--- title: "Elysium: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/elysium/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/elysium" critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 20 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." --- # Elysium (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 62 from 20 reviews: 6 positive, 12 mixed, 2 negative. ## Variety — Scott Foundas Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2013. Blomkamp delivers a less dazzling but absorbing and intelligent, socially conscious bit of futurism on a larger scale than District 9, with scrappy ingenuity intact. The director proves a superb storyteller with a master’s sense of pacing and juicy characters. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-elysium-1200569714/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2012. Festival review. Blomkamp delivers a gritty, politically uncompromising sci-fi satire with strong world design, visceral action and bold themes on immigration and medicine, though characterisation remains simplistic and the story grows conventional in the action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/elysium-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2013. Blomkamp creates a disturbingly familiar future nightmare with masterful world-building and striking contrasts between the two societies; the conventional blockbuster plot and heavy-handed messaging about healthcare and inequality detract from its potential. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/elysium-film-review-8781353.html) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2013. Blomkamp moves closer to muscular, subversive genre territory with exhilarating fight scenes and inventive set pieces but waters down the cynicism with overly thick pathos and a too-safe, righteous hero. It praises the action and visual style while complaining that the earnestness dulls the impact compared to District 9. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/elysium/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 4/3/3. 20 August 2013. The critic finds the film a confident but not fully ambitious follow-up to District 9 that confirms Blomkamp as an expert genre director, with strong action, effects and social themes but ideas and emotions that don't quite level up from the debut. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/elysium) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2013. Blomkamp’s cautionary dystopian shocker about a war of all against all is grimly fatalistic yet benefits from the director’s talent for making the familiar seem excitingly new and his light touch with jokes amid the ugliness. The film visualizes the worst effectively but ultimately feels constrained by big-studio conventions. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/movies/elysium-sends-matt-damon-into-a-dystopian-future.html) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 7 August 2013. The review calls it a messy, poorly structured Hollywood committee product that lacks the vitality of District 9 despite superb effects and some intense action sequences, ultimately feeling bland despite its bold concept. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/elysium) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 22 August 2013. The critic praises the film's initial dystopian premise and satirical take on class and inequality but finds that it loses focus and distinctiveness once it shifts into conventional action and violence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/22/elysium-review) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2013. It is a more than decent formula sci-fi action picture with some gruesome effects but lacks the witty, handmade quality of District 9 and leans into dumb melodrama instead of sharp satire. It praises the premise and a few effects while criticizing the heavy-handed plotting, caricatured performances, and bludgeoning action. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/08/movie-review-elysium-david-edelstein.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2013. The film launches with vivid visuals and a pointed political haves-and-have-nots context but tailspins due to conventional action and script problems in the final act. It praises the effects and early dystopian world-building while complaining about generic gun battles and mawkish sentimentality. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/elysium-film-review-597355/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2013. The film excels at creating two contrasting, visually detailed worlds but suffers from a plot that is simultaneously too busy and too simple, with too many characters and insufficient characterisation; the action devolves into a relentless series of chases and explosions. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/film-review-elysium-15-8780046.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2013. Elysium is something of a disappointment, an epic that has gone over to the dark side without realizing it and lapses into a standard good-guy-versus-bad-guy showdown despite strong early visualization and Damon’s presence. The socio-political concerns grafted onto the sci-fi framework are less electric than in District 9 and the combining of genre and theme not as adroit. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-elysium-movie-review-20130809-story.html) ## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus Rating 5/5. 9 August 2013. The critic praises the film's visual splendor, social commentary on class divide, and engaging performances, calling it the best sci-fi film of the year and an exciting, thrilling experience. They single out the world-building and direction for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/elysium-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating B+. 1 August 2013. The critic lauds the brainy sci-fi with strong action, impressive visuals, and thoughtful themes on inequality, calling it one of the most satisfying summer films, while noting minor issues with corny flashbacks and contrivances. They single out the grounded action sequences and relatable world-building for praise. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-neill-blomkamps-elysium-starring-matt-damon-jodie-foster-20130801/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 9 August 2013. Blomkamp delivers another visually stunning and thematically bold sci-fi action film about wealth inequality and immigration. The critic singles out the detailed world-building, explosive action sequences, and Sharlto Copley's memorable villainous performance as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/elysium-review/) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2013. The film offers a plausible, detailed future vision and strong lead performance from Matt Damon but feels more generic in its action and plotting than District 9. The critic singles out the lived-in world-building and body-horror elements for praise amid the mixed verdict. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a505023/elysium-review-digital-spy-verdict/) ## Eye for Film — Tony Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 2013. The critic notes the film's fantastic special effects and grounded action but complains about repetitive plotting, lack of depth, and a rushed finale, ultimately hoping it succeeds to allow Blomkamp more big-budget films as it feels important amid lesser blockbusters. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/elysium-2013-film-review-by-tony-sullivan) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2013. The critic finds that Blomkamp delivers strong action sequences and visual effects in this dystopian sci-fi but overplays the social metaphors and subtext, while also criticizing Jodie Foster's performance. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/elysium-review-bang-go-guns-ka-boom-go-metaphors-107396/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C. 8 August 2013. The critic finds the film delivers on its promise initially with thoughtful social commentary in a well-drawn sci-fi world but then loses focus in loud action scenes that undermine character development and the message. Praises the first act's world-building and social structure but complains about shaky camerawork, plot shortcuts, and Jodie Foster's accent. [Read the review](https://collider.com/elysium-review/) ## The Skinny — Josh Slater-Williams Rating ★★. 22 August 2013. Elysium's social commentary on healthcare and immigration is undermined by thin characters, underdeveloped world-building, and a rushed narrative. The critic singles out the impressive special effects and art direction as the film's main strengths. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/elysium) --- © 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/elysium.md