 2
Fandango
AMC (Coming Soon)
We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
Cinemark (Coming Soon)
Regal (Coming Soon)
Bought somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
Rent or buy
All Critics (88) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (30)
It is a film with its heart in the right place, but the dialogue and characterisation are both plonkingly unconvincing. February 19, 2020 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
It is a film with its heart in the right place, but the dialogue and characterisation are both plonkingly unconvincing.
Peter Bradshaw
It's hard to play a good man doing the right thing. Saints are dramatically dull, but Estevez gets away with it here. July 30, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It's hard to play a good man doing the right thing. Saints are dramatically dull, but Estevez gets away with it here.
Paul Byrnes
Estevez's drama gets a little preachy in the second half, but "The Public" is passionate about its cause and the cast... deliver like the pros they are. May 21, 2019 | Full Review…
Estevez's drama gets a little preachy in the second half, but "The Public" is passionate about its cause and the cast... deliver like the pros they are.
Randy Myers
Alec Baldwin, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Slater and Gabrielle Union all look like they'd rather be somewhere else. April 26, 2019 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…
Alec Baldwin, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Slater and Gabrielle Union all look like they'd rather be somewhere else.
Barry Hertz
Writer-director-star Emilio Estevez turns a library occupied by homeless citizens as ground zero for our under-fire democracy. Bravo! April 13, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Writer-director-star Emilio Estevez turns a library occupied by homeless citizens as ground zero for our under-fire democracy. Bravo!
Peter Travers
The problem is, there's only just enough story to go round. You can hear the creak as both characters and subplots get jacked up out of proportion. April 7, 2019 | Full Review…
The problem is, there's only just enough story to go round. You can hear the creak as both characters and subplots get jacked up out of proportion.
Anthony Lane
Credit to Estevez for making this but it's quite thin, offers no real solutions and has tired characterisations. February 19, 2020 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
Credit to Estevez for making this but it's quite thin, offers no real solutions and has tired characterisations.
Jamie East
It's all a bit old-fashioned and earnest but with US civil liberties under attack, it's a timely celebration of humanity. February 19, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It's all a bit old-fashioned and earnest but with US civil liberties under attack, it's a timely celebration of humanity.
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
At times feels a worthy successor to the social issue dramas that were a trademark of Stanley Kramer in the civil rights era. February 17, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
At times feels a worthy successor to the social issue dramas that were a trademark of Stanley Kramer in the civil rights era.
Allan Hunter
The canvas is broad, with lots of supporting characters and subplots, and while the writing is heavy-handed at times in the Golden Age of Television style, Estevez imbues the movie with a large and generous heart. January 7, 2020 | Full Review…
The canvas is broad, with lots of supporting characters and subplots, and while the writing is heavy-handed at times in the Golden Age of Television style, Estevez imbues the movie with a large and generous heart.
M.V. Moorhead
Yes, it's earnest and it tries a little too hard, but it sucked me in. September 27, 2019 | Full Review…
Yes, it's earnest and it tries a little too hard, but it sucked me in.
Lael Loewenstein
Well-acted but preachy, sometimes corny civics lesson melodrama that's just touching enough and funny enough to come off. September 18, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
Well-acted but preachy, sometimes corny civics lesson melodrama that's just touching enough and funny enough to come off.
Roger Moore
There are no featured audience reviews for The Public at this time.
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.
View All