---
title: "Mary Poppins Returns: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns"
critics_score: 68
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."
---

# Mary Poppins Returns (2018): what the critics said

Critics' score 68 from 25 reviews: 15 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative.

Most critics find Mary Poppins Returns a warm, enjoyable sequel, with Emily Blunt’s performance the clearest point of agreement: her comic timing, crisp authority and slyness win praise even in several lukewarm reviews. Enthusiasts also admire the energetic staging of the musical numbers, while Lin-Manuel Miranda earns approval for his warmth and showmanship. For many, the old-fashioned approach supplies enough charm and feeling to make the return worthwhile.

The reviews spread widely, however, from wholehearted affection to frustration with a sequel that follows its predecessor too closely. Reservations centre on forgettable songs, a predictable story and nostalgia that some critics find calculated; even sympathetic notices question how much stands on its own. The AV Club admires the technique but finds little emotional warmth, while the Los Angeles Times offers a sharper dissent, rejecting both the new songs and Blunt’s characterisation as part of an overworked, joyless recreation.

## Total Film — Jane Crowther

Rating 5/5. 12 December 2018. 

Crowther finds the film a delightful, emotionally affecting throwback, though its old-fashioned perkiness may not suit everyone. She especially praises Emily Blunt’s more mysterious take on Mary and the warmth and showmanship of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/mary-poppins-returns-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Rooney calls the film an enchanting, thoroughly entertaining charmer that should become a family favorite. He particularly praises Emily Blunt’s performance and the film’s tuneful, lovingly crafted musical numbers.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/mary-poppins-returns-review-1167792/)

## The Guardian — Mark Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2018. 

Kermode gives the sequel a warmly enthusiastic verdict, saying it preserves the original’s magic despite not being perfect. He singles out Emily Blunt’s haunting rendition of “The Place Where Lost Things Go” as the moment that makes the film’s spell work.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/23/mary-poppins-returns-review-emily-blunt-rob-marshall-ben-whishaw-lin-manuel-miranda)

## Empire — Olly Richards

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Richards finds it a charming, highly worthy follow-up that comes close to being practically perfect. He especially praises Emily Blunt’s comic timing and the imaginative, energetic staging of the musical numbers.

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

## Sight and Sound — Pamela Hutchinson

Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2018. 

Hutchinson finds the sequel a sprightly, heartwarming success that largely recaptures the original’s charm. She especially praises Emily Blunt’s crisp performance and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s energetic musical numbers.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-mary-poppins-returns-trips-little-light-fantastic)

## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman

Rating 4/5. 20 December 2018. 

Norman finds the film a warm, old-fashioned success and praises Emily Blunt’s confident, distinctive Mary Poppins. He singles out the duet between Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda as a musical highlight.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/mary-poppins-returns-review-the-wonder-nanny-is-still-as-supercalifragilistic-as-ever-a4022356.html)

## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf

Rating 4/5. 12 December 2018. 

The review calls the film a big-hearted cinematic high and the year’s sweetest surprise. It singles out Emily Blunt’s hypnotic charm for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/mary-poppins-returns)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Gleiberman finds the sequel a rapturous, joyfully old-fashioned piece of nostalgia, while noting that its careful imitation cannot equal the original. He praises Emily Blunt’s spirited performance and the film’s lovingly staged musical sequences.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/mary-poppins-returns-review-emily-blunt-1203085530/)

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

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

The review finds the revisitation of the classic material a holiday delight. It singles out Emily Blunt’s performance for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-mary-poppins-returns/)

## Radio Times — Terry Staunton

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2018. 

Staunton presents the sequel as reliable, enjoyable family entertainment, though it has few show-stopping tunes. He singles out its nostalgia and affection for the original as strengths.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/mary-poppins-returns-review-reliable-family-fare-and-brolly-good-fun/)

## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

The standfirst suggests a positive verdict on Emily Blunt’s performance. It singles out her take on Mary Poppins as naughty, no-nonsense and very nice.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/mary-poppins-returns-review/5134816.article)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2018. 

Lane finds the sequel charming and enjoyable despite its cautious reliance on the original’s formulas and several missteps. He especially praises Emily Blunt’s graceful, sly performance as Mary Poppins.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/24/mary-poppins-returns-with-a-spoonful-less-sugar)

## The AV Club — Charles Bramesco

Rating C+. 12 December 2018. 

Bramesco finds the film technically impressive but emotionally hollow, with its nostalgia feeling calculated rather than sincere. He praises Emily Blunt’s performance while faulting the production numbers for lacking warmth and soul.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/a-spoonful-of-nostalgia-helps-the-calculated-mary-poppi-1831031216)

## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith

Rating 2/4. 12 December 2018. 

The critic finds the sequel a tepid, nostalgia-driven remix that marginalizes its star. They praise Emily Blunt’s early scenes and the charm and choreography of “Trip a Little Light Fantastic,” while faulting the film’s hollow recreations of the original.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/mary-poppins-returns/)

## Little White Lies — David Jenkins

Rating 4/2/2. 17 December 2018. 

Jenkins finds the film strangely bland and says it fails to recapture the original’s appeal. He particularly criticizes its uncatchy songs and the sense that repeating the old formula produces diminishing results.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/mary-poppins-returns)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Edelstein finds the film a painstaking but ultimately disappointing re-creation that loses its magic. He praises Dick Van Dyke’s dancing and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s congenial performance, while faulting the songs and Emily Blunt’s portrayal of Mary.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/mary-poppins-returns-review.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Chang finds the sequel overworked, mirthless and unable to live up to the original. He praises the brief joy of Dick Van Dyke’s cameo, while criticizing the new songs and Blunt’s stilted characterization.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mary-poppins-review-20181212-story.html)

## Digital Spy — Jo Berry

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Berry finds the sequel charming, joyful and a must-see for the festive season. She especially praises Emily Blunt for capturing Mary Poppins’s essence while making the role her own.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a25455532/mary-poppins-returns-review/)

## Den of Geek — David Crow

Rating 4/5. 19 December 2018. 

The critic finds the film charming and sincere, despite its familiar story and forgettable new songs. He singles out the hand-drawn animation and musical sequence inside the china bowl as its visual highlight.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mary-poppins-returns-review/)

## Eye for Film — Anne-Katrin Titze

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2018. 

The critic finds the return gloriously uplifting and thoughtful, praising its emotional honesty and willingness to address children’s fears and family hardship. She also singles out the costumes as an ill-fitting, overly vivid distraction.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/mary-poppins-returns-2018-film-review-by-anne-katrin-titze)

## Consequence — Allison Shoemaker

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2018. 

Shoemaker finds the sequel derivative and somewhat flat, but ultimately says she loved it. She praises its sumptuous design and Emily Blunt’s performance, while criticizing the predictable story and unimaginative direction.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/12/film-review-mary-poppins-returns/)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating C+. 12 December 2018. 

Goldberg finds the film charming but ultimately a pale imitation of its predecessor. He praises Emily Blunt’s performance and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s standout song, while criticizing the film’s lack of imagination and memorable songwriting.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/mary-poppins-returns-review/)

## /Film — Josh Spiegel

Rating 4 out of 10. 12 December 2018. 

Spiegel finds the sequel too devoted to the original to become memorable in its own right. He praises Ben Whishaw’s heartfelt performance, while lamenting that the new songs fail to stick.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/562946/mary-poppins-returns-review/)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2018. 

The critic finds the sequel overly derivative, though it still has moments of delight. Emily Blunt’s prickly, no-nonsense take on Mary Poppins is singled out as a particular success.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/mary-poppins-returns-film-review-sequel-emily-blunt-lin-manuel-miranda/)

## Polygon — Karen Han

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2018. 

Han finds the sequel charming but overly derivative, unable to recapture the original’s magic. She praises Emily Blunt’s performance, while noting that the songs and updates leave little lasting impression.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2018/12/12/18136274/mary-poppins-returns-review-disney-emily-blunt/)

---
© 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/mary-poppins-returns.md