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God Grew Tired of Us
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
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  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Mark Bell
    90
    Visually stunning and contextually provocative, God Grew Tired of Us is quite simply one of the most beautiful documentaries I've ever seen. Intelligent, heartbreaking, uplifting, humorous and reverent, the film is an adventure in what it means to be human.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    88
    A moving documentary that informs, entertains and inspires.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    88
    Seesawing between despair and soul-affirming inspiration, God Grew Tired of Us is a documentary to make you proud of what America offers to the rest of the world and worried that it can't keep its promises.
  4. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Marc Mohan
    83
    Fortunately, their story is just as compelling here, and the film's subjects display impressive adaptability, as well as a desire not to forget those they've left behind.
  5. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: James Greenberg
    80
    An incredibly powerful story of renewal, commitment and the resiliency of the human spirit, this is a movie that should attract a large theatrical audience, and no one will go home disappointed.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Carina Chocano
    80
    Quinn discovers an unexpectedly funny, trenchant fish-out-of-water-eye-view of American life.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marrit Ingman
    78
    More factual rigor wouldn't hurt, but directors Quinn and Walker delve instead into the lives of their subjects with a fly-on-the-wall candor, revealing as much about American life as they do of African life.
  8. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    75
    A year into their new lives, all three men experience profound isolation. How, they wonder, can Americans live such anti-social lives, so unconcerned with the idea of societal interdependence? This is the chief unexamined question raised by a worthy picture. What is there holds you all the same.
  9. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    75
    Narrated by Nicole Kidman, this poignant documentary tells only half the story of three Sudanese "lost boys" who emigrate to America. Though it doesn't delve as deep as it should, this movie will still break your heart.
  10. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    75
    The doggedness and good will of these men are irresistible as they pick up on the American dream, finding work and even college educations while trying to locate their missing relatives back home.
  11. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    75
    It's not as good, nor as complex, as "The Lost Boys," but that doesn't make the story of mass annihilation, sprawling refugee camps, the generosity of Americans, and the resilience of a handful of Sudanese survivors any less worthy of telling - again.
  12. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Walter Addiego
    75
    A well-made culture-shock documentary.
  13. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    75
    Crtainly worthy of serious attention and filled with revealing moments.
  14. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Joey Chase
    75
    If nothing else, this doc, which one the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at last year's Sundance Film Festival, will leave you feeling that the American dream is still alive and well.
  15. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Kamal AL-Solaylee
    75
    Against all odds and historical improbabilities, God Grew Tired of Us is a pleasant, uplifting documentary about genocide and ethnic cleansing.
  16. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    75
    Touching and insightful.
  17. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    70
    This is an important film. It's amazing that it exists, and the events it recounts are still more amazing. Everybody should see it.
  18. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    70
    Handsomely photographed and inspirational, but not cloyingly so, it is the rare contemporary documentary that doesn't leave a residue of cynicism and outrage.
  19. Variety
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    70
    Although shot over a longer period of time than "Lost Boys," God Grew Tired is a softer, less complex version of essentially the same story, far less troubling in its explorations and implications than "The Lost Boys," but with far greater commercial potential.
  20. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    70
    The message, unspoken but inescapable, is that a little sharing might feed wealthy and poor alike.
  21. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    67
    God Grew Tired of Us never brings us half as close to its subjects as the far more penetrating "Lost Boys of Sudan" did in 2004.
  22. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    67
    It's the warmth and resolve and humility of the young men that keeps us going. It may be more ennobling than introspective, but these three earn their nobility.
  23. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    67
    It's convincing as everything but a piece of good filmmaking.
  24. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    60
    A borderline lazy but nonetheless compelling documentary co-produced by National Geographic.
  25. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    60
    This is a film that adds to our understanding of human nature. Yet its impact is lessened by a lack of factual context, and by an inspirational climax that may leave one feeling good and uneasy in equal measure.
    All this critic's reviews
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. brianl
    10
    This was a very big eye opener, this documentary is excellent.
  2. AndrewK.
    7
    A wonderful film. Very educational. Having never seen "Lost Boys," I can't know if this film was as good, but for someone who knew nothing of the issue at hand, I found it to be a very good film. The boys whose lives we follow are so inspiring to me because they possess more will power, more moral strength, and more determination than I could ever hope to achieve. This is one of those films that makes you look at yourself and at our country, and realize both how lucky we are and how selfish. I'm glad that these guys were able to improve their lives by coming here, but I think it's a shame that we were not able to do more for them. And it has more to do with the way we are structured as a society than anything else. The refugees question our ability to get through our lives with so little social interaction...with such hostility toward people we don't know. And it makes you realize what a culture of fear we live in. I came out of this film feeling very confused about the way in which I live my life and the direction that we are headed as a country. And that's what makes this such an important film. It makes you think.… Full Review »
  3. HeidiF.
    10
    This is one of the best films I have ever seen! It makes you think about what is really important in life. These boys are here in the U.S. so we can help and teach them, but I feel it is "us" who need to be taught from them. The humor in the film was also great!… Full Review »
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