--- title: "Chariots of Fire: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/chariots-of-fire" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 14 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." --- # Chariots of Fire (1981): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 14 reviews: 9 positive, 1 mixed, 4 negative. With only 5 reviews in so far, the response is divided. Admirers praise the film’s old-fashioned sincerity, intelligent treatment of its athletes and careful character detail, while Vangelis’s score draws appreciation even from sceptics. The reservations concern pace and emotional depth: detractors find the storytelling slow or superficial, and performances praised elsewhere strike some as wooden. Time Out finds that the parallel narratives weaken each other, though the faith-based backstories sometimes work. The running sequences provide the clearest common ground, retaining their force even for critics unconvinced by the drama around them. ## Radio Times — John Marriott Rating 5/5. The critic praises the film's old-fashioned innocence and celebration of the human spirit through careful detail and character study. Hudson's direction and Welland's script are highlighted as thoughtfully drawing out the athletes' experiences and strong performances. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-5j8q9g/chariots-of-fire/) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2010. The critic finds the film richer and more complex than its heritage-cinema reputation suggests, praising its balance of optimism, intelligence and emotion along with strong performances and elegant direction. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/chariots-fire-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 1981. The film is majestic, masterful, exultant, triumphant and joyful, with sports as its backbone and passion as its fueling emotion. The critic singles out David Watkin's haunting photography and the running sequences under Terry Rawlings' editing for making them burst from the screen with intoxicating excitement. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/story/2022-08-25/from-the-archives-chariots-of-fire-bursts-from-the-screen) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1981. The critic was deeply moved by the film despite no personal interest in running or the British class system, as it uses those subjects for larger statements about human nature, dignity, and belief. He singles out the photography's attention to faces under stress and Vangelis's evocative score for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/chariots-of-fire-1981) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Rating Critic's Pick. 25 September 1981. The film is an unashamedly rousing, invigorating but clear-eyed evocation of old-fashioned values that knows the difference between sentiment and sentimentality. The critic singles out the track sequences as charged with poetry and the film's simultaneous romantic and commonsensical qualities. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/25/movies/olympic-glory-in-chariots-of-fire.html) ## Variety — Jack Pitman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 1981. The film is a winner for director Hugh Hudson in his feature debut, with strong script values and top-notch performances that make it look easy. The critic singles out the Colin Welland screenplay for succeeding at emotional honesty without schmaltz and Hudson's assured direction and narrative style. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1981/film/reviews/chariots-of-fire-2-1200425043/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2012. Hugh Hudson's 1981 Oscar-winner is a bold, intelligent, romantic film with the lineaments of a classic and a score by Vangelis as instantly hummable as the music for Jaws. It follows two underdog outsiders, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, clashing with the English establishment. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/12/chariots-of-fire-review) ## The Times — Ed Potton Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2024. The film is a strong, Oscar-winning Olympics drama that holds up well in retrospect. The critic singles out the excellent supporting cast and the cinematic quality of the running sequences for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/chariots-of-fire-1981-review-mz3wnk9mb) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2012. The review finds the 1981 film less vital on re-release, noting that while some scenes and the faith-based backstories work, the parallel narratives cancel each other out. The beach running sequences remain the most uplifting element. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/chariots-of-fire) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2012. The critic finds the film a dubious classic whose screenplay unevenly favors Protestant faith over Jewish determination and leans toward unquestioning authority, though he praises the running sequences, humor from Ian Holm, and the technical craft. The Blu-ray transfer is described as astounding with excellent image, sound, and extras. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/chariots-of-fire/) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 1981. The critic finds the film retrograde moviemaking with a mildewed high moral tone, held together by simpleminded heroic sentiments, and criticizes its fake bravura and presentation as the best Australian film ever made in England. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1981/10/26/three-pairs) ## Collider — Jackson Jackson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2012. The critic praises the film's enduring quality as a triumph that has not aged, highlighting its intricate writing, brilliant acting and acute direction, along with the iconic beach running scene and Vangelis score. The review focuses on the Blu-ray release's strong transfer and extensive special features timed to the 2012 Olympics. [Read the review](https://collider.com/chariots-of-fire-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 28 August 2001. The film has not aged well and now feels overly sentimental and slow. Vangelis's score stands out as powerful and beautiful. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/chariots-of-fire-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Rating 2/5. 9 July 2012. The critic finds the film overrated and leaden outside of the iconic running sequences set to Vangelis's score, criticizing the lack of emotional depth, wooden performances, and superficial storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a392021/chariots-of-fire-review-overrated-olympics-movie-with-great-score/) --- © 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/chariots-of-fire.md