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 2102 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 2102 Ratings

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Watchmen

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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Awards & Rankings

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

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Metascore

Positive:

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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

BretG.

Mar 6, 2009

Saw it as a sneak peek early screening. Was blown away by how faithful many of the scenes were transferred from the graphic novel, a huge fan service. The altered ending was not surprising, but not a total loss either. For die hard fans, this is a must see. For people not familiar with the Saw it as a sneak peek early screening. Was blown away by how faithful many of the scenes were transferred from the graphic novel, a huge fan service. The altered ending was not surprising, but not a total loss either. For die hard fans, this is a must see. For people not familiar with the book, they may be less inclined to do so or care to understand the story. Overall, it's a beautiful story full of vengeance, carnage, and mystery that compels the viewer to want more. But don't bring your kids.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MattS.

Mar 21, 2009

This movie is hugely underrated. Most people who went to see it were probably looking for a cheap action movie with no thinking involved. If you do want to stimulate your mind however this movie is the best option.

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.

38 of 40 users found this helpful382

MattB.

Mar 7, 2009

I enjoyed this movie very much, and everyone I know who read the book says that it followed it well, but with a changed end that worked very well still.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MicheleA.

Mar 9, 2009

Amazing movie...different from the graphic novel but delicious.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SandorB

Jul 21, 2009

The problem with this movie is that it does what everyone wants when it comes to adaptation and only proves that movies that are in tune with their novel counterparts will be slow and poorly paced when translated to the big screen. Almost every other film based on another medium has The problem with this movie is that it does what everyone wants when it comes to adaptation and only proves that movies that are in tune with their novel counterparts will be slow and poorly paced when translated to the big screen. Almost every other film based on another medium has disappointed readers yet those movies are often very entertaining. Aside from that the film was shot beautifully and acted well it just fell short because of its pacing. Had the story fit into the standard 2 hour formula (something I consider to be impossible) it would have probably been better received. I find myself both loving and hating this film at the same time. If you really don't have the patience to read the actual source I would suggest watching the first episode of the motion comics and seeing if it intrigues you enough to continue on.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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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