--- title: "K-PAX: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/k-pax/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/k-pax" critics_score: 53 critics_reviews: 12 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." --- # K-PAX (2001): what the critics said Critics' score 53 from 12 reviews: 1 positive, 7 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews lean towards mixed: K-PAX attracts praise for its performances and visual craft, but less confidence in its storytelling. Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges provide the central appeal for several critics, who find their exchanges engaging even when the surrounding drama falters. Iain Softley’s restrained direction also earns approval, while Variety singles out his compositions and John Mathieson’s use of light. The mystery offers an intriguing starting point for much of the discussion. The main reservation is that the film struggles to sustain that intrigue, with complaints about derivative plotting, an underwritten home-life subplot and an unsatisfying conclusion. The spread is wide, particularly over its ambiguity and Spacey’s performance. Eye for Film finds the uncertainty thoughtful and rewarding, praising both leads; Slant Magazine rejects the film’s sentimentality about mental illness and finds Spacey especially poor. Between those poles, most critics see worthwhile elements without finding the whole convincing. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2001. Turan finds the film an honorable, engaging entertainment whose story ultimately tries too hard to preserve both sides of its mystery. He praises the performances of Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges, while criticizing the conclusion as too glib and pat. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-oct-26-ca-61707-story.html) ## Screen Daily — Emanuel Levy Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 October 2001. The available page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is not visible. No specific praise or complaint can be determined from the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/k-pax/407300.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2001. The URL identifies this as a film review, but the article text is inaccessible. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/26/movies/film-review-now-arriving-on-track-10-the-3-15-from-outer-space.html) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable. No verdict or specific praise or complaint can be established from the accessible material. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/k-pax) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 26 October 2001. Ebert’s verdict is mixed, finding the film intriguing but ultimately unsatisfying. He singles out the uncertainty around Prot’s identity as an engaging idea that the story does not fully resolve. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/k-pax-2001) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Errigo finds the film charming and humane, but says its mix of genres and attempt to embrace competing explanations make it difficult to sell. She particularly praises the performances, restrained direction, and cinematography, while faulting the underwritten home-life subplot. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/k-pax-review/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 12 April 2002. The review finds the film entertaining and thought-provoking but too derivative to leave a lasting impression. It praises the striking visuals and the first half’s accumulating intrigue, while faulting the story for fizzling out. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/k-pax-review/) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 2/5. Collins says the strong performances cannot overcome a story that collapses once doubt about Prot’s origins takes hold. He singles out the prospect of Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges facing off as a delicious one. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-xwaaiz/kpax/) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2002. The critic finds the film admirable in parts but ultimately not gripping enough. They praise the interplay between Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges, along with Iain Softley’s subtle direction. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/sep/20/artsfeatures.dvdreviews2) ## Variety — Robert Koehler Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2001. Koehler finds the film visually enchanting but narratively disappointing, as it retreats from its intriguing sci-fi premise into familiar psychological drama. He especially praises Iain Softley’s striking compositions and John Mathieson’s use of light, while finding Jeff Bridges’s performance more compelling than Kevin Spacey’s mannerisms. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/k-pax-1200553165/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2001. The critic dismisses the film as manipulative, unsophisticated Hollywood drivel. They single out Kevin Spacey’s performance as especially poor and criticize the film’s sentimental portrayal of mental illness. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/k-pax/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2009. Carty finds K-PAX a refreshing, thoughtful film whose ambiguity makes it especially rewarding for viewers open to existential questions. He particularly praises Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges, whose performances give the story its engaging central dynamic. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/k-pax-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © 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/k-pax.md