--- title: "Godzilla: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/godzilla-2014/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/godzilla-2014" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 25 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." --- # Godzilla (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 25 reviews: 11 positive, 10 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics come out in favour, though not by much: eleven positive reviews, ten mixed and four negative. The praise gathers around Gareth Edwards’s patience. Reviewers admire the slow build to the monster’s first full appearance, the way people are dwarfed by the creatures and the wreckage, and the scale of the final battle, which several call the film’s best stretch. The creature effects are widely approved of, and Bryan Cranston is picked out more than once. The reservations are nearly unanimous on one point: the human characters are thin and the story cannot carry the weight put on it. Several critics also feel Godzilla is kept off screen too long and the tone is too solemn. The spread is wide. Little White Lies and The Skinny give full marks; The New Yorker tells readers to skip it. The harshest notices come mostly from the American press, Variety and the Los Angeles Times among them, while British critics are warmer. ## Little White Lies — Adam Lee Davies Rating 5/5/5. 16 May 2014. The critic delivers an emphatic rave, calling the film glorious and astonishing. They praise its patient build and awe-inspiring spectacle, while noting Bryan Cranston’s wig as its only flaw. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/godzilla) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 July 2014. Sexton calls it a thumpingly good monster movie and recommends seeing it. He praises its fidelity to the original and Edwards’s effective use of partial, fleeting views. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/godzilla-film-review-topclass-whacking-and-astounding-collateral-damage-9382166.html) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2014. Kermode finds the reboot impressive and respectful of Honda’s original, though not as deep. He praises Edwards’s ambition and the film’s tender creature relationships, while noting that supporting characters fade during the destructive third act. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/may/18/godzilla-review-gareth-edwards-reboot-mark-kermode) ## Film Comment — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). Romney finds the film to be powerful fun. The standfirst singles out its star-studded take on Godzilla’s story. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/review-godzilla/) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Rating 3.5/5. 17 March 2021. The review praises the film’s bold visual sense of scale and compelling action. It finds the 4K image markedly improved, though the disc’s extras are cursory and largely unneeded. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review-gareth-edwards-godzilla-gets-the-theatrical-clarity-it-deserves-on-4k/) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2014. Newman finds the film successfully restores Godzilla as the true King of the Monsters, despite its weak human story. He praises the awe-inspiring scenes that dwarf people against the monsters and destruction. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/review-godzilla) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. The available page content contains no review text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/godzilla-2014) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 62/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 2014. McCarthy finds the film smart, visually impressive and largely successful, though weighed down by dull human characters and an over-serious tone. He praises the technical craft and suspenseful monster action, while wishing Godzilla appeared more often. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/godzilla-film-review-702528/) ## Radio Times — Jamie Healy Rating 3/5. The review finds that Gareth Edwards restores Godzilla’s stature with mood and spectacle, though the film lacks dramatic bite. It praises the opening’s devastating impact and the film’s spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-kfep0r/godzilla/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 10 May 2014. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. The available metadata does not reveal what the critic singled out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/godzilla-3) ## IndieWire — Sam Adams Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2014. Adams finds the film’s human characters thin and the story unable to sustain its monster spectacle. He praises Edwards’ use of 3D and visual staging to make Godzilla’s immense size feel tangible. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/down-in-front-how-gareth-edwards-godzilla-makes-size-matter-126508/) ## The Independent — Laurence Phelan Rating 2 Stars. 16 May 2014. The critic finds the remake po-faced and ultimately dull despite its impressive destruction. He praises the digitally recreated disaster scenes but complains that human suffering and agency are reduced to background details. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/godzilla-film-review-pofaced-remake-exploits-all-the-fresh-disasters-it-can-think-of-9377993.html) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2014. Edelstein finds the film’s finale exhilarating but considers its earlier withholding and upbeat nuclear message flawed. He praises the eerie, Ligeti-scored sequence of soldiers dropping into the besieged city. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/movie-review-godzilla.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2014. Sharkey finds the film too slow to reveal Godzilla and too light on character development, despite its promising premise. She praises the effects and the beauty of the destruction in the final action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-godzilla-movie-review-column.html) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2014. Debruge finds the reboot disappointing, arguing that its bland human characters take too much attention from Godzilla. He praises the creature effects and the scale of the monster mayhem. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-godzilla-1201174616/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2014. Lane finds the film bloated and formulaic, ultimately advising readers to skip it. He praises the late battle’s shadowy spectacle and Godzilla’s striking movements at sea. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/26/big-guy) ## The Skinny — Josh Slater-Williams Rating ★★★★★. 14 May 2014. The critic praises the film as a visually imaginative, masterfully crafted blockbuster. They single out its carefully escalating creature confrontations and awe-inspiring spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/godzilla) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Rating 4/5. 11 May 2014. Pape calls the reboot a triumph, praising its immersive blockbuster spectacle and naturalistic handling of the story. He singles out Bryan Cranston’s raw emotional performance, while criticizing Aaron Taylor-Johnson as mostly vacant and dispassionate. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/godzilla-review/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4 out of 5. 27 October 2014. Lambie finds the film a respectful, gripping tribute and a satisfying reintroduction of Godzilla. He praises the suspenseful build-up and street-level action, while noting that the characterisation is superficial. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-blu-ray-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 15 May 2014. Goldberg finds the film an exciting, respectful Godzilla reboot despite its weak plot and underwritten characters. He especially praises Edwards’s patient buildup, which makes Godzilla’s eventual reveal thrilling. [Read the review](https://collider.com/godzilla-review/) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 7.5/10. 16 May 2014. Lussier finds the film uneven and overlong, but says its thrilling finale more than makes up for a slow start. He praises the human perspective and singles out the suspenseful train-trestle sequence and the climactic monster action. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/531686/godzilla-review/) ## Eye for Film — Max Crawford Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2014. Crawford finds the film flawed but ultimately a thrilling, worthwhile Godzilla movie. He especially praises the climactic monster showdown, calling its fights and visuals spectacular. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/godzilla-2014-film-review-by-stuart-crawford) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The available page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no details about what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-godzilla-starring-aaron-taylor-johnson-bryan-cranston-elizabeth-olsen-20140511/) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Rating 3/5. 11 May 2014. Dibdin finds the film technically masterful but emotionally hollow, with spectacle compensating for its dourness. She praises the tense, atmospheric action set pieces and the gripping opening act. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a569961/godzilla-review-monster-reboot-delivers-spectacle-but-lacks-heart/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 2014. The critic finds the film frustratingly slow, with too little Godzilla to sustain the human-centered story. The monster’s action sequences are praised for hitting the kaiju sweet spot, and the action remains clearly visible. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/godzilla-review-case-waiting-godzilla/) --- © 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/godzilla-2014.md