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Pitch Black
Metascore
49 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 29
  3. Negative: 6 out of 29
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  1. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    91
    Between the tart dialogue, the compelling lead performances, the vivid violence and the stunning cinematography, it's complete and satisfying all on its own.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    So jaunty, so limber, and so visually self-assured that art peeks through where crap has traditionally made its home.
  3. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    80
    The movie of the season for sci-fi and horror fans.
  4. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Gemma Files
    80
    Ferociously inventive.
  5. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Tom Keogh
    70
    It's very effective.
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    70
    Shrewdly taps into the lurking primal terrors of anyone who ever had to sleep with a night light.
  7. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Paula Nechak
    67
    A total guilty pleasure.
  8. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Kevin Maynard
    66
    Visually, Pitch Black is sleek and stylish in a post-apocalyptic way, and a scantily clad Radha Mitchell does a nice, more femme variation of Sigourney Weaver's Ripley.
  9. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Sara Wildberger
    63
    Just may be the most entertainingly derivative movie of the millennium so far.
  10. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Foreman
    63
    By far the best thing about Pitch Black is the cool-looking lighting and photography.
  11. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Desmond Ryan
    63
    The "Alien" recipe with a little imagination.
  12. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Justine Elias
    60
    (Diesel's) Riddick, a silver-eyed, musclebound escaped killer, is the most sequel-worthy sci-fi creation since the Terminator.
  13. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    Clever, done with skill, yet lacking in the cerebral imagination of the best science fiction.
  14. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Susan Wloszczyna
    50
    Nothing really fun, scary or exceptionally gross occurs.
  15. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    50
    The B-movie is still very much with us.
  16. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    50
    This handsomely photographed, briskly directed sci-fi fright picture is enjoyable enough on its own limited terms.
  17. Variety
    Reviewed by: Emanuel Levy
    50
    Mildly scary but not particularly engaging on any other level.
  18. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Lisa Alspector
    50
    Stylishly realized, but its striking cinematography, nontraditional editing, and consistently reflexive use of genre conceits add up as methodically as a math problem.
  19. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    40
    Say what you will about the story, but Pitch Black at least looks and sounds stunning.
  20. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Paul Cullum
    40
    This is damaged goods from the opening Poly Gram logo.
  21. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Robert Wilonsky
    40
    It's just a familiar bore, offering chills and thrills only to those who have never seen a movie before.
  22. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    40
    A routine sci-fi/horror action-adventure, takes us where we've been countless times before.
  23. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    40
    You are allowed to come up with a monster we haven't seen before.
  24. Film.com
    Reviewed by: John Hartl
    30
    Quite shameless in imitating its predecessors.
  25. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Barbara Shulgasser
    25
    A rather wan version of "Jurassic Park" - a series of setups featuring humans being picked off by bigger, faster and stronger carnivores.
  26. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    25
    It has a distinctive look but a few too many recycled ideas; better luck on the next crash-landing.
  27. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Bob Stephens
    25
    The sudden cranking of the volume that makes us jump, even if we're just watching a cow chew on its cud.
  28. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Milton Kent
    25
    A gigantic mess.
  29. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Bob Graham
    0
    This half-baked sci-fi horror film, filled with jerky, washed-out, highlighted, blurred and toned imagery, is a tiresome experience.
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 5 out of 22
  1. Midge115
    10
    Possibly the best Science Fiction movie of the 21st century, Pitch Black delivers an astounding sci-fi horror story that chronicles the events surrounding survivors of a space transport crash on a different planet. Each character flourishes in their well-defined personality, their movements, and behavior. The way they clash and the manner in which the story is told is brilliant. This is easily one of the greatest movies in the last fifty years.… Full Review »
  2. SchroederRock
    8
    An incredibly fun and intense sci-fi thriller that shows Vin Diesel has real character that fits him outside of The Fast and the Furious. The first ten minutes are so full of white-knuckle insanity that, with a good crowd sitting in front of a sweet entertainment center/home theater, you'll likely be clutching the sides of the sofa to find any mental stability. When all is said and done, Pitch Black is an gem that's unpolished in all the right places to give it plenty of character and isn't any longer than it needs to be with its near two hour run-time.… Full Review »
  3. kingshahid
    4
    I liked the costumes, tabla-music every two seconds and the filming location (desert). Other than that, the story (concept) was too sci-fi for me. I did not follow along with this movie. It failed at keeping me entertained. It was a long drag of nearly 2hrs from the very beginning. How this movie had sequels is beyond me.… Full Review »
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