--- title: "Ex Machina: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/ex-machina/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/ex-machina" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 14 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." --- # Ex Machina (2015): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 14 reviews: 10 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics welcome Ex Machina as an intelligent, unsettling science-fiction thriller, praising Garland’s controlled direction and the tension generated by a small cast in a confined setting. Praise centres on Alicia Vikander’s Ava: the reviews repeatedly single out her precision, ambiguity and ability to make the android more compelling than the humans. The visual design also earns strong notices, while many critics find that the dialogue and shifting power dynamics give the questions about intelligence and desire dramatic weight. The disagreement concerns how much the story delivers beyond that setup. Enthusiastic reviews find it taut and philosophically rewarding; more reserved responses point to predictable plotting, thin emotional engagement and a loss of momentum. The Evening Standard offers a notably harsher assessment, seeing an overstretched short story dominated by male fantasy. Even among supporters, there is some doubt about whether the film’s ideas remain as persuasive as its performances. ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2014. Festival review. Garland's directorial debut is his most successful and satisfying creation yet, an old-fashioned grown-up sci-fi executed with Kubrickian scrutiny and a darkly satirical pulse. Vikander's poised, precise performance as Ava stands out as the star, crafting both a sci-fi and feminist icon. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ex-machina-review/) ## Film Comment — Michael Sragow Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 March 2015. Garland's high-IQ debut connects viscerally as both a taut thriller and a perceptive exploration of intelligence and desire. The critic singles out Vikander's witty, nuanced performance as Ava for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-ex-machina/) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 4/5. Garland's cerebral directorial debut questions what it means to be human through philosophical debate and tense interactions in a confined, beautifully rendered setting. It is seductively strange, consistently thought-provoking and admirably adult, even if somewhat predictable. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-omk5pu/ex-machina/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2015. The review sees the film as a patient, creepy directorial debut that slowly grips through its unsettling setup and suspenseful human-AI dynamics. It singles out Alicia Vikander’s Ava as the standout, making the humanoid more compelling than the humans and carrying the film. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/13/feelings-cinema-anthony-lane) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2015. Garland's AI thriller feels like an elegant short story bulked out to feature length but handled with confidence. Vikander steals the movie with a sly dreaminess in the central role. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/22/ex-machina-review) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 4/3/3. 22 January 2015. The debut is more compelling as a study of millennial tech entrepreneurs than as pure AI speculation, with a classical setup that reveals its plotting too readily. It discusses the morality of AI in depth but ends up fudging its stance, though the ambiguous climax is satisfying. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/ex-machina/) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 3/5. 20 January 2015. Garland's art-house debut takes viewers to the birth of convincing AI in a slinky, thoughtful setup with strong dialogue and Vikander's spellbinding presence. An obvious twist and clunky developments undermine the credibility of a story that promised more. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ex-machina) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2015. An elegant variation on Frankenstein that turns Gothic and predictable, over-extending a short story into a chamber piece focused on male fantasy and a foxy female robot. It follows in the wake of stronger films like Her and Under the Skin without matching their challenge. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ex-machina-film-review-frankenstein-s-monster-is-no-longer-a-galumphing-male-she-s-female-now-and-foxy-9997434.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 9 April 2015. The critic calls the film a shrewdly imagined, persuasively made, and quietly unnerving speculative chamber drama that balances big ideas with pulp thrills. It praises Garland’s assured debut direction and the remarkable design and performance of the robot Ava by Alicia Vikander. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-ex-machina-review-20150410-column.html) ## Screen Daily 16 January 2015. Garland's stylish feature debut is an absorbing, thrilling and impressively performed psychological thriller that plays as both love triangle and battle of wills while balancing thoughtful AI ruminations with old-fashioned thrills. Vikander delivers the standout performance as the soulful, seductive android. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/exmachina/5081700.article) ## Sight and Sound — Philip Kemp 23 January 2015. Garland's directorial debut rejuvenates familiar AI themes by crossing them with Moreau-like exploitation of artificial beings, delivering a timely, sharply paced chamber piece whose sympathies ultimately lie with the android. Vikander's sensual performance as Ava stands out amid the tense power dynamics and uncertainty about consciousness. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-ex-machina) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Dalton 16 January 2015. The critic praises the stylish directing debut, sleek production values and visual design centered on the android Ava but criticizes the third-act slump and lack of dramatic punch or fresh ideas. It is called a classy piece of cerebral sci-fi that functions as superior pulp for fans despite feeling flimsy. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/machina-film-review-764038/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 9 April 2015. The critic finds the film a smart, sleek creation story about men and the machines and women they dream up. It singles out Alicia Vikander’s performance as the robot Ava for building a controlled, geometrically precise portrayal that enriches and ultimately engulfs the movie. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/movies/review-in-ex-machina-a-mogul-fashions-the-droid-of-his-dreams.html) ## Variety — Guy Lodge 16 January 2015. Festival review. The review describes the directorial debut as a brittle, beautiful, witty and sensual digital-age Frankenstein that slyly examines gender and humanity. It singles out Oscar Isaac’s nuanced, funny portrayal of the tech mogul Nathan as a highlight alongside the exquisite design and performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/film/global/film-review-ex-machina-1201405717/) ## Vulture 9 April 2015. The critic notes the film starts with an original premise and marvelous design for Ava but quickly turns formulaic, shifting to a noir-ish plot about abusive masters and wily slaves rather than exploring unique singularity ideas. Ava remains a creepily alluring highlight thanks to Vikander's performance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2015/04/ex-machina-review.html) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2015. Garland's taut, intimate directorial debut blends character drama with sci-fi horror in a razor-sharp chamber piece. The critic highlights the powerhouse cast and the way shifting power dynamics build mesmerising tension and philosophical depth. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a623085/ex-machina-review-a-sharp-and-exhilarating-sci-fi-horror/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 15 January 2015. Garland's assured directorial debut is an intelligent, disquieting sci-fi thriller built around a minimal psychological setup. The critic singles out the superb trio of lead performances for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/ex-machina-review-2/) ## Polygon — Brian VanHooker Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2026. The critic calls the film smart, gripping, and well-acted with a thoughtful slow-burn arc between Caleb and Ava; singles out Vikander's performance and the seamless visual effects for making the robot character believable and overlooked. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/ex-machina-review-now-on-netflix/) ## Collider — Perri Nemiroff Rating B. 15 March 2015. Festival review. The critic finds it a strong feature with effective humor from Isaac, a riveting core scenario, and stunning visuals, but notes a minimal amount of humanity that keeps it from striking a deeper emotional chord. [Read the review](https://collider.com/ex-machina-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2015. The pleasure lies in deeper questions of what makes us human and tensions between characters, with strong performances; plot suffers from predictability, but a welcome addition to the genre. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ex-machina-2015-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2015. The critic describes the film as a chilly yet engrossing drama elevated by its production design and Garland's screenplay, though hampered by lethargic pacing. It singles out the lack of emotional engagement with the robotic characters as a notable flaw. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/ex-machina-review-alicia-vikander-domhnall-gleeson-oscar-isaac/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating [A]. 8 April 2015. The critic calls it a triumph and the first great film of 2015, praising the tight screenplay, meticulous filmmaking, sensational performances, and big ideas about AI. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-alex-garlands-gripping-brilliant-and-sensational-ex-machina-20150408/) --- © 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/ex-machina.md