---
title: "A Perfect World: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/a-perfect-world/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/a-perfect-world"
critics_score: 62
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# A Perfect World (1993): what the critics said

Critics' score 62 from 8 reviews: 4 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative.

Most critics come down in favour of A Perfect World, though the warmth is qualified rather than full-throated. The praise gathers almost entirely around Kevin Costner, whose restrained, introspective playing of the fugitive is admired even by those who dislike the film around him, and around the bond between his character and the boy he takes hostage, which several reviews treat as the film’s real subject. The general verdict is of a sombre, affecting drama that is more thoughtful than its chase-story shape suggests.

The reservations are mostly about pace and structure. Variety finds the police scenes slow the story, and the Los Angeles Times goes further, calling the whole thing sluggish and muddled. Empire blames the script and thin character development. Time Out thinks it lacks the mix of genre and subversion found in Eastwood’s better films, and the Radio Times, otherwise approving, finds the central pairing short on chemistry. The spread is wide, from strong approval to outright disappointment, with the two dissenters agreeing only that Costner deserved a better film.

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Rating 3.5/4. 24 November 1993. 

Ebert regards the film as a thoughtful, affecting drama. He praises the relationship between the escaped convict and the boy he takes hostage.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-perfect-world-1993)

## Radio Times — John Ferguson

Rating 4/5. 

Ferguson calls the film very good, though its central pairing lacks chemistry. He notes Costner’s introspective performance and the curious bond between his character and the boy.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-8h9dok/a-perfect-world/)

## Time Out — GA

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 

The review finds the film very entertaining, though it lacks the assured blend of genre traditions and subversion found in Eastwood’s best work. The page’s description singles out its entertainment value while noting that shortcoming.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/a-perfect-world)

## Variety — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 1993. 

McCarthy finds the film somber and subtly nuanced, with its central surrogate father-son relationship providing its strongest emotional pull. He particularly praises Kevin Costner’s restrained performance, while faulting the police scenes for slowing the story.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/a-perfect-world-1200434187/)

## The New York Times — Janet Maslin

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 1993. 

The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. The URL identifies a review, but provides no accessible detail about what it praises or criticizes.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/24/arts/reviews-film-a-perfect-world-where-destiny-is-sad-and-scars-never-heal.html)

## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin

Rating 3/5. 8 June 2012. 

The review praises the film as an emotionally resonant, richly layered work, while noting the Blu-ray release lacks extras. It singles out the transfer’s vivid rural Texas imagery and crisp detail for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/a-perfect-world/)

## Empire — Mark Salisbury

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 

The critic finds the film disappointing, saying it squanders its stars’ talents despite strong acting. Costner’s portrayal of the dangerous but compassionate fugitive is singled out for praise, while the script and character development draw complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/perfect-world-review/)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 1993. 

Turan finds the film a sluggish, muddled chase story that struggles to hold the audience’s interest. He praises Kevin Costner’s affecting performance and the initially charming bond between Butch and Phillip.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-24-ca-60192-story.html)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/a-perfect-world.md