X
  • 2022
  • TV-MA
  • Home Box Office (HBO)
  • 1 h 46 m
  • 2022
  • TV-MA
  • Home Box Office (HBO)
  • 1 h 46 m

Summary David France's documentary takes an inside look at the historic, multi-national race to research, develop, regulate, and roll out COVID-19 vaccines in the war against the coronavirus pandemic. The documentary began filming in early 2020 as the largest public health effort in history got underway and followed those efforts of over the nex...

Directed By: David France

Written By: Tyler H. Walk, David France

  • 2022
  • TV-MA
  • Home Box Office (HBO)
  • 1 h 46 m
  • 2022
  • TV-MA
  • Home Box Office (HBO)
  • 1 h 46 m

How to Survive a Pandemic

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
64
User Score Mixed or Average
5.0
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary David France's documentary takes an inside look at the historic, multi-national race to research, develop, regulate, and roll out COVID-19 vaccines in the war against the coronavirus pandemic. The documentary began filming in early 2020 as the largest public health effort in history got underway and followed those efforts of over the nex...

Directed By: David France

Written By: Tyler H. Walk, David France

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
64
75% Positive
6 Reviews
25% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
64
75% Positive
6 Reviews
25% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Mar 24, 2022
Smart, humane and gripping even as it rakes over events all too fresh in our memories, How to Survive a Pandemic ends with plenty yet to be discussed and explored: It provides a road map to survival, but doesn’t suggest we’ve all made it just yet.
By Guy Lodge FULL REVIEW
75
Mar 29, 2022
How to Survive a Pandemic is a poor title for a mostly fascinating documentary, whose flaws reflect its slightly fragmented nature. Yet at its core this HBO presentation captures the race to produce a vaccine amid political pressures imposed by a president preoccupied with his reelection, offering fly-on-the-wall access to many of the key players.
By Brian Lowry FULL REVIEW
70
Mar 31, 2022
While its ambition and immediacy occasionally lead to some uneven patches, its insight nevertheless makes it a worthy addition to the growing library of films grappling with what just happened.
By Angie Han FULL REVIEW
67
Mar 28, 2022
It’s compelling viewing, if a bit uneasy—not just for the flashbacks to those early COVID days of respiratory machines and people in HAZMAT suits, or the film’s second half, which covers the lack of egalitarianism in the vaccine rollout, and how those decisions ravaged non-Western countries and accelerated the rise in variants.
By Rory O'Connor FULL REVIEW
63
Mar 29, 2022
I doubt How to Survive a Pandemic will alter anyone’s opinion regarding the necessity of vaccines, yet it does pay admirable tribute to the scientists fighting to save the world, including those stubborn earthlings who have no interest in being saved.
By Matt Fagerholm FULL REVIEW
60
Mar 31, 2022
The message — that science cannot succeed without a politics of solidarity — is important, but the film ends on a note of uncertainty that feels defeatist rather than urgent.
By Devika Girish FULL REVIEW
50
Mar 29, 2022
It’s as if the film itself is suffering from a pandemic hangover and can’t believe there’s a reason to feel better, even when describing one of the greatest scientific and manufacturing achievements in human history.
By Mick LaSalle FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 4 User Ratings
5.0
25% Positive
1 Rating
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
25% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 4 User Ratings
5.0
25% Positive
1 Rating
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
25% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company HBO Documentary Films, Impact Partners, Public Square Films, Sandbox Films (II)
Release Date Mar 29, 2022
Duration 1 h 46 m
Rating TV-MA
Genres
Tagline A Deadly Virus. A World On Its Knees. A Race to Save Humanity.
Website https://www.hbo.com/movies/how-to-survive-a-pandemic
View All Details

Awards

Cinema for Peace Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
News & Documentary Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Nomination

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