Hitchcock
Metascore
55 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 40 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 40
  3. Negative: 4 out of 40
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  1. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    Nov 21, 2012
    50
    I wouldn't recommend Hitchcock to cinephiles seeking a bold new take on the master's life or work, but if all you want is to while away the afternoon in the company of some excellent actors in plummy period costume, Gervasi's film is not without its pleasures.
  2. The Playlist
    Reviewed by: Charlie Schmidlin
    Nov 21, 2012
    50
    That feeling of utter disposability pervades throughout the film, underlining the missteps of Gervasi by aiming for breezy entertainment while forgetting to pause and inject some genuine emotion in there as well.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Karina Longworth
    Nov 20, 2012
    50
    The change in title from book to film is instructive: Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho is about a filmmaker and the making of a film; Hitchcock is a half-ass attempt to demystify a larger-than-life man who put himself front and center while remaining enigmatic, a master at revealing a little in order to conceal a lot.
  4. Variety
    Reviewed by: Justin Chang
    Nov 12, 2012
    50
    Hitchcock is a diverting but dramatically insipid account of how the Master of Suspense took his biggest gamble and delivered his greatest success with "Psycho."
  5. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Peter Bradshaw
    Feb 9, 2013
    40
    A disappointing excursion into movie history.
  6. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    Nov 20, 2012
    40
    Too-cutesy conceits such as Hitch's imagined conversations with serial killer Ed Gein (Michael Wincott) feebly attempt to ground the story in psychological terra firma, while horribly on-the-nose dialogue flatters those viewers who prefer to keep their sense of cinema history on fan-mag frivolous levels.
  7. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    Nov 23, 2012
    38
    This is all a long way of saying that the best way to better understand the man who made those and dozens of other movies is simply to see them. There's no case to be made for a mangy shortcut like Hitchcock. It's all surface and formula.
  8. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    Dec 6, 2012
    25
    Hitchcock spends too much time off the set of Psycho, where the real story was, and focuses instead on incidental matters that feel like outtakes. Mother would not have been pleased.
  9. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Andrew Schenker
    Nov 16, 2012
    12
    If you've ever seen Psycho, or even if you know anything at all about the film, Sacha Gervasi's Hitchcock would like to congratulate you on your savvy.
  10. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    Nov 23, 2012
    10
    Hitchcock rings false from start to finish.
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User Reviews

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User Score
6.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 65 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Nesbitt10
    7
    Sacha Gervasi's "Hitchcock" title comes off a bit misleading, suggesting that the film to be a definitive biopic; an extensive, in-depth look into the life and career of the of one of the finest directors ever. However, the movie is really just a dramatization of the making of Hitchcock's "Psycho," where in historical facts are accompanied by embellishments and simplifications that serve to add humor and conflict. "Hitchcock" centers on the relationship between director Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) and his wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) during the making of Psycho, a controversial horror film that subsequently became one of the most acclaimed and influential works in the filmmaker's career.
    Anthony Hopkins is superb the title role, fitted with impeccable makeup and prosthetics, and Mirren is equally as impressive. This makes for a reasonably enjoyable watch for the audience, but viewers are unlikely to learn anything new of consequence about the Master of Suspense. I wouldn't suggest that you spend $10 on a ticket for this one, but a fine film to rent in a couple of months.    … Full Review »
  2. anothercoolguy
    10
    Great acting by Mirren and Hopkins .… Full Review »
  3. dante_finn
    8
    Broadly enjoyable pop art bio pic.
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