Watchmen

Name: Watchmen
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: March 6, 2009
Duration: 162 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 2194 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 2194 Ratings

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Watchmen

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: March 6, 2009 | R

Starring: Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson

Summary: Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with hisWatchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion--a disbanded group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers--Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the Watchmen? (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Zack Snyder

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 162 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Kyle Smith

Director Zack Snyder's cerebral, scintillating follow-up to "300" seems, to even a weary filmgoer's eye, as fresh and magnificent in sound and vision as "2001" must have seemed in 1968, yet in its eagerness to argue with itself, it resembles "A Clockwork Orange." Read full review

100

Andrew O'Hehir

A terrific comic-book movie, the most completely satisfying and unsettling one I've ever seen. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Watchmen is a fitting tribute to Alan Moore's fascinating graphic novel, even if he refused to let his name be used in the credits. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Snyder stands revealed here as more of a beginner than a visionary in his uncertain approach to making an on-screen world come alive. Read full review

Claudia Puig

In the canon of comic-book movies, it's not as campy bad as the "Batman" starring George Clooney, but nowhere near the caliber of the Spider-Man movies or "The Dark Knight." It may have more style, but it's only a jot more entertaining than "Catwoman." Read full review

Pete Vonder Haar

Watchmen is indeed gorgeous, with Gibbons' original work reproduced and – in some cases – improved upon by detailed F/X, but even at a healthy two hours and 41 minutes the story feels truncated. Even abrupt. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Elegance isn't Zack Snyder's bag; a certain sort of impact is. Watchmen establishes him as Hollywood's reigning master of psychic suffocation. Read full review

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User Reviews

BillH.

Mar 7, 2009

This was a great movie, the pacing is done in a manner which directly mimics Dr. Manhattan's removed perception of events and reality, reviewers are really missing the point of this, I don't get what they are all banging it up for, yes it's a little long, but there's so This was a great movie, the pacing is done in a manner which directly mimics Dr. Manhattan's removed perception of events and reality, reviewers are really missing the point of this, I don't get what they are all banging it up for, yes it's a little long, but there's so much to pack into one film, I could see how the director's cut might actually improve the viewing experience!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

donm

Mar 24, 2009

I knew nothing of the book or tghe characters. I found the movie experience thrilling from the first moment. It aimed high and had serious themes under the story. A great movie going experience and arresting visuals - fresh and yet satisfying.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

XxKingLeonidas

Mar 17, 2011

A fantastic film. The story, the setting, the characters, everything works perfectly to create this dark alternate reality. Zach Snyder has done it again, creating another beautiful world for another great film.

39 of 43 users found this helpful394

WillR.

Mar 7, 2009

"Watchmen" was one of those projects that, quite frankly was way too vast to tackle in film.. No matter how much fans of the graphic novel will want it, it won't include the totality of the novel. With that said, they did an excellent job cutting down to the baseline of what make the "Watchmen" was one of those projects that, quite frankly was way too vast to tackle in film.. No matter how much fans of the graphic novel will want it, it won't include the totality of the novel. With that said, they did an excellent job cutting down to the baseline of what make the essence of 'Watchmen". It wasn't sincerely a movie for the stringent fan, but for an audience willing to give a movie with a comic book heritage a fair chance of proving the medium past the shallow, direct, action orientated that sticks as a stigma to the genre, and as a potential output for sincere philosophical waxing. While nowhere as deep as the novel, its one of those movies that you can sit through several times, and get something new out of it, giving it a great deal of replay value. If its going over your head, you probably should watch it again, and think onto the 'whys' of things happening, instead of presuming you should be force-fed info like the dumbed-down population Hollywood generally takes us for. In short, deep enough to be gratifying, while controlled enough to be intellectually condescending.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AlexL.

Mar 9, 2009

Very good movie...but won't be great until the Directors Cut is released.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

There were a lot of things the movie did right, and plotwise, it stayed faithful to the original medium. However, there were enough missteps/inconsistencies and an unfulfilling style that it comes off as a purely enjoyable film, rather than a great, memorable one. Also, those watching theThere were a lot of things the movie did right, and plotwise, it stayed faithful to the original medium. However, there were enough missteps/inconsistencies and an unfulfilling style that it comes off as a purely enjoyable film, rather than a great, memorable one. Also, those watching the movie who haven't read the graphic novel will find little to cling on to, and might find the ending bemusing, but not anywhere near as impacting as what's presented in the book. The whole soundtrack also just needed an overhaul (If you're gonna feature "Hallelujah" in a movie, at least let it be Jeff Buckley's version!) Anyway, I need to get some sleep...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tedcook

Mar 6, 2009

Sieve with microscopic holes, looks fine, but all the meaning just pours right through.

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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3	#3 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
6	#6 Most Shared Movie of 2009