--- title: "Erin Brockovich: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/erin-brockovich/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/erin-brockovich" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 19 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." --- # Erin Brockovich (2000): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 19 reviews: 18 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like it, and almost all of them like it for the same reason: Julia Roberts. The reviews describe her Erin as vivid, funny, foul-mouthed and credible, and several treat the film chiefly as a vehicle she carries without strain. Steven Soderbergh is the second point of agreement. Critics praise his restraint, his interest in character over courtroom procedure and his refusal to reach for easy sentiment. Albert Finney’s supporting turn is warmly noted more than once. The reservations are mild and cluster around the story. Several critics call it predictable, an underdog tale that goes exactly where you expect, and The Guardian finds it triumphalist and less complex than comparable films. The spread is narrow: eighteen of nineteen reviews are favourable. The single dissent is RogerEbert.com, which argues that Roberts and her wardrobe upstage the litigation, and that the supporting characters and screenplay are thin. Nobody else agrees. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 5/5. The critic calls it compulsive viewing thanks to Roberts' sensationally showy performance and Finney's lovable supporting turn in this emotionally rich true-story drama. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fs3c5b/erin-brockovich/) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic praises Julia Roberts for delivering a superlative, Oscar-worthy performance as the trashy single mother turned crusader, bringing vulnerability, wit and determination to the role. Soderbergh is lauded for crafting an intensely funny and emotionally satisfying film that highlights individual impact against corporate power, though it remains predictable. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/erin-brockovich-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic praises Julia Roberts' monumental, exuberant performance as her best role, highlighting her chemistry with Albert Finney and the film's balance of maternal care, legal drama, and gender reversal. The screenplay is called a model for dramatizing issues while humanizing them, with Soderbergh's direction exemplary. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/erin-brockovich-7433853.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2000. The critic calls the film an irresistible, hugely satisfying feminist fairy tale that turns Norma Rae into the protagonist of A Civil Action. He singles out Julia Roberts' textured, star-powered performance and Steven Soderbergh's restraint and intelligence in handling mainstream material. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-17-ca-9608-story.html) ## Sight and Sound — Andrew O'Hehir Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises Julia Roberts' complex, edgy performance as the spirited but flawed heroine and Steven Soderbergh's restrained, respectful direction that avoids sentimentality and cinematic tricks. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/354) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2000. The movie is a feel-good crowd-pleaser that embraces every cliché but delivers laughs, tears and cheers thanks to Julia Roberts' vibrant performance. Soderbergh directs with restraint, making it likely to earn her an Oscar nomination. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/17/movies/film-review-high-ideals-higher-heels.html) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★☆. 7 March 2025. The critic praises Soderbergh for bringing indie sensibilities to a mainstream studio film, focusing on character relationships over procedural elements. Roberts is transformed into an Oscar-winning actress, with her 'numbers' monologue highlighted as a standout. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/erin-brockovich-film-review-julia-roberts-nhkq0rkz0) ## Time Out — NB Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The critic highlights Soderbergh's fresh, intelligent approach and humanist focus, singling out Roberts' credible and magnificent characterisation as the film's standout element. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/erin-brockovich) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 March 2000. An exhilarating and very satisfying true-life story that takes Julia Roberts into more realistic territory with snappy dialogue and humor. Soderbergh keeps the focus sharp on the determined heroine while delivering heart and commercial appeal. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/erin-brockovich-2-1200461403/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2000. The review commends Steven Soderbergh for directing a true story without clichés or courtroom drama, focusing instead on the working-class struggles and Roberts' performance framed by authentic portrayal of class prejudice. It notes the leisurely pace but effective storytelling without wasted moments. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/erin-brockovich-1798192327) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2000. The critic praises the film's portrayal of Erin Brockovich as a determined working-class woman taking on a corporation, highlighting Julia Roberts' dominant and empowering performance. He notes it is a triumphalist story lacking the complexity of similar films like The Insider. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/apr/09/juliaroberts.philipfrench) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 2000. The critic praises Julia Roberts' star turn as Erin Brockovich, highlighting her energy and the film's focus on her self-discovery and the class conflict in the true story of the PG&E lawsuit. Soderbergh's crisp direction and the strong supporting performances, especially Albert Finney, are singled out for making the long film engaging. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/erin-brockovich-review-986979/) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 March 2000. The critic finds the upbeat, inspirational melodrama obvious and repetitive but enormously enjoyable thanks to Julia Roberts' heavenly, rampaging star turn as a moral heroine who protects the weak while staying true to herself. Soderbergh is praised for staying out of the way of Roberts' force of nature. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/03/27/hell-raising-women) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 April 2000. Roberts is celebrated for her fizzing, triumphant performance as the foul-mouthed environmental avenger, making the most of the David-versus-Goliath story and her character's wardrobe and wisecracks. Soderbergh is noted for sidestepping clichés in a well-crafted film but is mildly faulted for not pushing boundaries further or avoiding occasional cringiness. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/erin-brockovich-review/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2000. The film is undercut by Julia Roberts' performance and provocative wardrobe choices that upstage the story of environmental litigation. Supporting characters lack depth and the screenplay feels thin and by-the-numbers. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/erin-brockovich-2000) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 5 February 2013. The critic praises Soderbergh for elevating a standard triumph-over-adversity story into a slick, edifying studio picture without turning it into a dull civics lesson, highlighting the humanist approach and strong performances by Roberts, Finney, and Eckhart. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/steven-soderbergh-essential-films-retrospective-20130205/3/) ## Film Stories — A J Black Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 April 2025. The critic sees Erin Brockovich as one of the best and most influential films of 2000, a commercially successful star vehicle that proved the appeal of female-driven dramas. They single out Julia Roberts' vibrant, Oscar-winning performance as the real-life heroine fighting corporate power for particular praise. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/erin-brockovich-julia-roberts-at-the-top-of-her-game/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2001. The critic highlights Julia Roberts' strong performance as the feisty single mother who uncovers corporate wrongdoing, noting that Albert Finney adds class to the proceedings. Soderbergh directs in a straightforward manner, making it a tribute to determined legwork in a David vs Goliath story. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/erin-brockovich-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## /Film — Gino Orlandini Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2022. The review describes it as Soderbergh's turn as a studio hand with Julia Roberts, resulting in a smash hit that earned her an Oscar and him a directing nomination; it highlights the true story of the single mom fighting corporate evil, her disagreeable yet effective nature, and the film's exploration of the feminine dilemma. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/742499/every-steven-soderbergh-movie-ranked-worst-to-best/) --- © 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/erin-brockovich.md