--- title: "Bitter Christmas: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bitter-christmas/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bitter-christmas" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 18 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." --- # Bitter Christmas (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 18 reviews: 11 positive, 7 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Bitter Christmas without being swept up by it. The reviews agree on what it is: Almodóvar writing about a filmmaker writing about a filmmaker, and using the layers to take himself to task over what an artist owes the people whose lives he borrows. Praise gathers around the craft: the art direction, the nested structure, and the performances, with Bárbara Lennie, Rossy de Palma and Patrick Criado singled out. The reservations cluster around feeling. Many find the meta framing keeps the film at arm’s length, the payoff muted, and what matters held back until the final act. The word familiar recurs, and more than one review says this is one for those invested in the director. The spread is moderate: nobody dislikes it, but The Wrap is warmest, finding the dissolving layers thrilling, while Empire and The Hollywood Reporter sit coolest, one calling it meandering, the other elegant but seldom affecting. ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B+. 19 May 2026. Festival review. The critic calls it a fun and twisty meta-drama and satisfying late-career gem in which a filmmaker writes and rewrites a screenplay about another filmmaker. It highlights the playful self-critique and satisfying structure. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/bitter-christmas-movie-review-almodovar-1235194803/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 4/4/5. 19 May 2026. Festival review. The review calls it a sombre, self-lacerating drama on the ethics of storytelling and creative inspiration, praising Almodóvar's refined technique and formal poise in this late-period work. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/cannes-film-festival/bitter-christmas-first-look-review) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 24 August 2026. The review describes it as Almodóvar’s most introspective film yet, a meta exercise flexing between fiction and reality, praising its visual beauty and exploration of creative spark. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/bitter-christmas-review/) ## The Observer — Vanessa Thorpe Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2026. A witty and sensitive mea culpa exploring self-doubt, grief, and the auteur’s struggle, with sweet melancholy rather than bitterness, tributing older women who facilitate artists' lives. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/bitter-christmas-is-almodovars-mea-culpa) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 19 May 2026. The critic sees it as a stylish, spiky meta tragicomedy that turns the lens on the artist, praising its ability to surprise and provoke while exploring boundaries between art and life. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bitter-christmas-review-2026) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2026. The critic finds the multi-layered, self-conscious drama a return to Almodóvar’s signature world, praising its cunningly crafted exploration of the relationship between artistic creation and life’s messiness. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/bitter-christmas-review-pedro-almodovar-muses-on-the-creative-process-in-personal-messy-drama/5215083.article) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2026. Festival review. The critic describes it as a dramedy in a confessional mode about turning life into art, noting it is a minor work but one Almodóvar has earned. Praises performances, especially Bárbara Lennie. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/cannes-2026-the-black-ball-bitter-christmas) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2026. Festival review. The critic views the film as an entertaining but lightweight meta exercise that feels like a stopgap, praising its genial self-deprecation where Almodóvar makes himself the joke's target. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/bitter-christmas-pedro-almodovar-makes-himself-butt-joke-slippery-meta-drama) ## The AV Club — Rory Doherty Rating C+. 21 May 2026. Festival review. The critic sees it as familiar autofiction that regifts Almodóvar’s self-critical style but doesn’t fully gel until too late. It notes highlights in music, performances and camp elements but finds the whole too pithy and flat. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bitter-christmas-review) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2026. Festival review. The critic finds it a complex, slightly muddled auto-metafiction exploring grief, loss, and artistic betrayal, anchored by a musical moment but not as impactful as previous works like Parallel Mothers. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/19/bitter-christmas-review-almodovar-cannes-film-festival) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 3/5. 30 August 2026. It's a spry deconstruction of artistic complacency but primarily for fans, clever in how Almodóvar reviews his own shortcomings. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/08/30/pedro-almodvar-lush-meta-drama-bitter-christmas/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2026. Self-referencing like Pain and Glory but lighter, quintessential but not vintage Almodóvar; enjoyable with immaculate art direction but lacks deeper resonance. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/bitter-christmas-review-pedro-almodovar-1236753260/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2026. Festival review. The critic views the lacerating self-portrait as a difficult watch where everything interesting happens in the final act. It finds the self-lacerating late-career reflection intriguing but only barely worthwhile for those invested in the director’s arc. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/bitter-christmas-pedro-almodvars-difficult-self-portrait.html) ## Empire — Helen O’Hara Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2026. The critic finds the film a meandering and unfocused affair that touches on familiar themes but ultimately lacks a satisfying ending. They praise Almodóvar's skill with dialogue, noting that spending time with the characters is no hardship. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bitter-christmas/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2026. Festival review. The critic finds Almodóvar’s meta-fiction an elegant but emotionally unyielding rumination on art, ethics and creative cost that is compelling yet seldom affecting. It praises the intricate structure, visual style, strong performances and production design while noting a downbeat tone and muted payoff. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bitter-christmas-review-pedro-almodovar-1236591236/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2026. Festival review. The critic describes the film as a labyrinthine, challenging Russian nesting doll of autofiction that grows deeply personal as it interrogates the ethics of borrowing from real lives, culminating in self-criticism aimed at Almodóvar himself. It praises the impeccable craftsmanship, vibrant visuals, and the thrilling way the layers dissolve by the end. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/bitter-christmas-review-pedro-almodovar/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2026. Festival review. The critic views the film as minor Almodóvar: a flawed but fascinating exploration of autofiction and creative block that merges two storylines from different eras into a meditation on turning life into art. It praises the cast performances and piercing final-act dialogue while noting the score misses the intimate mood. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/05/bitter-christmas-review-pedro-almodovar-1236889804/) ## The Playlist — Rafa Sales Ross Rating B-. 20 May 2026. Festival review. The critic finds the film a self-reflective tragicomedy that circles familiar Almodóvar obsessions with wit and color but lacks emotional depth due to its meta structure and satire. They praise its visual style, supporting performances including Rossy de Palma and Patrick Criado, and a poignant scene featuring Chavela Vargas. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/bitter-christmas-review-pedro-almodovar-cannes-20260520/) --- © 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/bitter-christmas.md