User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 172 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 10 out of 172

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  1. FlorianH.
    Feb 20, 2004
    10
    Yoon C. makes some good points, but Amadeus was never intended to be a realistic documentary so the analysis is a bit flawed. Also remember the tale is told to a clergyman through the eyes and ears of Salieri. Mediocrity comsumed Salieri's mind.
  2. GaborA.
    Jun 26, 2004
    8
    One of the greatest and most admirable features of this movie is its PG rating. This film entertains on every level without graphic violence, sex, or language. One of the greatest.
  3. AshleyK.
    Oct 6, 2002
    10
    To be succinct: the best movie I have ever seen, indisputably!!
  4. JohnT.
    Apr 6, 2002
    10
    This is an unforgetable movie from start to finish.
  5. Dec 14, 2012
    9
    This wonderful piece of historical-fiction brings to the table a variety of entertainment. Milo
  6. Danny
    May 1, 2002
    10
    My favorite movie of all time. And in my view, F. Murray Abraham's performance is the greatest acting performance in the history of movie and drama-making. His performance is THE standard against which ALL acting performances should be measured.
  7. BillS.
    Sep 21, 2003
    10
    Every time I see this movie it seems to get better.
  8. IanT.
    Jul 8, 2004
    6
    Hmm This film was very frustrating, in general it was average but it had one major flaw, and you may have to ask yourself did mozart have an american accent? It was cringeworthy, sometimes there was use of words that were most likely not used at that time. The bit i thought was classic is when his landlord tries to get mozarts attention from the edge of the stage and she has a southern american accent. Maybe if your american you can switch of from the fact that its meant to be in Austria. Its just not a very good film, the acting is completely varied it ranges from excellent to completely inept. Its a 3 star - 6/10 kind of film. If you can just watch as a bit of an education into the music of mozart then yes its passable but as a movie as a whole its jus plain average. Who this film can be getting reviews like 10/10 and be up for oscars is completely beyond me. Expand
  9. FredE.
    Apr 8, 2006
    5
    Great soundtrack. Great choreography. Great excuse to go out and read a decent biography on Mozart to find out that the great genius' story is far more compelling than the simpleton portrayed here. For example, his relationship with the various Weber sisters, resulting in his writing of his best aria to wed the one who was not the famed singer. The fact that he wrote Cosi based on an amusing anecdote the empoeror shared with him, only to see it closed when the empoeror died and the empress shut down the theatre. The fact that most of his major Opera's took on the power of the aristocracy head on, and that his last was in support of his membership with the Masons. And that the so-called evil Salieri tutored Mozar's son (as well as Beethoven). Really, there's a lot more here than giggles and passing gas. Expand
  10. MichaelA
    Aug 11, 2009
    10
    A celebration in music, cinematography, with witty dialogues, & interesting story, told in the flashback mode from an asylum.
  11. MaestroMulroneycakes
    Dec 9, 2002
    10
    If there has ever been a better biopic, please let me know, because as far as I can tell, "Amadeus" is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. F Murray is spot-on as the seething Salieri, Tom Hulce is almost as good, perfect as a wonderfully irritating but oddly endearing Mozart. And Jeffrey "Say it ain't so" Jones is hillarious. Forman, meanwhile, has never done a better directorial job, and Shaffer's adaption of his own play is only criticizable on two scores: leaving out most of the "grazie, signor" speech; and slight historical inaccuracy, which has only come to light recently anyway. This is powerful, compelling film-making that needs to be seen. Oh, and the soundtrack rocks bells as well. Obviously. Expand
  12. BradleyE.
    May 17, 2002
    9
    In terms of times seen (at least ten) my all-time favorite. The greatest composer of all time portrayed as someone you'd more expect to meet a frat house still makes me smile. Great casting all around. Some great lines and of course great music.
  13. DCLWolf
    May 28, 2002
    10
    Brilliant! One of the major accomplishes of this film that rarely is acknowledged, is how it captures the spirit of creativity, and the amazingly destructive while still inspiring magic of genius, and how perilously close it runs alongside madness.
  14. jayL
    May 19, 2008
    10
    Sublime, superb, marvelous-do I need say more?? The whole movie had a rich, creamy, completely finished feel. Everything was perfect, from the philosophical questions right down to the heart-breaking soundtrack who no one could have composed but Mozart. Oh!! The questions it stirred, the way it, not mocks but observes human faults and then the humour!! It somehow found the perfect balance to make you laugh and cry in exact unison. It had me completely hooked. I'd give it an 100000000 if I could. A+. Expand
  15. Stacie
    Apr 5, 2002
    10
    My favorite movie of all time.
  16. BrianJ.
    Sep 3, 2002
    10
    10 points from Denmark!!!!!
  17. NeilK.
    Dec 6, 2003
    10
    It is unfair that a brilliant film from 1984, got BETTER!!! I was amazed at how much richer the supporting performances became. (particularly Elizabeth Berridge)
  18. RickR.
    Apr 14, 2003
    10
    I'm 55 and an AVID movie fan. This is on my top ten list. It hits ALL the buttons--acting, editing, cinematography, score, etc. and excels in all categories.
  19. LijunH.
    May 22, 2004
    10
    Wonderful music.....sorry for the sad ending.
  20. BryanH
    Feb 4, 2007
    10
    It had it all; the best acting from the entire cast including competing best actor noms, the best cinematography ever, music (of course, extraordinaire). Costuming, make-up, the finest of any film ever made and a juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy that defines drama.
  21. EnzoP.
    Jul 2, 2009
    10
    Amadeus is one of my favorite movies ever a near perfect movie. It's dazzling, very interesting and funny. Also F. Murray Abraham puts on a one of a kind performance.
  22. PatC.
    Dec 22, 2003
    9
    I thought the original was a 10 movie, but I agree with Yoon's observation below. Mozart was as good as he was presented, but his contemporaries were not as bad.
  23. YoonC.
    Sep 13, 2003
    7
    A terribly misconceived populist movie about classical music. Hulce is entertaining and the point about genius obeying its own rules is well taken; still, it's too cartoonish in the Three Stooges mold. One wonders if a Looney Tunes character wouldn't have done just as well? Also, the genius of Mozart is misappreciated by showing his competition as mediocre; in this dynamic, Mozart is good, everyone else is bad. Had the movie presented Mozart's peers as excellent composers and musicians yet with Mozart reaching even greater heights, the film would have paid a more respectful, more proper appreciation of Mozart's genius. Great performance by F. Murray Abraham. Expand
  24. AndrewM.
    Nov 3, 2004
    10
    Amadeus is an effortlessly entertaining film, to put it mildly. I won't, in fact I cannot, critique it in detail as I have only seen it the onc time, as an 8 yr old when it was first released. To be honest I can remember very little about it, other than Hulce, Abraham, Berridge and of course the music. The question must arise then: how can I rate it if my memory of it is so scant? Simple, because as an 8 yr old I was completely bowled over by this film. I was enthralled, stunned, shocked and entertained - and wild horses could not have dragged me away, not for any one of the 158 mins that it ran. While everything else may be hidden in cloudy haze of time-worn memory, I will never forget how this film captured my heart, imagination and soul. A classic. Expand
  25. JoeB.
    Mar 11, 2005
    10
    Great movie that doesn't take itself too seriously...so it should be viewed in that respect. If I wanted a documentary, I'd watch the history channel special on Mozart.
  26. JennyG.
    May 19, 2006
    10
    this has always been and will forever be my favorite movie of all time. i have honestly seen this movie at least 30 or 40 times; about half of those viewings was when i was a child, not able to even follow the story line completely. i suppose most of what kept me coming back for more was mozart's brilliant compositions, which all have a certain sweetness to them that no other composer has ever been able to duplicate. as i got older and was able to understand everything that was going on in the story, i fell even deeper in love with this film. it was just about six months ago that i bought the director's cut - the deleted scenes (although strange to see after having seen the original dozens and dozens of times) shed a whole new light on the movie that i have basically memorized line for line. truly brilliant. Expand
  27. Rev.Rikard
    Jun 23, 2006
    10
    What a great vehicle for presenting an ancient, yet still relevant theological/existential question: Why does God give gifts of remarkable creativity and ingenuity to those who treat those gifts with such shallow reverence? Furthermore, why does God endow those who passionately desire these gifts with medicore ability? Almost everyone could identify with Salieri.
  28. Oct 24, 2011
    5
    Having waited this long to watch it I have to admit that I am somewhat disappointed. It did not woe me at all. It is a long long costume drama about a guy with an annoying laugh and an obvious talent for music.
  29. Dec 5, 2012
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Simply awful. The acting is so bad, and Tom Hulce's performance in particular, this movie is unbearable to watch. Who came up with his ridiculous giggle ? The costumes do not match the acting, which makes this entire enterprise a really bad comedy, almost like a slapstick, but one that misses the mark completely. Expand
  30. Jan 7, 2011
    5
    It's a ugly and boring movie. I didn't like the actors, the script nor the director. It's nothing inside the move. Only the Mozart story.
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. 100
    Remains the most popularly successful film ever to render the inner life of an artist.
  2. Amadeus needs an additional 20 minutes running time like "The Magic Flute" needs a drum solo. Though the production is gussied up with more frills and decoration than a Viennese dessert trolley, Forman is generally workmanlike in his visual style and very uneven with his handling of actors.
  3. 88
    Except for the Mozart music and Tharp movements around the edges, Amadeus plays like a monument to mediocrity. The movie belongs to Salieri.