---
title: "Jason Bourne: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/jason-bourne/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/jason-bourne"
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."
---

# Jason Bourne (2016): what the critics said

Critics' score 64 from 25 reviews: 11 positive, 10 mixed, 4 negative.

Most critics welcome the reunion of Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass and agree the action is the reason to go. The praise clusters on the chases: the pursuit through an Athens riot is named again and again as the film’s high point, and the editing of the set pieces is admired for its precision. Damon’s stoic, physical performance is thought to carry the film, Alicia Vikander is a welcome addition as a CIA operative, and the post-Snowden surveillance material strikes many as timely.

The reservations cluster on the story. Many call it familiar and thin, short on inner life, a retread of earlier entries with cyberterrorism buzzwords added, and several rank it the weakest of Damon’s Bourne films. The Las Vegas finale divides them: satisfying to some, ridiculous to others. The spread is wide, from raves to a handful of dismissals. Vulture finds it assaultive and exhausting, with a dull Damon, and Collider calls it a formulaic moneygrab.

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Rating Critic’s Choice. 28 July 2016. 

The critic praises the film as a tense, propulsive model of mainstream entertainment done right, highlighting how it fuses Damon's empathetic persona with high-octane action while addressing contemporary socio-political concerns.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-jason-bourne-review-20160725-snap-story.html)

## Evening Standard — David Sexton

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2016. 

Welcomes the return of Damon and Greengrass, highlighting Damon's intense performance and the director's skill at delivering gripping, intelligent action sequences.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/jason-bourne-film-review-a-very-welcome-return-from-matt-damon-a3307351.html)

## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall

Rating ★★★★. 26 July 2016. 

Damon and Greengrass return in top form with superbly sustained tension, immersive action, and a timely post-Snowden surveillance theme; the globe-trotting chases and strong cast deliver Bourne supremacy despite familiar narrative beats.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/jason-bourne-review-matt-damon-is-back-and-its-superbly-sustained-sweaty-palmed-tension-all-the-way/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Rating 4/5. 31 July 2016. 

The critic hails a confident, modern post-Snowden thriller that reunites Damon and Greengrass for visceral, globe-trotting action sequences blending cyber elements with classic Bourne chases. Damon’s physical performance stands out for conveying depth amid the spectacle.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jul/31/jason-bourne-review-matt-damon-paul-greengrass-tommy-lee-jones)

## The Independent

Rating 4/5. 27 July 2016. 

Praises the relentless pacing and bravura action filmmaking but criticizes the film as one-dimensional with little inner life for the characters.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/jason-bourne-film-review-matt-damon-plays-the-lead-with-every-bit-as-much-intensity-as-the-first-a7157651.html)

## Empire — Jimi Famurewa

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2016. 

Calls it a worthy return driven by impressive action set-pieces, strong casting and Greengrass's kinetic style that elevates it above imitators.

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

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film a solid visceral workout for fans that delivers on action and nods to current events, though it descends into familiar routines. Damon’s stoic performance and Vikander’s electrifying turn as a CIA operative are singled out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/deep-focus-jason-bourne/)

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2016. 

The critic calls it a tough, exciting return that reveals more of Bourne’s backstory and delivers globe-trotting thrills with Greengrass’s signature style, though it flags somewhat in the Las Vegas finale.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/jason-bourne-review-1201812257/)

## Screen Daily

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2016. 

Greengrass and Damon expertly go through the motions in an enjoyable but familiar sequel with smooth efficiency and sturdy action pleasures; emotional underpinnings are missing, though Alicia Vikander is a welcome addition as a smart aide.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/jason-bourne-review/5106792.article)

## Sight and Sound — Henry K. Miller

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2016. 

The film struggles to adapt the spy thriller to the age of information overload and surveillance technology, with familiar plot beats, hard-to-follow action sequences, and a lack of memorable dialogue or villains. Despite these issues, the critic admits to enjoying it.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-jason-bourne)

## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin

Rating 3/5. 26 July 2016. 

The review finds the film a crisp but unoriginal return that recycles familiar Bourne elements without enough novelty, though it delivers satisfying set pieces like the Athens and Vegas chases. It lacks the spark of earlier entries in the series.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/26/jason-bourne-still-packs-a-punch-but-ends-up-chasing-his-own-tai/)

## Time Out — Tom Huddleston

Rating 3/5. 26 July 2016. 

The film is business as usual with a weak paternal plot device that fails to engage, but the bone-rattling action chases in Athens and Las Vegas are thrilling and efficient. These sequences just about justify its existence, though the critic hopes there will be no more.

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

## Total Film — Jordan Farley

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2016. 

Notes it is leagues ahead of Legacy and still thrilling thanks to Greengrass's action direction but calls it the weakest Damon entry with a story that has run out of steam.

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

## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film engrossing until a ridiculous Las Vegas chase, praising Greengrass's visceral action sequences and new characters like Vikander and Ahmed, but complains about the flat finish and one-dimensional characters.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/jason-bourne-film-review-912647/)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2016. 

The critic views the film as abounding in thrills but oddly stifled by self-consciousness and superfluous, noting that much of it smacks of established routine while the Athens riot scenes stand out as a high point.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/08/jason-bourne-and-little-men-reviews)

## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film disappointing despite the reunion of Damon and Greengrass, noting it feels like fan fiction that reworks familiar elements with added cyberterrorism buzzwords but lacks a satisfying new arc for the character.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jason-bourne-2016)

## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2016. 

The critic notes that while the thematic updates are intriguing, the film buries them in revenge plots and revels in titillating violence rather than visceral action, criticizing the calculated action sequences.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/jason-bourne/)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2016. 

The critic praises the jaw-dropping action sequences and Greengrass's style but criticizes the film as assaultive, humorless, with a dull performance from Damon, calling it exhausting due to sensory overload.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/review-the-sensory-overload-of-jason-bourne.html)

## The Wrap — Robert Abele

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2016. 

The critic praises the film's kinetic action sequences and Greengrass's direction, noting it as a bruising and exhilarating ride that stands out with mindful moments about violence. They highlight the return of Damon and Greengrass as a welcome revival of the franchise's grittier thrills.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/jason-bourne-review/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2016. 

The review calls the film an exciting and timely re-invention of the series, commending the spectacular action set pieces and the perfect fit of Damon in the role. It singles out the strong performances and timely cyber elements as keeping the franchise relevant.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2016/07/jason-bourne-review-matt-damon-return-paul-greengrass-1201794969/)

## Den of Geek — Simon Brew

Rating 4/5. 26 July 2016. 

The film is welcomed as thrilling and ambitious with expert action sequences despite a thin narrative that adds little new to the character. Greengrass’s staging of a chase through an Athens riot is singled out as particularly impressive.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/jason-bourne-review-2/)

## Polygon — Arthur Gies

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2016. 

The film feels like a faded memory of past Bourne entries but succeeds in showcasing Damon's physical capability and Greengrass's kinetic direction in well-shot, fun action sequences.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/28/12318966/jason-bourne-review/)

## Digital Spy — Rosie Fletcher

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2016. 

The review notes that the film delivers electric action and spectacular set pieces but lacks novelty or emotional depth in its story. The precise editing of the chases is singled out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a802665/jason-bourne-review/)

## /Film — David Chen

Rating 5/10. 29 July 2016. 

The critic finds it the weakest of the Damon Bourne films, criticizing the thin and repetitive plot that adds nothing new while feeling listless and out of character at times. Some action sequences are staged effectively but overall it feels like a half-hearted retread.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/545641/jason-bourne-review/)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating D. 28 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film formulaic and unnecessary, a moneygrab that fails to revitalize the character or add meaningful new elements despite its action set pieces.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/jason-bourne-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/jason-bourne.md