--- title: "Melancholia: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/melancholia/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/melancholia" critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 16 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." --- # Melancholia (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 55 from 16 reviews: 6 positive, 4 mixed, 6 negative. The consensus on Melancholia is sharply divided, though praise for its images extends well beyond its admirers. The opening montage draws particular attention, and even several negative reviews acknowledge the force of the filmmaking and music. Kirsten Dunst’s performance is another frequent source of praise, with Charlotte Gainsbourg also singled out. Supporters find the apocalyptic treatment of depression intimate, sincere and unexpectedly moving rather than merely bleak. The main disagreement is over whether that visual and emotional ambition sustains a drama. Reservations cluster around sluggish pacing, thin characters, awkward dialogue and a sense that the symbolism offers too little insight. Some critics admire Dunst but find her difficult to connect with. The Wrap notably recommends the film to people who dislike von Trier’s earlier work; The Hollywood Reporter finds the images and music impressive but the characters and ideas unengaging. The spread reflects a substantial disagreement about the film’s emotional reach. ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2011. Festival review. The critic praises the audacious mix of silliness and solemnity, beautiful filmmaking, and strong performances in this science-fiction take on von Trier's recurring themes, though it may not win over the unconverted. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/melancholia-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2011. The critic calls it von Trier’s most hopeful and beautiful film, lush and romantic even in its apocalyptic hopelessness, with a luminous central performance by Kirsten Dunst. Its excessive yet restrained vision is strangely forgiving. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-nov-11-la-et-melancholia-20111111-story.html) ## Total Film — Matt Glasby Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2011. The review notes the film's polished depiction of depression and striking visuals but finds the middle section overly focused on the protagonist's gloom, making it low-key overall despite committed acting. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/melancholia-review/) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating C. 18 May 2011. Festival review. The film is seen as therapy disguised as drama with a disconnect between concept and execution; von Trier swings for the fence but misses in this autobiographical depression allegory. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/cannes-11-day-seven-two-days-after-the-tree-of-life-s-1798225635) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2011. The critic finds von Trier's apocalyptic vision visually striking but undermined by awkward dialogue and an air of unreality, with the film's misanthropy providing some engagement despite its flaws. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/melancholia-15-2363045.html) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating ★★. 24 September 2011. The film peaks with its dazzling prelude but the rest is redundant with few insights; symbolism flounders and characters remain superficial ciphers reflecting the director's nihilism. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/melancholia/) ## Little White Lies — Jonathan Crocker Rating 4/2/3. 29 September 2011. The critic finds the film eerie and authentic due to personal experiences with depression but notes it threatens to become boring, with Dunst's performance too insular and everything feeling out of reach; praises the cinematography. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/melancholia) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2011. Festival review. The end of the world is nigh in this long and sluggish psychological disaster movie that is one of von Trier’s most dramatically flaccid to date, though an authoritative performance by Kirsten Dunst, a magnificent Wagnerian soundtrack and effective use of the country-house location give it some lingering power as a scary fable. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/melancholia/5027778.article) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The review calls the film an intermittent success that offers a radical take on facing extinction but ultimately deems it programmatic, dull for stretches, and not recommendable. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/melancholia-review-7426893.html) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2011. The critic views the film as senseless and borderline ludicrous like von Trier’s recent work, despite some beautiful imagery and intimacy. It meanders without conviction amid familiar shocking and portentous touches. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/lars-von-trier-an-avant-gardist-for-saps) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 September 2011. This is a lethargic, pretty and empty study in ways of living and dying; it impresses only on a technical level with some striking images in the opening montage, but lacks a proper script, features false emotion and too much filler. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/melancholia) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 29 September 2011. The film is an absurd yet intriguing disaster movie about a planet colliding with Earth, with flashes of visual brilliance in its opening montage and some erotic strangeness. Gainsbourg gives the more interesting performance amid von Trier's situationist wind-up. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/29/melancholia-film-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy 18 May 2011. Festival review. The critic finds von Trier turns the end of the world into a bore, offering rapturous images and music but no comfort, redemption or engaging characters or ideas. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/melancholia-cannes-2011-review-189745/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 10 November 2011. The critic finds the film a personal, sincere apocalypse that registers difficult emotions intimately through close-ups rather than mass panic. It leaves an aesthetic glow despite its bleakness, suggesting the end of the world might be beautiful. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/movies/lars-von-triers-melancholia-review.html) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2011. The critic, a non-fan of von Trier, is surprised by how accessible and moving Melancholia is, calling it the director's film for people who dislike his previous work. They single out the jaw-dropping visuals and the riveting performances of Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/melancholia-lars-von-trier-movie-people-who-hate-lars-von-trier-movies-32654/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 23 September 2011. The critic praises the film's meditative take on depression through an apocalyptic scenario, highlighting Kirsten Dunst's immaculate performance as Justine and the film's exploration of melancholy's true nature. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/melancholia-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Rating 4/5. 26 September 2011. The critic calls the film stunning and aesthetically dazzling, praising its focus on the human condition and Dunst's engrossing performance as the depressed Justine, while noting minor flaws like shaky camerawork. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a341990/melancholia-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 11 November 2011. Festival review. The review praises the film's grand visuals, ideas about happiness and depression, and Dunst's standout performance while noting it fails to forge an emotional connection with the audience. It criticizes the cold, academic distance despite the weighty themes. [Read the review](https://collider.com/melancholia-movie-review/) ## Eye for Film — David Graham Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2011. The critic finds the film an occasionally fascinating but generally alienating study of clinical depression and reactionary panic. They single out the visual style and child character's perspective for limited praise while complaining that the characters are one-note, the drama flaccid, and the experience exhausting. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/melancholia-film-review-by-david-graham) ## Paste — Emily Kirkpatrick Rating 8.7. 22 November 2011. The review hails the film as a visually stunning and emotionally powerful portrait of depression and human frailty under apocalypse, subverting dichotomies of life and death. It singles out the beautiful prologue and nuanced study of the two sisters' contrasting responses. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/melancholia) --- © 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/melancholia.md