--- title: "Gods of Egypt" year: 2016 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt" fi1m_score: 40 critics_score: 36 critics_reviews: 22 published: "2026-09-16T15:17:57.406012+00:00" updated: "2026-09-16T15:18:10.968891+00:00" region: "US" 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." --- # Gods of Egypt (2016) Directed by Alex Proyas · 2h 07m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Adventure, Fantasy **Fi1m score: 40** · Critics 36 from 22 reviews *In a sentence:* A pantheon of gods, all apparently powerless to shorten a fight > Alex Proyas gives Egyptian mythology an extravagantly artificial makeover, but the fights soon become a chore. A willing cast and some enjoyably excessive imagery cannot compensate for thin characters and clumsy dialogue. ## Synopsis In an adventure drawn from Egyptian mythology, the struggles of the gods spill into mortal lives. Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Bek (Brenton Thwaites) and Set (Gerard Butler) stand at the centre of the conflict. The story also involves Ra (Geoffrey Rush), Thoth (Chadwick Boseman), Hathor (Élodie Yung) and Zaya (Courtney Eaton). Its divine figures extend to Osiris (Bryan Brown), Nephthys (Emma Booth), Anubis (Goran D. Kleut) and Isis (Rachael Blake), as disputes among gods become dangers for the people caught between them. ## Review Alex Proyas fills *Gods of Egypt* with computer-generated spectacle, and for a while its willingness to look ridiculous is rather winning. This is a poor adventure, though, with just enough enthusiasm to make its subsequent dullness disappointing. The gods have been fitted into a familiar action plot, with thin characters and dialogue that seldom gives anyone much to play. At 127 minutes, the film asks for much more patience than its fights or its conversations earn. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays Horus, Brenton Thwaites plays Bek and Gerard Butler plays Set, and the writing gives this central trio little help. There is commitment in the performances, but the dialogue keeps making supposedly important exchanges sound like instructions for the next stretch of action. Gerard Butler at least brings enough conviction to make restraint seem beside the point, while Brenton Thwaites struggles to give Bek much spark. The characters need sharper differences than the screenplay can find for them. Owen Paterson’s production design gives the fantasy an elaborate, ornamental look, and there is pleasure in how little it cares about appearing tasteful. We enjoyed that excess at first, because the computer-generated scenery keeps offering more to look at than the story requires. The trouble is the separation between the actors and their surroundings: people and backgrounds rarely feel as though they belong together. Peter Menzies Jr.’s cinematography does too little to make those artificial spaces feel solid enough for an adventure. Richard Learoyd’s rapid editing is more damaging once the fights take over, hurrying us through action that already lacks tension. We were bored by the repeated confrontations, because the movement on screen never gave us much reason to worry about anyone in it. Marco Beltrami supplies the score, but music cannot do all the work of making a fight exciting. The next burst of activity arrives with the same problem, and the film’s early lightness steadily disappears. The casting of Egyptian roles around a predominantly white set of leads is another dispiriting choice. Fantasy gives the filmmakers freedom, but it does not explain why this particular mythology should arrive with so little apparent interest in its people. The gods are treated as convenient action figures. That narrow approach also hurts the story, which keeps returning to familiar confrontations when its subject offers room for stranger ideas. There is nothing inherently wrong with turning ancient mythology into a broad swords-and-sandals adventure, and solemnity would not improve this one. What such a film needs is variety: a fight worth following, an exchange worth hearing, a pause long enough to enjoy the surroundings. Alex Proyas has enthusiasm for the images, but too many sequences have much the same effect. The screenplay by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama cannot keep finding fresh reasons for the journey to continue. A little of this extravagant foolishness is diverting, and the cast’s willingness to take part keeps it from feeling entirely mechanical. There simply is not enough pleasure to justify the length, especially once the action starts repeating itself. If the plan is an evening of enjoyable nonsense, we would look for something with fewer dull fights. *Fi1m score 40, published 16 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Gods of Egypt a poorly sustained fantasy adventure, with none of the 22 reviews offering an unqualified recommendation. Complaints centre on cheap-looking computer-generated effects, clumsy dialogue and repetitive action, while several reviews also criticise the whitewashing of Egyptian roles. Praise is more limited, clustering around Alex Proyas’ garish visual imagination, occasional striking images and a supporting cast that some critics find willing to embrace the silliness. The main disagreement is over whether that silliness provides enough entertainment. The New York Times finds modest but consistent pleasure in the film’s unapologetic kitsch, while The Telegraph considers its ridiculous spectacle surprisingly fun. Collider, by contrast, finds it too serious and disengaged to work even as camp, and Empire sees little enjoyment in the lurid material. The spread therefore runs from qualified amusement to outright rejection, with broad agreement that the writing and effects leave much to forgive. ### Reviews we read (22) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (60/100, inferred): The movie is a demented, kitschy entertainment that embraces its vulgar excesses with more honesty than many respectable films, delivering modest but consistent rewards. The critic singles out the Eurocentric casting and unconvincing effects as notable flaws while admitting enjoyment despite the generic story. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/movies/gods-of-egypt-review.html) - **The Telegraph** (3/5): The film is utterly ridiculous with clunky dialogue and video-game-like action, yet remains hard to resist and surprisingly fun in its kitsch spectacle. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/06/16/gods-of-egypt-is-utterly-ridiculous-but-hard-to-resist---review/) - **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (C): The film is overlong and silly, with some visually appealing elements but devolves into tedious action; praises the effects-driven fantasy-kitsch vision of Egyptian myth but criticizes the screenplay and staging. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/look-on-gods-of-egypt-ye-mighty-and-be-baffled-1798186728) - **IndieWire**, Nick Schager (50/100, inferred): The review examines the film's whitewashing controversy alongside its action-fantasy elements and overall execution. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-alex-proyas-gods-of-egypt-starring-gerard-butler-nikolaj-coster-waldau-chadwick-boseman-elodie-yung-more-266028/) - **Vulture** (50/100, inferred): The film is thin and overstuffed, with dazzling setpieces but unengaging characters; visually impressive but feels like watching a video game, with a disconnect between characters and universe. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/gods-of-egypt-movie-review.html) - **RogerEbert.com**, Matt Zoller Seitz (45/100, inferred): The film starts as a fun, cockeyed swords-and-sandals lark with a clear vision and game cast but devolves into repetitive, unimaginative action sequences that kill its retro charm. The critic singles out the elaborate kitsch of the visual design and the committed performances for praise amid the clichés. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gods-of-egypt-2016) - **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (40/100, inferred): The review finds the film daft and over-the-top in a Hollywood way but ultimately fails to match the preposterous energy of the original Egyptian myths. It may have cult potential despite its flaws and poor reception. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/gods-of-egypt-film-review-holy-crap-a3274326.html) - **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (3/2/2): Underachieving rather than awful, Alex Proyas’ cornball, CG-driven adventure is tiresomely mad. Everything feels half-cocked, from the naff dialogue to the bargain basement visual effects, though it is more fun than something like Wrath of the Titans. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/gods-of-egypt) - **Variety**, Justin Chang (40/100, inferred): This is a dreadful, chintzy CG eyesore that oozes stupidity, yet Proyas delivers it with lunatic conviction that earns it a place among gloriously watchable follies. The critic singles out the director’s passionate visual flair and occasional striking effects amid the self-indulgence. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/gods-of-egypt-review-1201714824/) - **Screen Daily** (30/100, inferred): The struggles of deities trouble mortals in Alex Proyas’ first film in seven years; however Gods of Egypt is unlikely to inflict much distress upon audiences for too long. Despite starting with a sense of grandeur, this fantasy-adventure is unable to back up its initial confidence with content, though its light-hearted tone is a saving grace. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/gods-of-egypt-review/5100826.article) - **Slant Magazine**, Drew Hunt (30/100, inferred): The film has some throwback virtues but falters by imposing a contemporary superhero framework on ancient mythology; criticizes inelegant direction, rapid cutting, and the divide between visual ambition and narrative execution. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/gods-of-egypt/) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (30/100, inferred): The film starts with absurd energy but quickly becomes flimsy and loses momentum after the first half hour. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/16/gods-of-egypt-review-film-alex-proyas-bizarre-fantasy) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film overstuffed, witless, and bloated, criticizing its whitewashed casting, cheesy CGI, and lack of campy fun or magic despite the high budget. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/gods-egypt-film-review-869527/) - **Time Out**, Anna King (20/100, inferred): This cheesy catastrophe features cheap-looking special effects and a handful of jokes that fall flat. As the film totters to its predictable finale, the closing moments set up a sequel, a prospect far more terrifying than anything seen in the movie. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gods-of-egypt) - **Empire**, Olly Richards (10/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a catastrophe that is misconceived and badly executed, with cheap-looking effects and a plot that confuses convolution with depth. Proyas fails to make the lurid material fun or exciting, resulting in the worst blockbuster of summer 2016. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gods-egypt-2-review/) - **The Times**, Kevin Maher (10/100, inferred): The film is mostly horrific, with no interest in story beyond shoehorning mythology into a deadening superhero template, making it one of the worst of the year. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/gods-of-egypt-gxrf0ztb3) - **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (C): The film is called a spectacular mess that is shameless in its excess but has an endearing B-movie garishness and go-for-broke attitude. The critic singles out the overabundant, artificial CG visuals and performances for complaint while noting the sturdy plotting amid the nonsense. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-alex-proyas-gods-of-egypt-starring-gerard-butler-nikolaj-coster-waldau-chadwick-boseman-elodie-yung-more-20160225/) - **Collider**, Perri Nemiroff (D+): The critic calls the film terrible and not even enjoyable as camp. She singles out its overly serious tone and lack of passion or engagement with the material. [Read](https://collider.com/gods-of-egypt-review-gerard-butler/) - **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (2/5): The film is flawed B-grade schlock with a laboured running time, flat lead performance and plodding plot, but its ramshackle, demented imagination and strange images make it just about worth seeing as escapist fun. The supporting cast, particularly Rufus Sewell, stands out and brightens the proceedings. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gods-of-egypt-review-2/) - **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (1/5): The critic finds the film a kitschy disappointment with poor CGI, weak dialogue, and underwhelming performances from a strong cast. The overall verdict is to skip it in favor of something else. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/gods-of-egypt-review/) - **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film dull and silly with the worst computer-generated effects imaginable, failing even to be enjoyably bad. He singles out the unconvincing visual effects and clumsy writing, along with the whitewashing of Egyptian roles, as key problems. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/gods-of-egypt-review-gerard-butler-nikolaj-coster-waldau-brenton-thwaites/) - **Polygon**, Allegra Frank (10/100, inferred): The critic finds the film bland, unspectacular, and infuriatingly dull as an action blockbuster. She singles out its lack of tension in fight scenes and cultural ignorance. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/26/11119708/gods-of-egypt-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Alex Proyas - **Director:** Alex Proyas - **Screenplay:** Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless - **Cinematography:** Peter Menzies Jr. - **Editor:** Richard Learoyd - **Music:** Marco Beltrami - **Production design:** Owen Paterson - **Costume design:** Liz Keogh - **Producer:** Basil Iwanyk, Alex Proyas - **Cast:** Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Horus; Brenton Thwaites as Bek; Gerard Butler as Set; Chadwick Boseman as Thoth; Élodie Yung as Hathor; Geoffrey Rush as Ra; Courtney Eaton as Zaya; Abbey Lee as Anat - **Runtime:** 2h 07m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 26 February 2016 - **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Fantasy - **Budget:** $140 million - **Box office:** $151 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuVg_6UaQsU ## Where to watch in the US - Tubi: free, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $4.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-16.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, SE, SG, US, VN. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - AACTA Award for Best Costume Design 2016: AACTA Award for Best Costume Design (nominated) - AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score 2016: AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score (nominated) - AACTA Award for Best Sound 2016: AACTA Award for Best Sound (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Jason and the Argonauts* (1963): Mythological creatures and human quarrels, with action that knows when to stop. - *The Thief of Bagdad* (1940): For colourful fantasy whose impossible places make the adventure more inviting. - *Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons* (2013): Another unruly encounter with mythology, with jokes that earn their interruptions. - *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* (1988): Grandiose invention, unreliable storytelling and considerably more pleasure in being ridiculous. - *Baahubali: The Beginning* (2015): Enormous spectacle supported by characters whose desires remain easy to follow. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt