--- title: "Midnight in Paris: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/midnight-in-paris/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/midnight-in-paris" critics_score: 75 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." --- # Midnight in Paris (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 17 reviews: 14 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics welcome Midnight in Paris as a warm, funny and lightly handled fantasy, with praise clustering around its Parisian atmosphere, historical cameos and Owen Wilson’s relaxed lead performance. The cinematography and ensemble draw repeated approval, while Wilson is widely credited with making Allen’s familiar neurotic writer more likeable. Several reviews find thoughtful observations about nostalgia beneath the easy charm. Many also describe it as a return to form for Allen, without claiming that its pleasures run especially deep. The reservations concern thin characterisation, awkward present-day scenes and themes that sometimes need less explanation. Slant Magazine objects to the one-dimensional women and overly explicit statements, despite admiring Wilson. The Evening Standard is the clearest dissenter, finding the film unconvincing and its lead miscast, though it enjoys the historical cameos. The spread runs from enthusiastic to mixed rather than hostile; the main disagreement is over how much the lightness matters. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2011. Woody Allen has made a wonderful new picture that is his best and most enjoyable work in years. It is his warmest, mellowest and funniest venture in far too long, bolstered by appealing performers and its love letter to Paris. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-may-20-la-et-midnight-paris-20110520-story.html) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2011. Festival review. The critic finds Woody Allen's time-travel fantasy an adorable, light and assured bagatelle that showcases the director's enduring charm and wisdom about nostalgia. The period cameos and Parisian atmosphere are singled out as buoyant and elegantly handled. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/midnight-paris-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 2011. Festival review. Woody Allen’s lush and charming film is an amusing and elegantly constructed love letter to Paris, rich in romance, humour and culture, delivering easy warmth as a sweetly engaging Cannes opening night film. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/midnight-in-paris/5027240.article) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 3/4. 12 May 2011. The critic finds the time-travel fantasy charming in its surprises and strongest when leaving Gil's reveries unexplained, praising Wilson's nuanced portrayal of existential longing. However, the film is undercut by shrill, one-dimensional female characters and overly explicit thematic statements. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/midnight-in-paris/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2011. Woody Allen is back on form with this light fantasy about 1920s bohemian Paris, though the present-day scenes clunk a bit. The time-travel conceit is handled effortlessly with real laughs, witty touches and beguiling cameos. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/06/midnight-in-paris-film-review) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2011. It is a gently rapt fable of longing and satisfaction, caressed with wonderment, and Allen’s earnest and gravely romantic love letter to Paris. The conceit of visiting the greats is thin but part of the movie’s charm, though Allen hardly gives Gil a perceptive moment. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/05/23/the-better-life) ## The Telegraph — Jenny McCartney Rating ***. Midnight in Paris is proof that Woody Allen isn’t down to the dregs yet; it is a breezy, charming bauble that works better than his recent films. Owen Wilson manages the Woody-surrogate role with relaxed verve amid the 1920s literary cameos. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8811882/Midnight-in-Paris-review.html) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 2/3/3. 6 October 2011. The critic sees it as a charming and unexpected return to form for Allen, a light, pastel-tinted nostalgia trip through Paris that romanticises the past while commenting on the present. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/midnight-in-paris) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 3/5. 4 October 2011. It is a familiar but breezy and amusing moral yarn and love letter to Paris, with fun time-travel elements and a charming Owen Wilson performance that gives the film a welcome lift. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/midnight-in-paris) ## Evening Standard — Nick Roddick Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. Festival review. The critic views the film as pleasant but lightweight cinematic froth that fails to fully convince, with facile modern scenes and a miscast lead. The historical cameos provide the main entertainment value. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/as-cinematic-froth-midnight-in-paris-passes-the-time-prettily-enough-7424777.html) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 10 June 2011. The critic calls it one of Woody Allen's best films in a decade, praising the delightful script, gorgeous cinematography, joyful performances, and thoughtful take on nostalgia and artistic creation. [Read the review](https://collider.com/midnight-in-paris-review/) ## Eye for Film — James Benefield Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2012. The critic describes the film as a small miracle and a real treat for fans, effortlessly entertaining, infinitely likeable and surprisingly warm after a run of misfires. It praises the engaging fantasy elements, Owen Wilson's likeable lead performance, beautiful visuals, and return to light fantasy comedy style. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/midnight-in-paris-film-review-by-james-benefield) ## Polygon — Corey Plante Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2026. The film remains relevant for treating time travel as a literary device that indulges then dismantles nostalgia fantasies. The critic singles out the intimate, loving portrait of Paris and the sharp thesis that every generation romanticizes the era before its own. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/midnight-in-paris-15th-anniversary-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating B+. 11 May 2011. Festival review. The critic finds it a frothy, loveably charming and above-average Woody Allen entry, a whimsical ode to Paris that intoxicates with its fantasy elements and gorgeous cinematography. It singles out the stunning visuals of the city, strong ensemble performances, and the magical realism for praise while noting it is light and not among his classics. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/cannes-review-midnight-in-paris-is-a-classically-whimsical-woody-allen-treat-20110511/) ## Den of Geek — Michael Leader Rating 4/5. 6 October 2011. The critic finds the film warm and delightful, praising its humorous and wondrous fantasy premise of time-traveling to meet literary figures in 1920s Paris, carried by Owen Wilson's performance. Minor complaint about an undercooked third act. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/midnight-in-paris-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Lisa Giles-Keddie Rating 4/5. 7 October 2011. The critic calls it one of Woody Allen's best films in years for capturing Paris's natural mystique and delivering a magical, nostalgic experience. Owen Wilson's performance as the troubled writer is highlighted as a delight, along with the charming ensemble cast and light-hearted historical encounters. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/midnight-in-paris-review/) ## Paste — Michael Dunaway Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 June 2011. It's an entertaining, hilarious hit that explores nostalgia and the artistic impulse through a daring twist and strong casting. The critic singles out Owen Wilson's excellent, rootable performance as softening Allen's neurotic style. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/midinight-in-paris-review) --- © 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/midnight-in-paris.md