---
title: "Invictus: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/invictus/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/invictus"
critics_score: 62
critics_reviews: 20
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."
---

# Invictus (2009): what the critics said

Critics' score 62 from 20 reviews: 10 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative.

Most critics find Invictus decent and dutiful. The praise clusters on Morgan Freeman, whose Mandela nearly every review calls convincing, and several reviewers add that the film is worth watching chiefly while he is on screen. Matt Damon’s Pienaar gets quieter approval, and the staging of the World Cup final is picked out more than once as the point where the film finds some tension. Eastwood’s plain, steady direction is noted with respect rather than enthusiasm.

The reservations are about everything around Freeman: a predictable arc, spelled-out storytelling, and a reverent view of South Africa that several critics call sketchy or timid. The spread is wide. The Guardian dismisses it as a constrained fable with little dramatic motion, and IndieWire objects to a staged airplane scare it considers exploitative, while Variety finds it a good story well told. Few critics are indifferent; the split is between those who are stirred and those who are bored.

## Variety — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2009. 

McCarthy calls the film a very good story, very well told, praising its rich accumulation of history, cultural detail, and emotion despite a predictable trajectory. He particularly singles out Morgan Freeman’s compelling portrayal of Mandela and the bodyguards’ revealing scenes.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/invictus-2-1117941681/)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2009. 

Turan finds the film a stirring, old-fashioned drama that delivers dependable audience satisfaction. He praises Eastwood’s confident storytelling and Freeman’s nuanced portrayal of Mandela, though he notes the rugby action could use more explanation.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-11-la-et-invictus11-2009dec11-story.html)

## Radio Times — Colin Prior

Rating 4/5. 

The critic describes the film as a heart-warming drama about Mandela using rugby to help unite a divided nation. The review singles out the tournament’s role as a catalyst for reconciliation.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-z3ske3/invictus)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Rating 3/4. 9 December 2009. 

Ebert gives the film a favorable but measured verdict. He singles out Morgan Freeman’s performance as Nelson Mandela for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/invictus-2009)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the film stirring and warmhearted, though somewhat official and sketchy in its view of South Africa. Freeman’s dignified portrayal of Mandela stands out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/invictus)

## Empire — Ian Nathan

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2010. 

Nathan finds the film noble and expertly made, but less personal and resonant than Eastwood’s strongest work. He especially praises Matt Damon’s quietly authoritative portrayal of Francois Pienaar, while noting that the rugby action can feel generic.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/invictus-review/)

## The New York Times — A.O. Scott

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2009. 

The review finds the film earnest and broadly effective, though not fully inspired. It singles out the story’s portrayal of Mandela using rugby to help unite South Africa.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/movies/11invictus.html)

## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2009. 

The page identifies a review of Clint Eastwood’s 2009 film, but the review text is behind a paywall. Its verdict and any specific praise or criticism cannot be determined from the visible material.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/invictus/5008772.article)

## Time Out

Rating 3/5. 9 December 2009. 

The review finds the film insistently honorable but too often overexplained. It praises a subtle moment that stands out amid the spelled-out storytelling.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/invictus-1)

## Total Film — Philip Kemp

Rating 3/5. 15 January 2010. 

Kemp finds the film predictable and sometimes slow, but worthwhile while Morgan Freeman is on screen. He especially praises Freeman’s charismatic, convincing portrayal of Nelson Mandela.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/invictus-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2009. 

Honeycutt finds the film temperate and worthwhile, but too timid to give its political story or protagonists much depth. He praises the rugby sequences while faulting the lack of a human relationship to carry the emotional story.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/invictus-review-movie-2009-93782/)

## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager

Rating 2/5. 18 May 2010. 

Schager finds the film dull and overly conventional, reducing a significant history to a clichéd sports drama. He praises Eastwood’s sturdy visual style and restraint from mawkishness, but says the story lacks depth and surprise.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/invictus-dvd/)

## The Guardian — Xan Brooks

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2010. 

Brooks finds the film a reverent, constrained sporting fable that lacks creativity and dramatic motion. He praises Morgan Freeman’s diligent, nuanced portrayal of Mandela as a glimpse of the private man behind the public image.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/31/invictus-film-review-damon-freeman)

## Evening Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. 

The critic finds the film unconvincing, arguing that its uplifting approach sacrifices subtlety and credibility. They single out its swelling music and grand gestures as overwhelming the complex history it tries to portray.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/nice-try-clint-eastwood-but-invictus-is-unconvincing-7418509.html)

## IndieWire — Michael Koresky

Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2009. 

Koresky finds the film impersonal, conventional, and unsuccessful as either a portrait or a sports movie. He particularly objects to a staged airplane scare that, in his view, exploits terrorism fears and undermines the film’s themes.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-ready-set-heal-clint-eastwoods-invictus-55664/)

## HeyUGuys — David Sztypuljak

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2010. 

The critic found the film moving and inspiring, despite some slow stretches and reservations about Matt Damon’s casting. They praise Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Mandela and the film’s focus on rebuilding a divided nation.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-invictus/)

## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2010. 

The review finds the film a rousing, triumphant blend of political biopic and sports drama, despite predictable genre conventions. It particularly praises Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Mandela and the film’s account of his power to inspire forgiveness and unity.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a199353/invictus/)

## Eye for Film — Leanne McGrath

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2010. 

McGrath finds the film an emotional, inspiring and historically detailed account of Mandela’s effort to unite South Africa. She particularly praises Matt Damon’s performance, while calling Morgan Freeman the film’s real star.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/invictus-film-review-by-leanne-mcgrath)

## /Film — Lee Adams

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 2025. 

The critic considers Invictus an earnestly rousing, if low-key, sports film and a respectful Mandela biopic. The tense, carefully built-up World Cup final stands out for recreating the excitement of the match.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1849515/clint-eastwood-sports-movie-underrated-invictus/)

## Den of Geek — Simon Brew

Rating 3 out of 5. 21 July 2010. 

Brew finds the film watchable and competently made, but says it never becomes as compelling as its extraordinary story deserves. He praises Freeman’s portrayal of Mandela and the staging of the final rugby match.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/invictus-blu-ray-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/invictus.md