--- title: "Dirty Dancing: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/dirty-dancing" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 10 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." --- # Dirty Dancing (1987): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 10 reviews: 6 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Dirty Dancing, with praise centred on the dancing, the romance and the charm of its performers. The more enthusiastic reviews find the central relationship believable and the characters’ growth involving, giving the film something beyond the pleasure of watching its stars dance. The music and lively storytelling also win approval, while even several qualified responses acknowledge an earnestness that helps the familiar material work. The reservations concern how much substance and visual care sit beneath that appeal, rather than whether the film offers any pleasure. Variety praises Jennifer Grey and the dance sequences but finds Patrick Swayze’s character unconvincing and the film shallow. Slant Magazine is more critical of the formula and visually lazy filmmaking, though it credits the lively characters with keeping the romance engaging. The spread runs from enthusiasm to mixed approval, with no wholly negative verdict among the supplied scores. ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 1987. Benson finds the film smart, funny, touching, and deeply involving. She especially praises the dancing and the believable performances that make its characters’ growth resonate. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-21-ca-2209-story.html) ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds the film immensely charming and enduringly appealing. Its cheesy, quotable dialogue and euphoric final dance are singled out as key pleasures. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dirty-dancing-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The capsule celebrates the film as a lively teen movie that still works. It singles out the dancing, rock-and-soul music, and storytelling for praise. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/dirty-dancing-duo-still-dazzle-20-years-on-7392715.html) ## Radio Times — Sue Heal Rating 4/5. Heal finds that the film works a curious, charismatic magic and that the central relationship never feels false. She especially praises the fabulous, highly erotic dancing. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-mom6ij/dirty-dancing/) ## Time Out — Ellie Walker-Arnott Rating 4/5. 14 February 2017. The page identifies the film as a review, but the review text is unavailable. Its metadata highlights the romance and Patrick Swayze’s dancing while noting the film’s return for its thirtieth anniversary. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/dirty-dancing-1987) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). Bradshaw finds the film amiable and sees it as embodying the purest spirit of the 1980s. He singles out its defining decade-era spirit for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/78719/dirty.dancing) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1986. Variety finds the film skin-deep but inoffensive and more than watchable. It praises Jennifer Grey’s likable performance and the dance sequences, while finding Swayze’s character unconvincing. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1986/film/reviews/dirty-dancing-2-1200427282/) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 August 1987. The issue identifies this as Pauline Kael’s review of “Dirty Dancing,” but the review text is unavailable. The archive listing does not reveal her verdict or what she singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1987/08/24) ## Slant Magazine — Rob Humanick Rating 2/4. 1 May 2007. Humanick finds the film formulaic and visually lazy, despite its earnestness and charm. He singles out the animated quality of its characters as the main thing keeping it from feeling like a clichéd romance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/dirty-dancing/) ## Eye for Film — Chris Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2006. The critic finds the film cheesy but well constructed, with enduring qualities despite its lack of greatness. They single out the stars’ dancing, especially Patrick Swayze’s riveting performance, for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/dirty-dancing-film-review-by-chris) --- © 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/dirty-dancing.md