--- title: "Early Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/early-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/early-man" critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 26 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." --- # Early Man (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 68 from 26 reviews: 13 positive, 11 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval of Early Man, with praise clustering around Aardman’s handmade stop-motion animation and visual jokes. Critics repeatedly find warmth, silliness and expressive detail in its prehistoric football story, even when the plot feels familiar. Several also welcome the voice performances and the emphasis on teamwork. For the more enthusiastic reviewers, the film’s kindness and comic invention make it a satisfying family comedy. The reservations centre on a routine underdog story, uneven pacing and characters who receive too little development. Many consider it a modest effort by Aardman’s standards, though the spread runs from enthusiastic recommendations to outright disappointment. Comic timing divides opinion: The Hollywood Reporter praises its precision, while Slant Magazine finds it slack. The Wrap is a sharper dissenter, finding the characters flat and the visuals unimpressive, rather than accepting the animation as compensation for the familiar story. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2018. Turan finds the film thoroughly amusing, praising Nick Park’s delicate comic imagination and reliable instinct for laughter. He also enjoys its parade of playful jokes and stop-motion touches, including a closing tribute to Ray Harryhausen. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-early-man-review-20180215-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2018. Bradshaw calls the film an outstanding, good-natured family comedy and a treat. He praises its witty writing and charming blend of childlike silliness with adult humor. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/26/early-man-review-nick-park-aardman-animation-eddie-redmayne) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2018. The review presents the film as a lively, funny success. It singles out its pun-filled plasticine adventure and send-up of the Stone Age. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/early-man-review-at-the-top-of-aardmans-evolutionary-tree/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2018. Felperin finds the film a warm, old-school delight. She especially praises its precise comic timing and nostalgic stop-motion world. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/early-man-review-1074629/) ## IndieWire — Michael Nordine Rating B. 14 January 2018. Nordine finds the film a joyous, worthy successor to Park’s best-known work, though its familiar narrative could have been more ambitious. He praises Aardman’s clever stop-motion gags and the film’s team-over-individuals theme. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/early-man-review-eddie-redmayne-maisie-williams-1201916587/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2018. Debruge finds the film charming and endearingly silly, though its championship match offers few surprises. He praises the handcrafted stop-motion style and the abundance of visual gags. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/early-man-review-aardman-animations-1202664176/) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating B-. 13 February 2018. Vishnevetsky finds the film’s premise and straightforward sports-comedy structure limit its humor, despite its charm. He praises Aardman’s delightful stop-motion animation, while noting that digitally animated extras look cheap. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/aardman-takes-sports-comedies-back-to-the-stone-age-in-1822918740) ## Empire — Jonathan Pile Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2018. Pile finds the film entertaining and often amusing, but says it falls short of Aardman’s best. He singles out its occasional moments of comic genius, including a standout duck gag. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/early-man-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Kate Stables Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2018. Stables finds the film charming and well crafted, though short of vintage Aardman ingenuity. She especially praises the tactile, handmade claymation, while noting the slow pacing and underused characters. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/early-man-review-deliciously-tactile-nostalgic-feat-clay) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review’s verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified from the blocked page. The page shows only a browser-check message, not the review text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/early-man-2018) ## Screen Daily — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2018. The accessible text does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It highlights Park’s return to directing but gives no further praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/early-man-review/5125365.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page appears to be a review of the specified film, but its contents are inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/movies/early-man-review-aardman-animations.html) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 2.5/4. 12 February 2018. Watson finds the film charming but ultimately bland and uninspired. He praises the handmade stop-motion craft, while faulting the formulaic story and slack comic timing. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/early-man/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 26 January 2018. O’Sullivan finds the film charming but dishearteningly risk-averse. She praises the cast and handcrafted visual sequences, while criticizing the recycled jokes, soundtrack and familiar ground. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/early-man-review-a-charming-blast-from-the-past-a3750296.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 4/3/3. 14 January 2018. The critic finds the film charming and often funny, but says its undercooked story keeps it from competing with stronger animated films. The tactile, colourful animation and the film’s eccentric humour stand out, though the plot feels slight. [Read the review](https://www.lwlies.com/reviews/early-man) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 3/5. 19 January 2018. The critic says this prehistoric footballing caper has a big heart but falls short of Aardman’s usual genius. They single out its heart as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/early-man) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 2018. Lane welcomes the film but finds it below Aardman’s highest standards. He praises its witty visual details while faulting its length and shortage of memorable animal characters. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/26/black-panther-and-early-man) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2018. Hammond gives the film an enthusiastic recommendation as delightful, family-friendly fun. He especially praises Aardman’s stop-motion animation and the film’s lively characters and gags. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2018/02/early-man-review-aardman-eddie-redmayne-tom-hiddleston-animated-movie-video-1202286780/) ## /Film — Karen Han Rating 8/10. 16 February 2018. Han calls the film a wholehearted delight, praising its kindness and cleverness despite a familiar plot. She particularly singles out Aardman’s inventive visual gags and the voice cast’s sincere performances. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/556339/early-man-review/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4 out of 5. 15 February 2018. Brew calls the film a joyous, intelligent family movie and a real treat, despite a slow warm-up and some dutiful sports-movie conventions. He especially praises Aardman’s hand-crafted animation, cinematic direction, and the film’s abundance of visual gags. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/early-man-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 13 February 2018. Goldberg calls the film a funny, charming delight despite its predictable sports-comedy plot. He praises Aardman’s playful humor and lovable characters, especially Hognob’s silly antics. [Read the review](https://collider.com/early-man-review-aardman-animation/) ## Paste — Tim Grierson Rating 6.5. 15 February 2018. Grierson finds the film charming and gently funny, but less inventive and emotionally engaging than Park’s earlier work. He especially praises the awkward, expressive stop-motion characters, while faulting the story’s limited character development. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/early-man/early-man) ## The Playlist — Will Ashton Rating B-. 16 February 2018. The critic finds the film charming but underwhelming by Aardman’s usual standards. They praise its richly detailed animation and Tom Hiddleston’s voice performance, while noting that the comedy is hit-or-miss and the story routine. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/early-man-review-20180216/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds it a cheerful, competent underdog story, though less distinctive than Nick Park’s earlier work. The detailed stop-motion animation and the eccentric Queen Oofeefa stand out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/early-man-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2018. The critic finds the film a disappointing, overly familiar misfire. They single out the shortage of Aardman’s trademark humor, along with flat characters and unspectacular visuals. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/early-man-film-review-aardman-eddie-redmayne/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2018. The critic finds the film a big disappointment, lacking the comic invention to make its underdog story memorable. They single out Goona as an exception in an otherwise unfunny cast of characters. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/early-man-2018-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © 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/early-man.md