---
title: "CODA: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/coda/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/coda"
critics_score: 74
critics_reviews: 23
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."
---

# CODA (2021): what the critics said

Critics' score 74 from 23 reviews: 20 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative.

Most critics like CODA. Nearly every review singles out Emilia Jones as the hearing daughter of a deaf fishing family, several calling it a breakout performance. The other point of agreement is the casting of deaf actors as the parents and brother: critics find the family scenes, and the long arguments conducted in sign language, the film’s strongest material, and Kotsur’s brash father draws warm notices. Most are happy to call it a crowd-pleaser that works its formula well.

The reservations cluster on that formula. Many reviews note contrivances, piled-on crises and a sentimental streak; the words corny and manipulative recur, usually followed by “but effective”. The spread is fairly narrow, with most scores between seventy and ninety. The dissenters go further: The Telegraph finds it too cute and sitcom-like, and Slant thinks it saccharine. Both The Telegraph and The Guardian also question a film about a deaf family that keeps its attention on the hearing member.

## The Hollywood Reporter — Jon Frosch

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 January 2021. Festival review. 

The critic finds CODA a radiant, deeply satisfying heartwarmer that embraces its formula with pleasure and pureness. They single out the performances, particularly Emilia Jones, and the director's delicate handling of familiar tropes for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/coda-film-review-sundance-2021-4123428/)

## The Times — Kevin Maher

Rating ★★★★☆. 13 August 2021. 

The critic hails a revelatory performance from Emilia Jones as the hearing daughter in a deaf family, noting the film’s vivid sense of place and authentic casting of deaf actors that adds layers absent from the French original. It praises the exploration of the family’s world and the emotional depth in sign-language arguments.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/coda-review-all-the-signs-suggest-emilia-jones-is-a-star-3jwhc9g7b)

## IndieWire — Kate Erbland

Rating B+. 28 January 2021. Festival review. 

It is a crowd-pleaser that works its formula well while breaking new ground with its deaf family characters. The star-making turn from Emilia Jones anchors the familiar coming-of-age tale.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/coda-review-deaf-family-sian-heder-1234611269/)

## Radio Times — Kevin Harley

Rating 4/5. 

Heder’s smartly judged crowd-pleaser distinguishes familiar coming-of-age conventions with salty wit and feeling, led by an appealingly awkward Emilia Jones performance that earns its emotional climax. The deaf actors deliver warm, ribald work as the loving parents.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zxoni7/coda/)

## The AV Club — Noel Murray

Rating B. 10 August 2021. 

Despite piling on crises and contrivances, the film moves viewers with its emotional beats and standout cast of deaf actors. It offers an original perspective on coming-of-age through the CODA experience, excelling in subtle details rather than melodrama.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/this-years-big-sundance-winner-coda-is-moving-in-spit-1847457158)

## Vulture

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2021. 

CODA is an occasionally corny but very effective family dramedy that shines in its portrayal of the Rossi family's dynamics. The scene where Frank feels Ruby's singing vibrations is highlighted as a knockout.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/coda-movie-review-sundance-film-starring-emilia-jones.html)

## Empire — Ian Freer

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2021. 

The critic finds the film two parts raw and real, one part manipulative, with engaging characters and real emotions in a hackneyed narrative arc. They single out the textured, vibrant family dynamics and Emilia Jones's terrific performance for praise.

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

## Financial Times — Leslie Felperin

Rating ★★★☆☆. 11 August 2021. 

The critic finds this Massachusetts-set remake a bit better than the French original thanks to smart casting of deaf actors in deaf roles, delivering a nuanced study of growing up as a CODA in a working-class fishing family. It praises the director’s adroit handling of family dynamics and bureaucracy subplots alongside the protagonist’s singing talent.

[Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/ec1aa69a-6bd8-41e9-84b1-41b3386749ac)

## Los Angeles Times — Glenn Whipp

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2021. 

Heder is adept at establishing the emotional bonds in the close-knit Deaf family, making the familiar coming-of-age conventions work. The seamless integration of spoken English and subtitled ASL highlights the family’s vibrant dynamics and raises the stakes for Ruby’s choices.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-08-12/coda-review-apple-tv)

## Screen Daily

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2021. Festival review. 

The Sundance review describes a charming, crowd-pleasing coming-of-age story about a CODA balancing her singing ambitions against family responsibilities. It praises the nuanced family dynamics and Heder’s affection for the characters while noting some contrivances and sentimentality.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/coda-sundance-review/5156481.article)

## Sight and Sound

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 2021. 

The critic calls the film a manipulative but warmly crowd-pleasing coming-of-ager whose good vibes come from its lovable deaf family at the centre. Heder avoids turning it into an issues movie but ends up soft-pedalling the challenges of ableism.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/coda-sings-feel-good-crowdpleasing-familiar-tune)

## The Guardian

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2021. 

The critic finds it warm, fuzzy and feelgood but a little formulaic, a crowd-pleaser that braids a coming-of-age tale with timely representation of the deaf community by casting deaf actors in those roles. It praises Emilia Jones’s sincere, note-perfect lead performance and grounded musical moments while noting the story still filters deaf experiences through its hearing protagonist.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/15/coda-review-hearing-daughter-deaf-parents-drama-sian-heder-sundance)

## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2021. 

The film’s openhearted embrace of deaf culture elevates an otherwise conventional tale of a talented teenager caught between ambition and loyalty. Ruby is the lone hearing member of her rambunctious family and must balance interpreting for them with her desire to sing.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/movies/coda-review.html)

## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen

Rating 3/5. 31 January 2021. Festival review. 

The review finds the Sundance breakout warmhearted and likeable with real heart for the deaf community but short on surprises and falling short of comparable festival hits. It singles out the soundless perspective sequences and the expressiveness of sign language for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/coda)

## Slant Magazine

Rating 2/4. 4 February 2021. 

The film edges into the saccharine with its inspirational formula and banal sermonizing, shortchanging textured moments. It is most moving in capturing bonding rituals among the deaf family.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/coda-review-sian-heder/)

## The Telegraph — Tim Robey

Rating 2/5. 28 March 2022. 

The critic calls it well-intentioned but too cute and sitcom-like, making every easy choice and obsessing over raunchy family gags instead of taking risks like Sound of Metal. It praises the authentic casting of deaf actors and one strong sibling scene but criticizes the focus on the hearing daughter’s journey and the film’s tourism-like approach to ASL culture.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/coda-review-comedy-drama-deafness-should-have-taken-risks/)

## Paste — Amy Amatangelo

Rating 9.5/10. 12 August 2021. 

The critic finds CODA a beautiful, nuanced and complex tale buoyed by delicate and deft performances that is universally relatable despite its specific setting. She singles out the exceptional cast, especially Emilia Jones, for bringing nuance and emotional depth.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/apple-tv-plus/coda-review)

## Collider — Perri Nemiroff

Rating A-. 30 January 2021. Festival review. 

The critic calls CODA a must-see coming-of-age crowd-pleaser brimming with soul that uses familiar tropes to deliver something unique and profound. She singles out the exceptional lead performance by Emilia Jones and the strong family chemistry for praise.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/coda-movie-review-eugenio-derbez-marlee-matlin/)

## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui

Rating 8.5/10. 29 January 2021. Festival review. 

Coda approaches familiar coming-of-age beats with earnestness and raw authenticity, balancing irreverence with hard dramatic moments while respectfully portraying the deaf community. Jones gives a phenomenal breakout performance and Kotsur stands out as the brash, randy father.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/579112/coda-review-sundance-2021/)

## Polygon — Matt Patches

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 August 2021. 

The critic finds CODA authentic, sensitive, and playful, remaining human even as it tugs at the heartstrings while exploring Deaf family life and hard choices. She singles out the fearlessness of prolonged ASL dialogue scenes and the absorbing physicality of the performances.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/22255596/coda-movie-review/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2021. Festival review. 

The critic calls the film a breath of fresh air and a real crowd-pleaser with breakout potential. He singles out the authentic casting of deaf actors and the effective use of silence in key scenes.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/01/coda-film-review-marlee-matlin-emilia-jones-sian-heder-sundance-1234682823/)

## Eye for Film — Jeremy Mathews

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2021. Festival review. 

Heder’s screenplay relies on familiar beats but her writing and direction show compassion and a desire to understand each character’s feelings. The film is a little cheesy but poignant, with strong ensemble chemistry and real emotional truths about family and pursuing dreams.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/coda-2021-film-review-by-jeremy-mathews)

## The Wrap — Steve Pond

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2021. Festival review. 

The critic describes the film as modest but thoroughly satisfying, corny but effective, and always likable. He singles out its landmark authentic portrayal of deaf characters played by deaf actors with eloquent ASL performances.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/coda-film-review-sundance-deaf-sian-heder-marlee-matlin-emilia-jones/)

---
© 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/coda.md