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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Children of Men
Universal Pictures


7.5

based on 38 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 445 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: R for strong violence, language, some drug use and brief nudity

Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Charlie Hunnam, Claire-Hope Ashitey, Pam Ferris, and Danny Huston

Children of Men envisages a world one generation from now that has fallen into anarchy on the heels of an infertility defect in the population. The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction. Set against the backdrop of London torn apart by violence and nationalistic sects, the film follows disillusioned bureaucrat Theo (Owen) as he becomes an unlikely champion of Earth's survival. (Universal Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Adventure \| Drama \| Sci-fi \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Alfonso Cuarón, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby P.D. James (novel The Children of Men)
DIRECTED BY:	Alfonso Cuarón
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 27, 2007 Theatrical: December 25, 2006
RUNNING TIME:	109 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	UK / USA

Nominated, Golden Lion, 2006 Venice Film Festival

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Made with palpable energy, intensity and excitement, it compellingly creates a world gone mad that is uncomfortably close to the one we live in. It is a "Blade Runner" for the 21st century, a worthy successor to that epic of dystopian decay

100

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

It's a heartbreaking, bullet-strewn valentine to what keeps us human.

100

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Children of Men is a nativity story for the ages, this or any other.

100

Slate Dana Stevens

I don't just mean it's one of the best movies of the past six years. Children of Men, based on the 1992 novel by P.D. James, is the movie of the millennium because it's about our millennium, with its fractured, fearful politics and random bursts of violence and terror.

100

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

Children of Men may be something of a bummer, but it’s the kind of glorious bummer that lifts you to the rafters, transporting you with the greatness of its filmmaking.

100

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Working with his longtime cinematographer Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki, Cuaron creates the most deeply imagined and fully realized world to be seen on screen this year, not to mention bravura sequences that bring to mind names like Orson Welles and Stanley Kubrick.

100

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

This is an extraordinary artistic breakthrough from a Mexican director who was already fearlessly good to begin with.

100

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

Children of Men is Cuarón's run for freedom, with a riveting story, fantastic action scenes and acting so universally solid that even the dogs perform masterfully under his direction.

100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

It's a work of art that deserves a space cleared for its angry, nervous beauty.

100

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

At times the film is so supercharged that it glosses over the story's thematic richness and turns into a very high-grade action picture. But if that's the worst thing you can say about a movie, you're doing all right. The best thing to be said about Children of Men is that it's a fully imagined vision of dystopia.

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The performances are crucial, because all of these characters have so completely internalized their world that they make it palpable, and themselves utterly convincing.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

It's a measure of Cuarón's directorial chops that Children of Men functions equally well as fantasy and thriller. Like Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" and the Wachowski Brothers' "V for Vendetta" (and more consistently than either), the movie attempts to fuse contemporary life with pulp mythology.

LA Weekly Scott Foundas

One of the year's most imaginative and uniquely exciting pieces of cinema.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

It is that rare futuristic thriller: grim in its scenario, yet exhilarating in its technique.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

It depicts a world close enough to our own to be terrifying, yet different enough to rouse curiosity.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Children of Men is thrilling, both for its groundbreaking style (there are action sequences here unlike any filmed before) and its complex, vividly realized ideas.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

A chase movie, a spy movie, a futuristic thriller full of colorfully bizarre characters and deftly choreographed stunt work, Children of Men works on multiple levels - as action and allegory.

Premiere Stephen Saito

It's the rare sci-fi film that transcends its genre with its ideas, able to sweep one up in its not-too-distant future and yet remain remarkably prescient about the present day.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Cuarón has a gift only the greatest filmmakers share: He makes you believe.

New York Magazine David Edelstein

Children of Men is a bouillabaisse of up-to-the-minute terrors. It's a wow, though.

The New Yorker Anthony Lane

It's a film that you need to see, not a film that you especially want to.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

A solemn, haunting picture, but it's also a thrilling one, partly because of the sheer bravado with which it's made. It left me feeling more fortified than drained. Cuarón, the most openhearted of directors, prefers to give rather than take away.

Variety Derek Elley

Picture more than delivers on the action front -- not in bang-for-your-buck spectacle but in the kind of gritty, doculike sequences that haul viewers out of their seats and alongside the main protags.

The Hollywood Reporter Ray Bennett

Owen carries the film more in the tradition of a Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda than a Clint Eastwood or Harrison Ford. He has to wear flip-flops for part of the time without losing his dignity, and he never reaches for a weapon or guns anyone down. Cuaron and Owen may have created the first believable 21st-century movie hero.

Empire Damon Wise

A visually stunning Swiftian satire, Children Of Men may appear clumsy, but its message is simple, heartfelt and ultimately rather moving.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

As all his films have shown, Cuarón is clearly one of the most original filmmakers working today, and Children of Men should solidify his place at the top of those ranks. With a great script, there should be no stopping him.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Children of Men has some magnificent moments of moviemaking and is thoroughly infused with just the atmosphere Cuaron has aimed for. But it's so streamlined in its storytelling and unvarying in its tone that it's more deadening than transporting.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Although imperfect, it's engaging, thought-provoking stuff.

USA Today Claudia Puig

An exhilarating sci-fi action thriller with a powerful social and political message.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Cuarón relies on his ample visual style, and he has indeed created a film you cannot tear your eyes away from.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The screenplay, which differs significantly from the novel, is uneven, but the distorted mirror it holds up to the present is disturbingly clear.

Film Threat Mark Bell

The problem with the film, despite the genius of craftmanship and cinematography, is that the film doesn't really have anything new to say.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The film gradually devolves into action-adventure, then the equivalent of a war movie. But the filmmaking is pungent throughout, and the first half hour is so jaw-dropping in its fleshed-out extrapolation that Cuaron earns the right to coast a bit.

Newsweek David Ansen

Children of Men leaves too many questions unanswered, yet it has a stunning visceral impact. You can forgive a lot in the face of filmmaking this dazzling.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

As great as the film looks, the story, adapted from a novel by P.D. James, never quite comes into focus.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

As exciting and disturbing as it is in many ways, Children of Men -- based on a novel by P.D. James -- doesn't add up to a credible alternate view of the near-future: Its vision hasn't been well thought out, and, again and again, it struck me as a sloppy piece of storytelling.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Director Alfonso Cuarón has a vision so mesmerizingly terrible that it alone - at least, for those who enjoy a gorgeous nightmare - is reason enough to see the film.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Bloated adaptation of P.D. James's thoughtful, compact novel.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 445 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Garry L. gave it a10:
One of my favorite films of all time. An ambitious, complete and chillingly believable vision of the near future. It is beautifully shot - action scenes are visceral and made all the more heart-pounding with the decision to extend them into shots minutes long, rather than Hollywood's customary nanosecond cuts. It is gloomy and uncompromising, but this is because it's an honest script that doesn't pander to viewers who, rather than being challenged by what they've seen, would like some soggy popcorn happy ending as an antidote to their daily grind.

Samuel gave it a10:
Great acting, great story, great suspense, great everything really. Its flaws are minor and its strengths are amazing. Bravo.

Tim P. gave it a9:
A true gem of a film. It is clearly intended to make viewers think... I've read some mixed reviews and it seems that those who slated the film either didn't understand it or are cretins who prefer cheesy Hollywood action flicks. Very realistic and gritty scenes - most realistic birth scene I've ever seen. The use of hand held cameras, and the blood on the lens for several minutes adds to the realism of the film. Caine's portrayal of a dope growing hippie was fantastic and very entertaining. A breath of fresh air to not have to watch a film dumbed down for the American market - I recommend it!

Jim K gave it an8:
I found this movie fascinating, well acted, and well filmed. It is in many ways a basic chase movie, but the twists and turns are satisfying and unexpected. I would recommend it to anyone who can handle a fair amount of violence and bleakness. Also, I'm a bit baffled by some of the plot hole complaints other reviewers have made, e.g., the source of infertility (rather superfluous), why infertility would cause global chaos (rather obvious), etc. The plot may feel a little rushed at times, especially in the first 15 minutes, but there aren't any major flaws I found bothersome. All in all, highly recommended.

Mark k gave it a2:
The first half hour or so is ok but then the film just completely collapses. What a horrible script. It turns into a mindless chase flick. If you like checking your mind out when you watch dumb films see it but everyone else should avoid it.

Randy M. gave it a9:
Well...what can I say about Children of Men? It's a completely heartbreaking thrill ride that'll keep you glued to your seat. Simply outstanding.

Marty H. gave it a0:
This was a truly awful film, what a waste of nearly 2 hours. The film ended as abruptly as it started and left so many things unanswered, it made me wonder what the point was in sitting through such doom and gloom. There is no genius in this film at all, despite what others may say. I would not even give it one star! Your time would be better spent watching paint dry! You have been warned!

Children of Men Universal Pictures

Children of Men
Universal Pictures