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 2463 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 2463 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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Metascore

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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

DavidR.

Mar 7, 2009

Kudos to Zack Snyder and the cast and crew of this amazing adaption of the graphic novel. I can't wait to see the extended edition.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EduardoM

May 5, 2009

Really good for those familiar with the graphic novel.

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.

48 of 54 users found this helpful486

LiahT.

Mar 7, 2009

This movie is incredibly faithful to the graphic novel, which I guess some found disconcerting. It seems to me that the critics can't make up their minds when it comes to adaptations: they pan an adaptation if it isn't faithful enough, they pan an adaptation if its too faithful. This movie is incredibly faithful to the graphic novel, which I guess some found disconcerting. It seems to me that the critics can't make up their minds when it comes to adaptations: they pan an adaptation if it isn't faithful enough, they pan an adaptation if its too faithful. Make up your minds, people! Right now you all sound incredibly unfair.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JohnH

Mar 11, 2009

I read Watchmen this past summer after seeing the preview of the film version before The Dark Knight. Needless to say I became an instant fan and have been anticipating this film for quite some time. I recently saw Watchmen and was very pleased with how much attention was given to detail by I read Watchmen this past summer after seeing the preview of the film version before The Dark Knight. Needless to say I became an instant fan and have been anticipating this film for quite some time. I recently saw Watchmen and was very pleased with how much attention was given to detail by Zach Snyder. A few element of the story were left out, but the main elements were flawlessly portrayed throughout the entire film. I can see how someone could get lost in the film if they had not read the novel. However, anyone who enjoyed the film, will very much enjoy the graphic novel. GO READ WATCHMEN… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

davenbettridge

Sep 8, 2011

Unlike most movies which seem to be held back by film studios, Watchmen and its director Zack Snyder would have benifited by studios saying NO and holding back the excessive nonsense that weighs down this movie. Too much of Watchmen's violence is unnecessary and far too excessive. ViolenceUnlike most movies which seem to be held back by film studios, Watchmen and its director Zack Snyder would have benifited by studios saying NO and holding back the excessive nonsense that weighs down this movie. Too much of Watchmen's violence is unnecessary and far too excessive. Violence can be very effective but too much will screw up its impact and this movie suffers as a result. I did enjoy some of the films back story and the characters Rorschach and Doctor Manhattan were interesting, but for everything this movie did right it did something wrong. Some of the actors are good some are miscast, the screen play is messy at times and there is also a ridiculously clumsy laughable sex scene. It's a pitty as Watchmen does have some depth and could have been much better.â… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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