--- title: "Juliet, Naked: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/juliet-naked/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/juliet-naked" critics_score: 61 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." --- # Juliet, Naked (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 22 reviews: 9 positive, 8 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews lean mildly positive on Juliet, Naked, with praise clustering around the performances rather than the plotting. Rose Byrne is the clearest point of agreement: even several detractors admire the wit, warmth and emotional depth she brings to Annie. Ethan Hawke also earns broad approval for his easy charm and rapport with Byrne. Supporters find an affectionate adult romantic comedy, with its attention to music fandom giving the familiar setup something worth discussing. The spread is wide, however, and the cast’s appeal does not settle the question of whether the romance works. Reservations centre on thin character development, contrived turns and comedy that can feel too mild to sustain interest. The Los Angeles Times finds the film smart and heartfelt; Eye for Film finds it safe and emotionally inert despite the leads. Even warmer reviews concede occasional imbalance or an overly neat resolution. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2018. Turan calls the film a rare, charming, smart, and heartfelt adult comedy that should not be missed. He particularly praises the cast’s performances and the convincing songs, noting Ethan Hawke’s casual charm and Rose Byrne’s emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-juliet-naked-review-20180816-story.html) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 20 January 2018. Festival review. The critic finds it a gently winning, charming romantic comedy, though somewhat mild and short of a knockout. He praises the film’s comic timing and singles out its scene where Tucker confronts his biggest fan. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/juliette-naked-review-ethan-hawke-sundance-1202670715/) ## Time Out — Eurico de Barros Rating 4/5. 29 August 2018. The four-star rating indicates a positive verdict on this romantic comedy. The page emphasizes that its title does not signal the sex or nudity one might expect. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/pt/filmes/juliet-nua) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2018. Festival review. Edelstein welcomes the film as a literate, unpredictable revival of the mainstream romantic comedy. He especially praises Rose Byrne’s performance, while finding the replacement ending a little pat. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/01/review-juliet-naked-is-a-revival-of-the-rom-com.html) ## Empire — Simon Braund Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2018. The review finds it a sharp-witted, amusing and genuinely moving romantic comedy. It praises the performances of Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke, while noting that Chris O’Dowd feels out of step with the rest of the cast. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/juliet-naked-review/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2018. Festival review. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict because the review text is behind a paywall. Its standfirst highlights Rose Byrne’s character caught between two men, but offers no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/juliet-naked-sundance-review/5125755.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2018. The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No specific praise or complaint can be confirmed from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/movies/juliet-naked-review-ethan-hawke.html) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating C+. 14 August 2018. D’Angelo finds the romantic comedy tepid and overburdened by earnest emails, exposition, and contrived plot turns. He praises Rose Byrne’s performance and notes that the film occasionally captures pop culture’s powerful effects on its fans. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/rose-byrne-and-ethan-hawke-swap-mash-emails-in-the-tepi-1828337182) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 3/3/2. 1 November 2018. The critic finds the film charming in parts but ultimately twee and forgettable. Byrne and Hawke’s rapport earns praise, while the meagre storyline and cloying dialogue draw criticism. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/juliet-naked) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 3/5. The review finds the romantic comedy only intermittently engaging. It singles out the love-triangle hijinks as unevenly effective. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-e0219r/juliet-naked/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C-. 20 January 2018. Festival review. Ehrlich finds the adaptation lifeless and tonally uncertain, with an underdeveloped romance. He praises Byrne and Hawke’s watchability, but says their charisma cannot rescue the film. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/juliet-naked-review-jesse-peretz-rose-byrne-ethan-hawke-sundance-2018-1201919514/) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Rating 2/4. 13 August 2018. Smith finds the film too scattershot to develop its themes or character arcs convincingly. He singles out its inconsequential detours and questionable character psychology as key weaknesses. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/juliet-naked/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2018. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film passably amusing but overly safe and conventional, with too little comic momentum. He praises the well-cast lead performers, while faulting the writing and direction for keeping the comedy mild-mannered. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/juliet-naked-review-1076230/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film emotionally hollow despite its comic setup. Rose Byrne’s graceful wit is praised, while the convenient plot twists and impersonal characters are faulted. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/juliet-naked) ## The Guardian — Jordan Hoffman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2018. Festival review. Hoffman finds the film flat and poorly conceived despite its humor and happy ending. He singles out Rose Byrne’s finely observed, charming performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/20/juliet-naked-review-rose-byrne-superb-nick-hornby-sundance) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2018. The critic finds the film a lovely, low-key comedy with a rock ’n’ roll heart. They especially praise its performances and its sharp depiction of music fandom and the bond between art and fans. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/juliet-naked-review-nick-hornby-rose-byrne-chris-odowd-ethan-hawke/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3.5/5. 17 August 2018. Crow finds the film a breezy, affectionate romantic comedy, though not a particularly demanding one. He especially praises Rose Byrne’s warm, nuanced performance as Annie. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/juliet-naked-review-ethan-hawke-rose-byrne/) ## /Film — Steven Prokopy Rating 7/10. 21 January 2018. Festival review. Prokopy finds the film charming and engaging despite occasional imbalance and an unnecessary neat ending. He particularly praises Rose Byrne’s nuanced performance and the film’s thoughtful exploration of music fandom and second chances. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/555785/juliet-naked-review/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film worthwhile despite its familiar romantic-comedy tropes. Ethan Hawke’s performance and the film’s exploration of toxic fandom stand out most positively. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/juliet-naked-review/) ## The Playlist — Gregory Ellwood Rating C. 30 January 2018. Festival review. Ellwood finds that the film does not work, with its confused tone and lack of laughs undermining the story. He praises Rose Byrne for giving Annie depth, while regretting that the script leaves her comedic talents underused. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/juliet-naked-sundance-review-20180130/) ## Consequence — Michael Roffman Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2018. Roffman finds the adaptation emotionally thin and unfocused, despite its promising talent and source material. He praises Ethan Hawke’s performance but criticizes the film’s rushed pacing and underdeveloped supporting characters. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/08/film-review-juliet-naked/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2018. Wilkinson finds the film safe, unoriginal and emotionally inert, despite its amiable moments. She praises Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke’s performances as the elements that most help salvage the material. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/juliet-naked-2018-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) --- © 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/juliet-naked.md