--- title: "Gods of Egypt: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/gods-of-egypt" critics_score: 36 critics_reviews: 22 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): what the critics said Critics' score 36 from 22 reviews: 0 positive, 7 mixed, 15 negative. 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. ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/movies/gods-of-egypt-review.html) ## The Telegraph Rating 3/5. 16 June 2016. 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 the review](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 Rating C. 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/look-on-gods-of-egypt-ye-mighty-and-be-baffled-1798186728) ## IndieWire — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2016. The review examines the film's whitewashing controversy alongside its action-fantasy elements and overall execution. [Read the review](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 Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/gods-of-egypt-movie-review.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gods-of-egypt-2016) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/gods-of-egypt-film-review-holy-crap-a3274326.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/2/2. 14 June 2016. 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 the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/gods-of-egypt) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/gods-of-egypt-review-1201714824/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2016. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/gods-of-egypt-review/5100826.article) ## Slant Magazine — Drew Hunt Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/gods-of-egypt/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2016. The film starts with absurd energy but quickly becomes flimsy and loses momentum after the first half hour. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jun/16/gods-of-egypt-review-film-alex-proyas-bizarre-fantasy) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/gods-egypt-film-review-869527/) ## Time Out — Anna King Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 29 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gods-of-egypt) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 9 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gods-egypt-2-review/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/gods-of-egypt-gxrf0ztb3) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating C. 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-alex-proyas-gods-of-egypt-starring-gerard-butler-nikolaj-coster-waldau-chadwick-boseman-elodie-yung-more-20160225/) ## Collider — Perri Nemiroff Rating D+. 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://collider.com/gods-of-egypt-review-gerard-butler/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 2/5. 17 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gods-of-egypt-review-2/) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Rating 1/5. 16 June 2016. 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 the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/gods-of-egypt-review/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/gods-of-egypt-review-gerard-butler-nikolaj-coster-waldau-brenton-thwaites/) ## Polygon — Allegra Frank Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2016. 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 the review](https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/26/11119708/gods-of-egypt-review/) --- © 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/gods-of-egypt.md