--- title: "Arthur Christmas: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/arthur-christmas/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/arthur-christmas" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 19 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." --- # Arthur Christmas (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 19 reviews: 14 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics greet Arthur Christmas warmly, praising its inventive account of Santa’s operation and its balance of dry humour with Christmas sentiment. The comedy earns particular approval for its densely packed jokes, visual detail and family friction. Praise for the voice cast centres on Ashley Jensen’s briskly capable Bryony and Bill Nighy’s irreverent Grandsanta, whose antics help keep the sweetness in check. Several reviews see the film becoming a regular fixture of family Christmas viewing. The reservations concern familiarity, uneven pacing and characters who receive less attention than the comic set-pieces. Empire enjoys the comedy but finds that the middle sags and the UFO subplot falters. Total Film is more reserved, finding an amusing adventure that lacks Aardman’s characteristic charm and detail. The spread runs from enthusiastic to mixed, with no outright negative verdicts; even the less persuaded critics generally find warmth or invention to enjoy. ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2011. The critic calls the film a delightful, inventive holiday romp that delivers the goods. They single out its lively visual detail and especially Ashley Jensen’s scene-stealing performance as Bryony. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/arthur-christmas-film-review-259491/) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2011. Richards finds the film an exuberant, very funny Christmas adventure that could become a seasonal classic. He especially praises Aardman’s clever, densely packed comedy, while noting that a UFO plotline falters and the middle sags. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/arthur-christmas-review/) ## The Guardian — Henry Barnes Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2011. Barnes calls it a joyful, fun Christmas film with a heartfelt message. He praises the superb script for layering family conflict and themes of complacency and competitiveness into the story. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/10/arthur-christmas-film-review) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2011. Debruge finds the film a clever, brisk adventure worthy of becoming essential holiday viewing. He praises its inventive explanations of Christmas traditions and its lively, joke-dense storytelling. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/arthur-christmas-1117946549/) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating B+. 22 November 2011. Rabin finds the film charmingly balanced, though it gets a little sappy near the end. He praises its dry Aardman humor and the grandfather Santa’s irreverence, which temper the sentimentality. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/arthur-christmas-1798170610) ## Los Angeles Times — Michael Phillips, Tribune Newspapers critic Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 2011. Phillips finds the film frantic but ultimately tender, upbeat, and enjoyable. He singles out Bryony, whose gift-wrapping exploits make a one-joke character work. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-nov-23-la-et-arthur-christmas-20111123-29-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 3/4. 19 November 2011. The review finds the film delightful, despite its underdeveloped protagonist and familiar story. It especially praises Grandsanta’s comic antics and Aardman’s lively animation. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/arthur-christmas/) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2011. The article text is inaccessible, so its verdict cannot be confirmed. No specific praise or complaint can be reliably identified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/movies/arthur-christmas-voiced-by-james-mcavoy-and-hugh-laurie.html) ## Screen Daily — Mark Adams, chief film critic Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2011. The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is unavailable in the accessible text. The review’s specific praise or complaint is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/arthur-christmas/5034530.article) ## Radio Times — Karen Krizanovich Rating 3/5. Krizanovich presents the film as a likely perennial festive favourite. She praises its terrific characters and the warmth of its old-fashioned gift-delivery adventure. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-syigpq/arthur-christmas/) ## Time Out — Derek Adams Rating 3/5. 8 November 2011. The review describes the film as smart and very British. It praises the inventive premise of explaining how Santa visits so many homes so quickly. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/arthur-christmas-1) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 8 November 2011. The review finds the film lively and amusing but too familiar and unlike Aardman at its best. It particularly praises the world tour while criticizing the film’s lack of the studio’s characteristic charm and detail. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/arthur-christmas-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Adam Lowes Rating 4.5/5. 9 November 2011. The review calls the film a rousing, cynicism-free festive treat that successfully blends Aardman charm with Hollywood spectacle. It especially praises the inventive set-pieces, visual detail, and Bill Nighy’s performance as Grandsanta. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/arthur-christmas-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2011. The critic gives Arthur Christmas an enthusiastic recommendation and predicts it could become a holiday classic. They praise its clever, family-friendly humor and how it balances wit with earned Christmas sentiment. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/arthur-christmas-deserves-become-annual-tradition-32981/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2011. Wilkinson gives the film a warmly positive verdict, calling it a future family-viewing staple. She especially praises the fresh comedy, excellent voice cast and lively Christmas action, while noting a minor quibble with the UFO-sleigh plot. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/arthur-christmas-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The headline indicates a strongly positive verdict. It singles out the film’s visual dazzle and emotional richness. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-arthur-christmas-is-a-visually-dazzling-emotionally-rich-holiday-treat-20111122/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 22 November 2011. Goldberg finds the film uplifting, funny, and warmly sincere, despite some underdeveloped supporting characters. He especially praises its clever visual details and the balance between heartfelt Christmas spirit and irreverent humor. [Read the review](https://collider.com/arthur-christmas-review/) ## Paste — Maryann Koopman Kelly Rating 8.2. 22 November 2011. The review calls the film a stylish, heartwarming family success, though it finds the second half could be tighter. It especially praises the colorful, richly detailed animation and the charmingly clever vision of Santa’s high-tech operation. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/christmas/arthur-christmas) ## /Film — Angie Han Rating 7.0/10. 22 November 2011. Han finds the film warmly funny and moving, though its familiar holiday themes and weak 3D keep it from classic status. She especially praises Bryony’s cheerful competence and comic gift-wrapping gag. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/518621/arthur-christmas-review/) --- © 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/arthur-christmas.md