Red Sparrow

Name: Red Sparrow
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: March 2, 2018
Duration: 140 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Bill Camp, Charlotte Rampling, Ciarán Hinds, Douglas Hodge, Jennifer Lawrence

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 51 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 428 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 428 Ratings

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Red Sparrow

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: March 2, 2018 | R

Starring: Bill Camp, Charlotte Rampling, Ciarán Hinds, Douglas Hodge, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Irons, Joel de la Fuente, Joel Edgerton, Joely Richardson, Mary-Louise Parker, Matthias Schoenaerts, Sergei Polunin, Thekla Reuten

Summary: Dominika Egorova is many things. A devoted daughter determined to protect her mother at all costs. A prima ballerina whose ferocity has pushed her body and mind to the absolute limit. A master of seductive and manipulative combat. When she suffers a career-ending injury, Dominika and her mother are facing a bleak and uncertain future. ThatDominika Egorova is many things. A devoted daughter determined to protect her mother at all costs. A prima ballerina whose ferocity has pushed her body and mind to the absolute limit. A master of seductive and manipulative combat. When she suffers a career-ending injury, Dominika and her mother are facing a bleak and uncertain future. That is why she finds herself manipulated into becoming the newest recruit for Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people like her to use their bodies and minds as weapons. After enduring the perverse and sadistic training process, she emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow the program has ever produced. Dominika must now reconcile the person she was with the power she now commands, with her own life and everyone she cares about at risk, including an American CIA agent who tries to convince her he is the only person she can trust.… Expand

Director: Francis Lawrence

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 140 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Feb 27, 2018

Red Sparrow is a thoroughly entertaining movie that stays fresh and interesting for all of its two-hours-plus running time. But what kicks it into a higher level is that it’s a terrific vehicle for Jennifer Lawrence, one of the few movie stars who deserves one, who is a film star in the classic sense. Read full review

Tom Russo

Feb 28, 2018

A hard-R espionage thriller heavy on themes of sexual degradation and graphic, sometimes sadistic violence. Read full review

The Film Stage Jordan Raup

Feb 16, 2018

While Red Sparrow ultimately doesn’t earn its all-consuming, grueling dourness, there are a few thrills to be had, and following the best performance of her career last fall, it’s certainly another fearless step forward for Jennifer Lawrence. Read full review

Dom Sinacola

Mar 1, 2018

Lawrence (and his star, Jennifer Lawrence) want to leave no doubt that this is the lurid, infuriating stuff of the adult-minded, drenched in sophistication and pain—much like Lawrence’s dystopic vision for The Hunger Games, only anchored in the hyperreal world of the New Cold War we may be starting to realize isn’t “new” at all. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Christy Lemire

Mar 1, 2018

Ultimately, these shocking and violent sequences become repetitive and gratuitous, making Red Sparrow feel more like a cheap exercise in exploitation than a visceral tale of survival. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Feb 16, 2018

Trying to split the difference between trashy and classy, Red Sparrow is a sleek, juiced-up espionage thriller that overdoes everything: its brutal violence, its dramatic flourishes, its hairpin plot twists, and most certainly its sexpot shamelessness. Read full review

William Bibbiani

Feb 27, 2018

Red Sparrow is too disturbing and brutal to be popcorn entertainment, and by trying to make the uncomfortable storylines and interminable torture sequences palatable for the audience, it completely undermines its ability to operate as a serious drama. Read full review

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User Reviews

Craigcassler

Mar 3, 2018

I went in not knowing much about the film. I thought it was a great thriller which kept you guessing the entire movie. I thought the acting was great throughout too. A unique storyline to a spy movie.

35 of 61 users found this helpful3526

Catenary44

Jun 7, 2021

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0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Casas9425

Mar 12, 2018

Do not listen to the critics. For me, this film was better than Atomic Bomb. It's a thriller, with no kick ass action, violent, sexual, and brutal. Lawrence delivers a good performance as usual. I was impressed with the supporting cast as well. The twist at the end was fantastic. It's notDo not listen to the critics. For me, this film was better than Atomic Bomb. It's a thriller, with no kick ass action, violent, sexual, and brutal. Lawrence delivers a good performance as usual. I was impressed with the supporting cast as well. The twist at the end was fantastic. It's not perfect, but it's enjoyable if you like spy films.… Expand

6 of 14 users found this helpful68

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film has a decent atmosphere at times and a sinister undertone but its not action heavy and so may bore people looking, or hoping, for constant visual entertainment. The dialogue isn't bad and the performances are pretty decent too (don't ask me to comment on the authenticity of the Russian accents though - I really wouldn't know), although its not a continually thrilling watch throughout. There is some bloody violence and sexual violence (torture is involved), so its not for the particularly faint hearted I suppose. It has elements of The Handmaid's Tale and perhaps a bit of the Jason Bourne films about it. I wouldn't say its a particularly good film but its certainly not awful either. If it sounds of interest to you then I'd say its worth a watch but be aware its not a quick watch, at two hours and twenty minutes long.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

MattBrady99

Dec 29, 2018

'Red Sparrow' is a massive dud not as a spy movie, but as a thriller. The theme of psychological warfare could've been riveting with a better director, because I was struggling to find any engagement in the story. The cinematography and performances is the only merit in the movie.

I mean,'Red Sparrow' is a massive dud not as a spy movie, but as a thriller. The theme of psychological warfare could've been riveting with a better director, because I was struggling to find any engagement in the story. The cinematography and performances is the only merit in the movie.

I mean, it's worth checking out to watch every actor screw up their Russian accents, especially Jeremy Irons.… Expand

1 of 17 users found this helpful116

tigawayne

Mar 5, 2018

Red Sparrow is a spy thriller that attempts to build tension in its narrative. However, the tension falls flat throughout most of the film. The slow pacing aiming for genuine tension is unsuccessful with little emotional or narrative payoff and lack of thrill in this psychological thriller.Red Sparrow is a spy thriller that attempts to build tension in its narrative. However, the tension falls flat throughout most of the film. The slow pacing aiming for genuine tension is unsuccessful with little emotional or narrative payoff and lack of thrill in this psychological thriller. Most of the character developments are thin and flawed, except for the main character Dominika, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who is given enough backstory to be invested in. However, Dominika’s character doesn't feel believable, as the development of her skills as a spy is only briefly explained and shown in the film, which makes it difficult to fully believe that she is a competent spy, which is also what the film is mainly about. The film does show solid cinematography and production design. It is also full of great acting performances, and very obvious dedication to the film by the actors are shown, especially in sexual scenes. The ending of the film is slightly more satisfying than the rest of the film as well. Nevertheless, the film is ultimately boring and bland, failing in creating the emotional weight and narrative coherence it needs.
4/10… Expand

2 of 20 users found this helpful218

AlextheamazingR

Jul 15, 2018

Awful and sexist movie, the acting and direction very basic, the plot confusing and stupid.

2 of 33 users found this helpful231

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36	#36 Most Discussed Movie of 2018
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