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Never Back Down
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 22
  3. Negative: 7 out of 22
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  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    75
    Formulaic and derivative, but sufficiently well made to work as both teen-angst melodrama and bone-rattling brawl picture.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Stephen Farber
    70
    Although the movie set in the hot new arena of mixed martial arts is a bit short on star power, it's energetic and warm-hearted enough to become a word-of-mouth hit.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    63
    The movie is just a cheesy, preposterous, semi-eroticized way of yelling, "Fight! Fight!," when two people go at it in the school cafeteria.
  4. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Jim Ridley
    60
    A modest surprise: better acted than needed, better made than expected.
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    60
    Best part, though, is the cast: Everyone's a model, everyone beats each other half to death, and no one looks as if they've ever suffered so much as a coldsore.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    50
    It's a little "Karate Kid," a smidge of "Fight Club" (with none of the ironic ambivalence toward violence that David Fincher brought to that story), a lot of "The O.C." (evil boy Gigandet played an evil boy on that series), and presto: probable hit.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    50
    By the time ever-noble, ever-watchable Djimon Hounsou shows up to teach earnest young Jake honor and roundhouse kicks, the power-rock and smashmouth idiocy become like a fever dream, sweaty and hard to shake off.
  8. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Ruthe Stein
    50
    A junior version of "Fight Club," only with no movie stars and different moves.
  9. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    50
    This movie isn't bad just because it follows a formula slavishly but because it does so without verve or passion.
  10. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Steve Davis
    50
    Borrows from other movies almost shamelessly.
  11. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Jan Stuart
    50
    A disposable sports drama.
  12. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Andrea Gronvall
    50
    Jeff Wadlow directed this exploitation flick, which seems designed for students on spring break.
  13. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    50
    Director Jeff Wadlow and screenwriter Chris Hauty are so committed to following through on the "Karate Kid" formula that they don't care for novelty; it's enough for them just to hit their cues and play up the slo-mo MMA brutality. In the future, movies this derivative will be made by robots.
  14. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Felix Vasques Jr.
    40
    About as bland, predictable, and self-important as you'd expect.
  15. Empire
    Reviewed by: Nick De Semlyen
    40
    "The Karate Kid" meets "Fight Club" but it's no way near as good as it sounds.
  16. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Jason McBride
    38
    At times, the film is more fun than it deserves to be, and it's probably a lot more fun if you're a 13-year-old with an addiction to "Bully: Scholarship Edition."
  17. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Jeannette Catsoulis
    30
    The movie speeds up and slows down as though controlled by a director in the grip of competing medications. For those who make it to the final beatdown, however, the only pill worth taking is the one that makes you forget.
  18. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    25
    A formula flick that should have tapped out in the script stage.
  19. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Gregory Kirschling
    25
    Movie is dopey. And with its emphasis on stupid violence, xylophone abs, and getting yourself on YouTube, it's yet another product that makes you feel bad about today's youth culture.
  20. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    25
    While too bland and stupid to be offensive, Never Back Down spouts a hollow message of nonviolence while celebrating the brutal satisfaction of beating the crap out of someone.
  21. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    25
    Reprehensible.
  22. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    20
    Sitting through this is groan-inducing enough, but it's spiritually depressing to watch Djimon Hounsou, who deserves better.
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 48
  3. Negative: 15 out of 48
  1. MrJakeTyler
    10
    The greatest fighting film ever made. I have no idea how it's only been given 39, its a complete and utter disgrace. This film changed my life, and everyone should see it. A true masterpiece of cinematography.… Full Review »
  2. Grothos
    2
    This movie was a cheap remake of Karate Kid, with about as much quality dialog. The only thing I liked about this movie was well... the fighting. But the storyline and character development, as well as the theme were B-rate at best. Over all it has some fancy moves for MMA lovers, and fight fans but no substance to back it up.… Full Review »
  3. RONGIU
    10
    Sorry for the translation. Ok, by now on the merits. I feel a strong sense of sadness when I read reviews of films classified by not lovers like that "useless, barren, arid, money thrown away, but stupid, like so ..." and so on. The bitterness then turns into sadness when I hear and see film experts, on television, expressing distaste with sarcasm, maybe even embarrassed about putting something on that particular film has to say. Personally, I am convinced that no film, admitted to public viewing, can be scored with the words used by Jake Tyler, "useless junk, useless junk. I think this an extreme opinion on a film. If I act in this way, throw in a basket that is a film of a film, I threw away, in every sense, the work of many people. The work, which deserves respect. Personally, I am convinced that no film, admitted to public viewing, can be scored with the words used by Jake Tyler, "useless junk, useless junk. I think this an extreme opinion on a film. If I act in this way, throw in a basket that is a film of a film, I threw away, in every sense, the work of many people. The work, which deserves respect. "Useful" junk, ". This is a term that I like. In each film there is something good. Extremism, including reviews, I am not convinced. The regista. Jeff Wadlow, try looking in a profound way the face of this guy. Incredible. Heard of him and you know why? Why is a person who listens. See also knows those who can listen to a director is crucial. I watch him, always see in him a deep and serenity, is a boy who transmits serenity and confidence. I confess that the two faces, one of Jeff, and indeed that of Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) led me to watching this film. Well, I got in some aspect of the film. The guilt. Feelings of guilt are terrible whipping, comparable in terms of inner pain, the scourging. Drunken father, Tyler does not replace driving, accident and death of the father. The mother, try to judge the mother, poses and not a little to his son the whole story. When you are aware of the actions committed, good or bad you are and you take all the consequences, show what is called sense of responsibility, maturity. In guilt, however, the mind begins a journey all illogical. Acts, actions, attitudes, no longer have a rational place, we become judges themselves too hard with all its consequences and emotional suffering. Wadlow's skill is to show a Tyler, despite all the events, yet master of himself and how? Serious commitment and application in everything he does'. Sport, leaves truce opponent. The school, the shield of Achilles. The brother follows him from afar. It is not an instinctive, see Ryan Mc. Carthy (C. Gigandet, good too). And why are so many Tyler and Ryan? Another point in favor of the director Wadlow, parenting behaviors. The smiles of the father of Tyler vs arrogance of the father of Ryan. Consequence of this is ... the example by your children. An educator, and every dad is, can leave traces in the boys, who become equal to mine wandering behavior. Beware the examples, dear dad. The mother did not help Tyler in, like, metabolize, the death of his father. Consequently, despite all these positive notes, the boy when insulted by the opponent on the field, has a violent reaction, well aware that is a clever thug. And this is worse. How many professional sports, today, paid its weight in gold, with their behavior in inciting violence. One last thing, though not like a movie, and this is, is a great gym, we are subject, for budding actors. As Homer leaves the narrative of war, to describe the shield of Achilles leads engravings on human nature, even I have to leave, not before I wish you all an affectionate Good Ciak!… Full Review »
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