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The Kite Runner
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Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 54 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, Khalid Abdalla
  • Summary: Based on one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, The Kite Runner is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes, and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It's a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day's victory, one boy's fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban's iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right. (Paramount Vantage)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Like "House of Sand and Fog" and "Man Push Cart," it helps us to understand that the newcomers among us come from somewhere and are somebody.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    88
    Whatever our misfortune, The Kite Runner says, sometimes we are fortunate enough to get a second chance to make amends for a first mistake.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    60
    The Kite Runner is a house divided against itself. The Marc Forster-directed version of the Khaled Hosseini novel does one part of the story so well that its success underlines what's lacking in what remains.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
  1. Athena
    10
    What a beautifully told poignant film - it makes you grateful for the life and liberties that we take for granted in democratic countries - and sad and helpless for not being able to do anything to help.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. DavidR
    5
    Is it just me or is Ebert giving every movie that comes out a perfect score? I understand he's happy to be back at work but this does not deserve four stars. It barely held my attention and left out some of my favorite parts of the book.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JamesJ.
    2
    Saw a DGA friend's screener. Had not read the book. It's well shot, well produced, and competently acted. That's about all I can say for it. This movie is going to get better reviews than it deserves. It's half introduction to Afghani culture (interesting to a point - but a National Geographic or 60 Minutes piece would do the job better), half over-the-top melodrama. The narrative is slow moving, contrived, and revolves around a cowardly main character who I never grew to identify with or feel for. As a primer on life in Kabul, it's interesting, but a bit ham-fisted. Citizens of foreign cities don't walk around pointing out interesting cultural traits to each other. The whole sha-bang seemed to be aimed straight at the Oprah crowd. If you're sheltered, easily manipulated, have never traveled, and can't get enough of narratively-convenient uber-tragedy... this one's a winner!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 31 User Reviews

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