Children of Men
Children of Men Image
See the trailer
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 655 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Starring: , , ,
  • Summary: Children of Men envisages a world one generation from now that has fallen into anarchy on the heels of an infertility defect in the population. The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction. Set against the backdrop of London torn apart by violence and nationalistic sects, the film follows disillusioned bureaucrat Theo (Owen) as he becomes an unlikely champion of Earth's survival. (Universal Pictures)… Expand
  • Director: Alfonso Cuarón
  • Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
  • Rating: R
  • Runtime: 109 min
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    The performances are crucial, because all of these characters have so completely internalized their world that they make it palpable, and themselves utterly convincing.
  2. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    100
    I don't just mean it's one of the best movies of the past six years. Children of Men, based on the 1992 novel by P.D. James, is the movie of the millennium because it's about our millennium, with its fractured, fearful politics and random bursts of violence and terror.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    100
    It's a work of art that deserves a space cleared for its angry, nervous beauty.
  4. Variety
    Reviewed by: Derek Elley
    80
    Picture more than delivers on the action front -- not in bang-for-your-buck spectacle but in the kind of gritty, doculike sequences that haul viewers out of their seats and alongside the main protags.
  5. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Bennett
    80
    Owen carries the film more in the tradition of a Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda than a Clint Eastwood or Harrison Ford. He has to wear flip-flops for part of the time without losing his dignity, and he never reaches for a weapon or guns anyone down. Cuaron and Owen may have created the first believable 21st-century movie hero.
  6. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    75
    The screenplay, which differs significantly from the novel, is uneven, but the distorted mirror it holds up to the present is disturbingly clear.
  7. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    50
    Bloated adaptation of P.D. James's thoughtful, compact novel.
    All this critic's reviews

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 238 out of 330
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 330
  3. Negative: 70 out of 330
  1. ReidF.
    Jan 27, 2007
    10
    Post-apocalyptic films can be somewhat undecipherable (
  2. DeoB.
    Jun 11, 2007
    10
    I have not seen (yet) any of the other Oscar-nominated films from last year, but I cannot imagine a better film. Given the subject and the horrors that unfold on film, it does seem strange to call this movie lovely, but it is. A seminal moment in filmmaking history.… Expand
  3. DarcieK
    Dec 26, 2009
    10
    This movie is brilliant and the cinematography is astounding!
  4. KalenK.
    Apr 23, 2007
    9
    I am honestly shocked to see that so many people gave this brilliant film such low scores. There's always one or two people that just do not GET a movie and give it low scores, but this is astounding. There is no possible way this movie deserves a 2 or less. Ridiculous. If you have not seen it, this is one time you should listen to the pro reviews above and ignore the commenting idiots down here. (sure, me too, that's fine).… Expand
  5. AramisG.
    Feb 12, 2007
    8
    Who exactly does the politics of this film offend? And since when is it off limits to put a political statement in a film? Unless you sat through this movie with political tunnel vision, I think you would notice they do a convincing job of show the evils of extremism left or right. This film has some of the most intense war zone scenes I've seen since Saving Private Ryan. It does an outstanding job of balancing the frailties of life against the harsh brutalities of war. If it does have an overt political message, it is that war is hell on Earth. I think both sides can agree on that.… Expand
  6. ktodd73
    Dec 13, 2011
    4
    Why do so many people consider this to be such a great film? I'm not saying it's bad. It's just okay. Not epic or astounding as many critics seem to believe. Clive Owen seems incapable of epic or astounding. I did really like the cinematography, but this movie just lacked in plot design and character development. Plain and simple. And as far as dystopian thrillers go, I would rank it below V for Vendetta and above Judge Dredd, hovering near the level of The Book of Eli. If you wish to see a realistic look into a troubled future, see John Hillcoat's terrific adaptation of The Road instead.… Expand
  7. JacobR.
    Jan 7, 2007
    0
    This movie was completely pointless. the premise is that people can't have kids, yet one DOES WHILE WE'RE WATCHING THE MOVIE! what the hell was the point? there obviously was never a problem, apparently outside of england people CAN have babies.… Expand

See all 330 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. Best of the Decade, Movies

    Film Critics Pick the Best Movies of the Decade

    Film Critics Pick the Best Movies of the Decade Image
    Published: January 3, 2010
    Dozens of film critics have made their lists of the best films of the past ten years, and we've tallied the results.
    More »

Current Movie Releases

Full List »
96 Gravity
83 Captain Phillips
81 The World's End
75 Rush
74 Prisoners
72 The Grandmaster
66 Lee Daniels' The Butler
66 Don Jon
66 You're Next
61 Metallica: Through the Never
55 Instructions Not Included
49 Riddick
44 The Family
44 Jobs
41 Machete Kills
41 Kick-Ass 2
40 Insidious: Chapter 2
36 Runner Runner
33 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
22 Getaway
All Current Movies »