---
title: "Avengers: Age of Ultron"
year: 2015
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/avengers-age-of-ultron"
fi1m_score: 63
critics_score: 62
critics_reviews: 20
published: "2026-09-19T12:03:23.538278+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-19T12:03:23.896881+00:00"
region: "US"
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."
---

# Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Directed by Joss Whedon · 2h 21m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

**Fi1m score: 63** · Critics 62 from 20 reviews

*In a sentence:* Tony Stark builds a robot to protect the world; it takes one look at the world and reaches a different conclusion

> Joss Whedon’s second team film is funnier than most blockbusters and more tiring than any of them. James Spader’s Ultron is a proper villain and the quiet stretches are lovely; the fighting goes on until we stopped counting.

## Synopsis

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) storm a Hydra base in the mountains of Sokovia to recover Loki’s sceptre. Waiting for them are the Maximoff twins: Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who runs faster than the eye can follow, and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), who gets inside heads and shows Stark a vision of his friends dead and himself to blame. Back in New York, Stark talks Banner into using the sceptre to build Ultron, an artificial mind that will guard the planet so the Avengers can stop. Ultron (voiced by James Spader) wakes during the victory party and decides the world’s greatest threat is the people on it.

## Review

Three years after the first film, Joss Whedon has the team back together and has to find them something to do. His answer is to let Tony Stark do the wrong thing for the right reason: build a machine to protect the world, then watch it decide the world needs protecting from us. That is a good idea for a film, and for stretches of its 141 minutes *Avengers: Age of Ultron* is a good film. It is also a crowded, loud, tiring one that keeps stepping out of its own story to point at the next.

The best thing in it is a voice. James Spader plays Ultron as a bored aristocrat with a grievance, unhurried and amused, and the animators have given the metal face a tilt that matches him. He arrives at the end of a party, dragging a body that does not work properly, and talks about strings while the Avengers stand there holding drinks. We felt a proper chill, the first this series had given us. The party itself, before he ruins it, is the film’s best-written scene: Hemsworth’s Thor invites everyone to lift his hammer, nobody can, and Evans’s Rogers makes it wobble.

Whedon writes talk better than anyone working at this scale, and the film is happiest when nobody is punching anything. A stretch in the middle sends the beaten team to a farmhouse, and for twenty minutes there is wood to chop, a sink to fix and grown people admitting they are frightened. Renner, who spent most of the first film under someone else’s control, finally gets to be a person, and he turns out to be the dry, tired heart of the thing. Johansson and Ruffalo carry a romance neither character quite believes in, and Ruffalo’s flinch when she reaches for his hand is the most human acting in the film. It moved us more than a film with a robot army has any business doing.

Ben Davis shoots the opening raid as one roving shot that swings from Iron Man to Thor to Hawkeye and back, and it is the one action sequence in which we always knew where everyone was. Charles Wood builds the Hydra base as a snowbound fortress and Stark’s lab as a glass box full of floating blue diagrams, and both look like places rather than backdrops. The Sokovian city, with its domed church at the centre, is the film’s most solid location and gets its most solid fighting. Lisa Lassek and Jeffrey Ford cut the dialogue scenes with patience and the fights into pieces, so that by the end we could not have told you which hero was on which side of which street.

There is too much of it. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen arrive as the Maximoff twins with Eastern European accents and one motive between them, and the film never finds the time to make them people. Paul Bettany, released from playing a disembodied butler, is elegant and strange as the Vision, but he arrives late and mostly stands still. Samuel L. Jackson turns up to give a speech, Don Cheadle to tell a joke nobody laughs at, and Thor leaves for a scene in a cave that exists to serve films we have not seen yet. Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman are both credited with the music, and it sounds like it: brass on every entrance, strings under every fall, nothing left alone for a second.

The last forty minutes are a battle with a robot army, and we will say nothing of the setting except that it is large. Somewhere in it we stopped following. Each Avenger gets a moment, each moment is a punch, and Whedon, who staged the party so well, cannot make a hundred identical robots mean anything. We were bored, and cross about it, because the same man had made us laugh an hour earlier.

The first film had one job, to get seven people into one frame, and did it. This one has a dozen jobs and does about half of them well, which at this size counts as an achievement and still sends you out with a headache. See it for Spader, for the party and for the farmhouse. Watch it at home, where you can pause during the fights and come back for the talking, which is what the film would rather be doing too.

*Fi1m score 63, published 19 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like it, with reservations. Twelve of twenty reviews are positive, and the praise clusters on Joss Whedon rather than the spectacle: his dialogue, the banter between returning cast members, and the quieter scenes he finds room for between the fights. James Spader’s voice work as Ultron is singled out repeatedly, as is Paul Bettany’s Vision, and several reviews call the Black Widow and Hulk thread the film’s emotional centre. The British press is the warmest, with Empire and the Evening Standard both judging it an improvement on the first film.

The reservations are consistent even among admirers: too many characters, too much plot, and too much of it serving future films rather than this one. The spread is wide. The New Yorker finds it a bitter disappointment, the New York Times and Los Angeles Times find the action blurs into dreariness, and the American broadsheets are markedly cooler than anyone else.

### Reviews we read (20)

- **Empire**, Helen O'Hara (85/100, inferred): The review finds Age of Ultron a stunning achievement that is bigger, darker and more consistent than the first film despite the vastly expanded cast and plot demands. Whedon's character work and the charismatic ensemble are singled out for holding the dense, globe-trotting story together. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/avengers-age-ultron-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (80/100, inferred): The critic calls the film bigger and better than its predecessor in every way, a juggernaut of quantity with more heroes and action that works thanks to Whedon's intuitive handling of the genre. He singles out the exhausting scale and the lack of moral consequence in the robot battles as a minor drawback but overall deems it high, loud entertainment. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/avengers-age-of-ultron-film-review-there-s-no-stopping-this-juggernaut-10199637.html)
- **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (4/5): This exhilarating sequel returns the Avengers with a rousing opening and a chilling robotic villain in Ultron. Witty repartee leavens longueurs, a humdinger Hulkbuster fight and the Vision’s debut add highlights, and the earth-shattering climax delivers despite some plot obligations to future installments. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-krxnjt/avengers-age-of-ultron/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (80/100, inferred): The film is an exuberant, funny, silly and crazily exhilarating aspartame rush from Joss Whedon. The critic singles out the witty script and the unresolved romantic tension between Black Widow and Hulk as highlights amid the operatic madness. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/21/avengers-age-of-ultron-review-film-joss-whedon-exhilarating)
- **Total Film**, Rosie Fletcher (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a smart, personal superhero story that blends horror, love and morality while raising the bar with its political and petrifying elements. Ultron's voice performance and the interior character turmoil are highlighted as strengths, though the lengthy final battle is noted as a genre-typical weakness. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/avengers-age-of-ultron-review/)
- **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): Keeping the team together proves tougher than assembling it in this overstuffed but spectacle-filled sequel that recaptures some of the original’s novelty through emotional underpinnings and thrilling final action. Whedon excels at character work in the third-act battle, delivering laughs, adventure and a visceral, emotional close despite early dialogue-heavy sections. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/avengers-age-of-ultron-review/5086407.article)
- **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman (70/100, inferred): Whedon juggles multiple plot threads, new characters like the Vision and Scarlet Witch, and quieter emotional moments amid large-scale battles. The film delivers strong set pieces and character beats in its extended climax while contrasting spectacle with smaller-scale snappy dialogue. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/review-avengers-age-ultron)
- **Variety**, Scott Foundas (70/100, inferred): The sequel improves on its predecessor with a looser, more inventive style and surprising emotional depth, particularly in character relationships. It balances heavy action with human-scale moments and humor effectively. [Read](https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/avengers-age-of-ultron-review-1201474856/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): The sequel has a mid-season feel, buckling under Marvel mythology with half-formed ideas and a crowded cast, but remains fun with Whedon’s signature pathos, snappy action, and one-liners. It lays groundwork for future films while delivering a derivative but entertaining story about ambition and rogue AI. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/avengers-age-of-ultron)
- **Slant Magazine**, Chris Cabin (50/100, inferred): Whedon’s camera catches the action in thrilling long takes and the growing relationship between Black Widow and the Hulk is the tender heart of the film, but the few sublime scenes of expressive melodrama are drowned out by massive amounts of exposition and backstory. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/avengers-age-of-ultron/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (50/100, inferred): The film succeeds in introducing a worthy opponent and giving the heroes new things to do but this time the action scenes don’t always measure up and some of the characters are left in a kind of dramatic no man’s land. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/avengers-age-ultron-film-review-790246/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (30/100, inferred): The film delivers proficient superhero thrills and strong effects but is ultimately forgettable, with little that lingers after viewing. Its overabundance of action sequences blurs together and weakens the overall impact. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-avengers-review-20150430-column.html)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film diverting yet ultimately dreary due to its overpacked story and excessive action sequences. Whedon's direction is praised for attempting to inject life into the blockbuster formula despite its flaws. [Read](https://nytimes.com/2015/05/01/movies/review-avengers-age-of-ultron-gets-the-superband-back-together.html)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (10/100, inferred): The review criticizes the film as a bitter disappointment filled with incomprehensible plot elements and endless fights that fail to engage. Whedon's witty talents are noted as underutilized amid the Marvel mythology overload. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/04/fighting-on)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B+): The critic finds the film exhilarating yet exhausting and ambitious but messy and crowded as a progression of the Marvel narrative rather than an evolution. It praises the nonstop jokes, banter, character relationships, and go-for-broke energy while noting it overwhelms with its scale and burden as both a blockbuster and continuing story. [Read](https://collider.com/avengers-2-age-of-ultron-review-movie-is-exhilerating-and-exhausting/)
- **/Film**, Germain Lussier (7.5/10): The critic finds the film satisfying as the first full Avengers team-up movie, with consistent excitement, laughs, drama, and action, though it falls short of the original in "wow" moments and warmth. They single out Hawkeye's expanded role and the Vision for praise, while noting some character absences in the finale and setup for future films as drawbacks. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/537211/avengers-age-of-ultron-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (3.5/5): The film is larger with more action sequences but feels shaggier and less exhilarating than the first Avengers, with frantic pacing and some clumsy transitions. Strengths include Whedon's dialogue, strong cast chemistry, and Paul Bettany's standout performance as the Vision. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/avengers-age-of-ultron-review/)
- **Polygon**, arthur-gies (70/100, inferred): The review calls the film big, sprawling, excellently choreographed, and human where needed, appreciating its confident handling of the interconnected MCU and sharp character moments for some supporting players. It criticizes the overcomplicated plot that serves future films at the expense of a self-contained story, underdeveloped new characters, and occasional stumbles in comedic timing. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/1/8523973/avengers-age-of-ultron-review/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel bigger and louder than the first Avengers but not better, with a been-there-done-that feel that lacks the original's thrill despite solid action and banter. The witty interplay among the returning cast is a highlight amid the overstuffed franchise setup. [Read](https://deadline.com/2015/04/avengers-age-of-ultron-review-robert-downey-jr-chris-hemsworth-chris-evans-1201413464/)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (50/100, inferred): The film sags under the weight of franchise requirements and prior MCU entries, feeling like overstuffed connective tissue rather than a delight, though it remains entertaining on a basic level with thrills and laughs. James Spader's voice work as Ultron stands out as the scene-stealing highlight. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/avengers-age-of-ultron-review-joss-whedon-robert-downey-jr-scarlett-johansson/)

## Details

- **Director:** Joss Whedon
- **Director:** Joss Whedon
- **Writer:** Joss Whedon
- **Cinematography:** Ben Davis
- **Editor:** Jeffrey Ford, Lisa Lassek
- **Music:** Brian Tyler, Danny Elfman
- **Production design:** Charles Wood
- **Producer:** Kevin Feige
- **Cast:** Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man; Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Hulk; Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America; Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow; Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye; James Spader as Ultron (voice); Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
- **Runtime:** 2h 21m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 1 May 2015
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
- **Budget:** $235 million
- **Box office:** $1.41 billion
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAUoeqvedMo

## Where to watch in the US

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Starz: streaming
- Hulu: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd
- Apple TV: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $5.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $19.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-19.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production 2016: Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production (won)
- Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production 2016: Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production (nominated)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2016: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Fight 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Hero 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Hero (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Movie 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Movie (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Villain 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Virtual Performance 2016: MTV Movie Award for Best Virtual Performance (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Ensemble Cast 2016: MTV Movie Award for Ensemble Cast (nominated)
- Saturn Awards 2016: Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture (nominated); Best Special Effects (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Costume (won)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2015: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2015: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Star 2015: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Star (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene Stealer 2015: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene Stealer (won)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2015: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Iron Man* (2008), Fi1m 80: Downey’s first outing: one man, one suit, and jokes that land in the right places. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/iron-man.md)
- *Serenity* (2005): Whedon’s own crew of bickering misfits, with the talking and fighting in better balance.
- *2001: A Space Odyssey* (1968), Fi1m 92: The polite machine that decides it knows best, without a single quip. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/2001-a-space-odyssey.md)
- *Ex Machina* (2015), Fi1m 82: The same year, the same question, one robot, one house, no armies. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ex-machina.md)
- *The Incredibles* (2004), Fi1m 88: A superhero family that keeps the fights short and the arguments sharp. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-incredibles.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/avengers-age-of-ultron