90
Metascore
15 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertThe greatest of all the Dickens films, and which does what few movies based on great books can do: Creates pictures on the screen that do not clash with the images already existing in our minds.
- 100The New York TimesBosley CrowtherThe New York TimesBosley CrowtherSomehow, the fullness of Dickens, of his stories and characters—his humor and pathos and vitality and all his brilliant command of atmosphere—has never been so illustrated as it is in this wonderful film, which can safely be recommended as screen story-telling at its best.
- 100TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineA masterful realization of Charles Dickens's novel, this may be the best cinematic translation of the author's work, as well as director David Lean's greatest achievement.
- 80Chicago ReaderChicago ReaderThe graveyard scene is still a shocker, the details are still astonishingly well assembled, and the performances are wonderful.
- 80The GuardianPeter BradshawThe GuardianPeter BradshawIt is a wonderfully fluent, engaging story, with beautiful cinematography by Guy Green.
- 80Time OutTime OutDavid Lean’s black-and-white masterpiece may be a whirlwind tour of Dickens’ novel, but what a well-performed, economic and atmospheric tour it is, and one that manages in two hours to capture much of the chronological and emotional sweep of a 525-page novel.
- 80The New YorkerPauline KaelThe New YorkerPauline KaelThe film has a strong style that is very different from Lean's earlier work. He seems to have finally to have let go--to have pulled out all the stops. The film is emotional, exciting, full of action.
- 75LarsenOnFilmJosh LarsenLarsenOnFilmJosh LarsenAs an adaptation of Great Expectations, this is scattershot and unsatisfying, but as a fever dream you might have after reading it, the movie mesmerizes.