Critics’ reviews

I Swear (2025)

18 reviews from 18 publications. Critics’ score 74: 13 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

Back to our review of I Swear

74
Positive
13
Mixed
5
Negative
0
Empire
7 September 2025 · John Nugent
85*

Nugent finds the film sweet, funny, and unusually moving despite its familiar feel-good conventions. He especially praises Robert Aramayo’s performance and the film’s compassionate, non-condescending portrayal of Tourette syndrome.

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Los Angeles Times
24 April 2026 · Katie Walsh
85*

Walsh finds the film deeply moving, entertaining and an important extension of Davidson’s advocacy. She singles out Robert Aramayo’s stunning performance and the film’s compassionate portrayal of life with Tourette’s.

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The Guardian
9 October 2025 · Peter Bradshaw
85*

Bradshaw finds the film warm, compassionate and absorbing, with humor that cuts through sentimentality. He especially praises Robert Aramayo’s intelligent, charming performance as John Davidson.

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Screen Daily
8 September 2025 · Nikki Baughan
80*

Baughan finds the biopic stirring and its lead performance exceptional. She particularly praises Robert Aramayo’s portrayal of John Davidson.

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Time Out
6 September 2025 · ★★★★ · Phil de Semlyen
80

The review presents the film as a funny, bittersweet campaigning biopic. It singles out Robert Aramayo’s performance as stellar.

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IndieWire
23 April 2026 · B · Kate Erbland
77

Erbland finds the conventional biopic insightful, though its repetitive setbacks and delayed focus on Davidson’s activism weaken it. She especially praises Robert Aramayo’s sensitive, star-making performance.

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Slant Magazine
17 April 2026 · ★★★/4 · Ross McIndoe
75

McIndoe finds the film compassionate and clear, though its crowded third act weakens the storytelling. He especially praises Robert Aramayo’s nuanced performance, which portrays John as a full person rather than reducing him to his tics.

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The AV Club
23 April 2026 · Leila Latif
75*

Latif argues that the BAFTA controversy should not deter audiences from watching the film. She praises its sensitive direction and Robert Aramayo’s performance, while noting its darkly comic approach to Tourette syndrome.

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The Observer
10 October 2025
75*

The Observer finds the biopic warm, touching and feel-good, though its moral message can be a little didactic. It particularly praises Robert Aramayo’s nuanced, funny performance as John Davidson.

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Variety
7 September 2025 · festival review · Catherine Bray
75*

Bray finds the film an engaging, mostly successful true-story drama that balances humor with respect for Tourette syndrome. She especially praises Robert Aramayo’s convincing performance in the lead role.

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RogerEbert.com
festival review
64*

The page appears to cover I Swear in its TIFF 2025 film capsules, but its verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible text.

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The New York Times
23 April 2026
64*

The page URL identifies this as a review of I Swear. Its text is unavailable, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined.

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Little White Lies
10 October 2025 · 3/3/2 · David Jenkins
60

The review finds the film well-meaning but overly sentimental and dramatically repetitive. It singles out Robert Aramayo’s immersive central performance for praise.

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The Hollywood Reporter
10 September 2025 · festival review · Leslie Felperin
58*

Felperin finds the biopic likable and empathetic but overly conventional and frictionless. She praises Robert Aramayo’s endearing performance and singles out a moving scene in which John connects with a young girl with Tourette syndrome.

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The New Yorker
17 April 2026 · Justin Chang
50*

Chang finds the film slick and educational but frictionless, predictable, and sometimes uncomfortably comic. He praises Robert Aramayo’s graceful, disarming performance, while questioning the script’s calculated uplift and treatment of the real story.

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Digital Spy
6 October 2025 · Ian Sandwell
85*

The critic calls the film funny, moving and important, praising Robert Aramayo’s performance and the film’s honest portrayal of Tourette’s. They note that the advocacy work is rushed, but say the supporting cast and moving finale make up for it.

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The Wrap
24 April 2026
85*

The critic calls the film a rare, empathetic biopic that avoids formula and sentimentality. They especially praise Robert Aramayo’s nuanced, convincing performance as John Davidson.

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Collider
14 January 2026 · 8/10 · Aidan Kelley
80

The critic finds the biopic engaging and ultimately satisfying, despite scenes that can be difficult to watch. They praise Robert Aramayo’s performance and the film’s frank, thoughtful portrayal of Tourette’s Syndrome.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate