--- title: "Kneecap: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/kneecap/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/kneecap" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 17 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." --- # Kneecap (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 17 reviews: 14 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews for Kneecap are warm and unusually consistent, with no outright negative notices among the seventeen read. Praise clusters on the three band members playing heightened versions of themselves; nearly every critic singles out their performances, and most name the film’s energy and profane humour as the main draw. The political point, that the fight for the Irish language belongs alongside other resistance movements, is widely thought to land without preaching, and the editing and restless camerawork are credited with keeping pace with the trio. The reservations are few and specific. IndieWire and Collider both find Michael Fassbender’s presence stiff and misplaced, and Collider calls the plotting rote beneath the noise. The AV Club goes furthest, faulting a meandering middle, repetitive messaging and a film that loses steam after a strong opening. Time Out, otherwise enthusiastic, mentions a comedown once the energy stops. Most critics, though, leave it laughing. ## Little White Lies — Sophie Monks Kaufman Rating 4/5/4. 21 August 2024. The critic calls the film a cheeky pseudo-bio that bottles the band's lightning energy as a clarion call to anti-colonial movements while remaining fun. It singles out the righteous vitality of the leads playing themselves and the wry political coherence for praise. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/kneecap) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2024. The critic praises the film's energetic, irreverent take on the origin story of the Irish-language rap trio, highlighting its authentic music, inventive style influenced by Trainspotting, and meaningful exploration of language and identity without preachiness. The verdict celebrates its laughs, smarts, and verve as a joyful celebration of cultural defiance. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kneecap/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2024. Festival review. The critic calls the film the funniest thing to come out of Belfast in years, a riot that strains band-formation tropes while staking a claim to raw haphazardness. It singles out the three leads' strong performances playing themselves and the editing's channeling of rebel energy for praise. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/kneecap-sundance-review/5189586.article) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 January 2024. Festival review. The critic celebrates the film's kinetic style, brash humor, and rebellious spirit, noting how it thumbs its nose at music biopic conventions while capturing the trio's vitality and cultural defiance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/kneecap-review-michael-fassbender/) ## Variety Rating Critics Pick. 26 January 2024. Festival review. The critic calls it a boisterous, politically minded comedy and wonderfully offbeat docudrama that serves as a cinematic protest in defense of the Irish language. She singles out the charged performances of the rappers and the vivaciously shapeshifting cinematography. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/kneecap-review-1235888803/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2024. Festival review. The critic finds the film an outlandish yet exhilarating origin story that deftly balances its anarchic elements with grounded reality. It singles out the band's raw, non-professional performances and the music's consistent catchiness for praise. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/kneecap-biopic-only-beginning-this-anarchic-belfast-hip-hop-trio) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2024. Festival review. The critic finds the film a gleefully irreverent and cheeky origin story for the real-life rap trio, blending fact and fiction in an exuberant rags-to-riches tale with infectious energy and black comedy. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kneecap-review-michael-fassbender-1235791855/) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 30 July 2024. The critic describes the film as a raucous, unruly Gaelic rap origin story that leaves viewers with a comedown from its nonstop energy. It singles out the real-life band members' brilliant performances playing themselves and the script's focus on key relationships for praise. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/kneecap-review-2024) ## IndieWire — Adam Solomons Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2024. Festival review. The film succeeds as a showcase for the three rappers playing heightened versions of themselves but is undercut by a misplaced Michael Fassbender performance and some IRA drama elements. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/kneecap-review-michael-fassbender-irish-rap-biopic-1234945453/) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating C-. 30 July 2024. The critic praises the clever parallels between Irish republican oppression and hip-hop rebellion but faults the film for meandering drama, repetitive messaging, and losing steam after a strong start. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/kneecap-review) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele 2 August 2024. The critic finds the film enjoyable and rousing, praising its box-bursting energy and comedic verve in telling the origin story. She singles out director Peppiatt's savvy handling of tones, styles, and the joyful treatment of drug humor and Irish patriotism. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-08-02/kneecap-review-irish-rappers-hip-hop-language) ## RogerEbert.com — Sheila O'Malley 2 August 2024. The critic calls the film funny and exhilarating, praising its frenetic style, profane voiceover, and the bold decision to have the real band members play themselves. She singles out how it effectively captures the cultural and political fight to keep the Irish language alive through hip-hop. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kneecap-film-review-2024) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 24 August 2024. The fictionalised origin story of the Irish-language rap group is one of the funniest and most energising films of the year. The profane, political mix and the band's charismatic performances stand out. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/24/kneecap-review-one-of-the-funniest-films-of-the-year-rich-peppiatt-michael-fassbender-belfast) ## The New York Times — Beatrice Loayza 1 August 2024. The critic describes the film as a gleefully chaotic quasi-biopic that casts the band members as tall-tale heroes. She singles out its solid case for connecting the struggles of Irish speakers to broader resistance movements. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/movies/kneecap-review.html) ## The Telegraph 22 August 2024. The film is a riotous, anarchically fun comedy that mixes the Troubles with Trainspotting energy. It succeeds as a love letter to the Irish language and a portrait of post-ceasefire youth, elevated by the band's performances. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/kneecap-review-northern-ireland/) ## NME — Andrew Trendell Rating 5/5. 1 August 2024. The critic calls it one of the best music biopics ever made and unapologetically ballsy and brave. They single out the band's own performances and the film's blend of humor, heart, and political edge for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/kneecap-film-review-biopic-michael-fassbender-3779661) ## Polygon — Austen Goslin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2024. The critic calls it the best music biopic of the year, praising the hilarious dialogue, excellent performances by the real band members, and the electric concert sequences that give the film the energy of a concert film. It highlights the film's points about Irish-language culture and revitalization. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/what-to-watch/486523/kneecap-netflix-movie-rap-irish-watch-streaming/) ## HeyUGuys — Nathan McVay Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2024. Festival review. An inventively crafted, frantically paced and adrenaline-pumping ride that is one of the biggest surprises at Sundance. The performances from the actual band members are mind-blowing and the film is accessible and entertaining while touching on serious issues. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/kneecap-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2024. Festival review. The film audaciously upends the musical biopic genre with its high-energy mix of humor, drugs, and Irish-language rap performed by the real band members. It singles out the creative visuals and defiant tone for turning clichés into something fresh and inspiring. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/kneecap-review-music-comedy/) ## Deadline — Stephanie Bunbury Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2024. The film delights with its raucous energy as the real-life band members play heightened versions of themselves in a docudrama that celebrates their defiant hip-hop and Irish-language activism. It singles out the band's bold, irreverent style and drug-fueled antics for making the story an entertaining cultural statement. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/12/kneecap-review-ireland-oscar-entry-1236192752/) ## The Playlist — Marshall Shaffer Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2024. Festival review. Peppiatt energetically captures a nation still disagreeing with itself and focuses on nationalism's unifying potential to save an endangered heritage. The direction matches the rappers' restless energy with an eclectic and energetic toolkit of cinematic techniques. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/kneecap-review-a-raucous-rebellious-tribute-to-the-rappers-fighting-for-the-irish-language-sundance-20240125/) ## Collider — Chase Hutchinson Rating 6/10. 19 January 2024. Festival review. The critic finds it a solid but conventional musical biopic that captures the authentic energy of the trio but is hampered by the stiff inclusion of Michael Fassbender and rote plotting. It praises the film's heightened sense of the past and the main trio's performances. [Read the review](https://collider.com/kneecap-movie-review/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson 29 August 2024. The film is briskly paced and flies by with authentic language, musicality and politics; the trio acquit themselves tremendously well. It doesn't matter how much is true as long as it's a good story, and Kneecap has more than a leg to stand on. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/kneecap-2024-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## Film Stories — Maria Lattila 22 August 2024. Peppiatt's unconventional music biopic is a riotous middle finger to misconceptions about Northern Ireland and an unusual, intoxicatingly funny film. The central trio's performances are fearless and the film mixes action, musical and comedy elements in a bold, energetic way. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/kneecap-review-rich-peppiatts-music-biopic-is-refreshingly-unique/) --- © 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/kneecap.md