--- title: "Moonage Daydream: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/moonage-daydream/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/moonage-daydream" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 28 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." --- # Moonage Daydream (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 28 reviews: 21 positive, 4 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics welcome Moonage Daydream as an immersive, unconventional portrait of Bowie, with praise concentrated on its archival footage, editing and sound. The remastered concert performances draw particular enthusiasm, giving the music a force that even some detractors acknowledge. Admirers find that Morgen’s restless montage captures Bowie’s appetite for reinvention, while his own interviews let him guide the portrait. For these critics, the departure from a conventional biography is central to its appeal. The spread is wide, however, and the same sensory approach strikes others as exhausting or short on insight. Reservations extend beyond the negative reviews: sympathetic critics also note missing context, omissions and an overly reverent treatment of Bowie. The Hollywood Reporter finds the film shapeless and distancing despite admiring the performances. The New Yorker objects more fundamentally, arguing that the visual bombardment produces an inert, sanctified portrait that misses much of Bowie’s wit and collaborative spirit. ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 5/5. 24 May 2022. The review presents the documentary as almost as extraordinary as Bowie himself. It singles out the film’s cosmic, spectacular, music-filled approach for praise. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/moonage-daydream-2022) ## Empire — Lou Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2022. Thomas calls it a definitive, essential portrait of Bowie and a triumph despite a few omissions. He especially praises the inventive visual presentation and the film’s use of rare performance footage and Bowie’s music. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/moonage-daydream/) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 18 September 2022. Kermode finds the film a dazzling, loving tribute that captures some of Bowie’s adventurous spirit, though it cannot be definitive. He praises its kaleidoscopic archival collage and the profound affection running through it. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/18/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie-documentary-brett-morgen) ## Los Angeles Times — Carlos Aguilar Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2022. Aguilar considers the documentary a worthy tribute that lets Bowie’s own words and art shape its portrait. He praises Morgen’s sensorial blend of psychedelic imagery, concert footage and music for capturing Bowie’s spirit. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-09-15/review-david-bowie-own-sound-and-vision-propel-psychedelic-moonage-daydream) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 25 May 2022. Festival review. Gleiberman praises the film as a vivid, unconventional meditation that brings viewers closer to Bowie’s enigmatic identity. He particularly singles out the concert footage and powerful sound, while wishing the film had given more attention to Nile Rodgers and “Station to Station.” [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/moonage-daydream-review-brett-morgen-david-bowie-1235277125/) ## IndieWire — Siddhant Adlakha Rating B+. 24 May 2022. Festival review. The critic finds the documentary an ambitious, immersive portrait that captures Bowie’s influence and humanity. The film’s archival imagery and loud, concert-like sound are praised, though its authorized perspective avoids controversy. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie-documentary-1234727860/) ## The AV Club — Jordan Hoffman Rating B+. 12 September 2022. Hoffman praises the film as an ambitious, immersive alternative to a conventional Bowie documentary, though its associative montage can leave viewers wanting more context. He singles out Morgen’s sure-handed editing and the film’s ability to make Bowie’s restless reinvention feel like a cinematic experience. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie-brett-morgen-1849357392) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. Staunton finds the documentary engrossing, presenting Bowie as a driven and constantly inventive artist. He praises the film’s dizzying mosaic of footage and archive recordings, with Bowie’s own interviews serving as narration. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-b8mw8z/moonage-daydream/) ## Total Film — Jordan Farley Rating 4/5. 24 May 2022. Festival review. Farley finds the documentary an electrifying, thrillingly unique take on Bowie, though its unconventional approach may not work for everyone. He particularly praises the remastered performance footage and surround-sound mix for making the music feel newly vivid. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/moonage-daydream-review-cannes-2022/) ## Little White Lies — Ed Gibbs Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film an immersive, fitting tribute that keeps Bowie’s legacy feeling current. The sonic and visual presentation is singled out for praise, though the critic notes omissions and a preference for better-known songs. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/festivals/moonage-daydream-first-look-review) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2022. The review finds Morgen’s maximalist portrait compelling, though its cosmic, existential framing initially seems difficult to sustain. It praises the abundance of archival material and Bowie’s candid interview appearances, especially the vivid remastered live performances. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/moonage-daydream-trips-david-bowies-sound-light-fantastic) ## Slant Magazine — Kenji Fujishima Rating 3/4. 9 September 2022. Fujishima finds the documentary a vivid, often compelling tribute, though its hero worship leaves important complexity out. He praises its rare archival material and restless editing for conveying Bowie’s constant reinvention. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie-brett-morgen/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The accessible page provides no critical verdict on the film. It offers no readable praise or complaint to identify. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/cannes-2022-elvis-jerry-lee-lewis-trouble-in-mind-moonage-daydream) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2022. Festival review. The standfirst frames the documentary as a dizzying sensory voyage, but the critic’s full verdict is unavailable. It singles out Morgen’s journey through Bowie’s estate as the film’s defining feature. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/moonage-daydream-cannes-review/5170416.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2022. The page content is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/15/movies/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 2/5. 15 September 2022. O'Sullivan finds the film tedious overall, arguing that its endless, controlled interview excerpts make Bowie seem boring. She praises the opening concert footage for its energy and intoxicating portrait of Ziggy Stardust. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/moonage-daydream-movie-review-david-bowie-this-trip-lacks-zip-b1025686.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2022. Festival review. Rooney finds the film distancing, shapeless, and short on insight, ultimately more enervating than enlightening. He praises the concert footage, especially the performances from Bowie’s Berlin years. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/moonage-daydream-brett-morgen-david-bowie-doc-1235150193/) ## The New Yorker — Hilton Als Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2022. Als argues that the documentary is visually bombastic but strangely inert, offering a limited and overly sanctified portrait of Bowie. He praises Bowie’s collaborative spirit, wit, and musical evolution, which he says the film largely fails to capture. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/09/19/a-portrait-of-david-bowie-as-an-alienated-artist-moonage-daydream) ## Collider — Maggie Boccella Rating A+. 13 September 2022. Boccella calls the film a maximalist, deeply affecting masterwork and a vivid tribute to Bowie’s creative spirit. She especially praises its archival footage, music, and immersive presentation for capturing the experience of loving Bowie. [Read the review](https://collider.com/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie/) ## Deadline — Matthew Carey Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2022. Festival review. The critic finds the documentary a powerful tribute that presents Bowie primarily as an artist and invites viewers to experience his creative world. He especially praises its immersive editing and the wealth of archival material. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/05/moonage-daydream-review-cannes-midnight-screenings-david-bowie-documentary-director-brett-morgen-news-1235031236/) ## /Film — Rafael Motamayor Rating 9/10. 25 May 2022. Festival review. The critic finds the documentary an eclectic, fascinating portrait that leaves viewers inspired by Bowie’s appetite for life. They especially praise the remastered concert footage and sound, which create an exhilarating concert experience. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/874248/moonage-daydream-review-a-david-bowie-doc-as-extravagant-radiant-otherworldly-as-the-legend-himself-cannes/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the documentary loving, engaging, and worthy of Bowie’s legacy. They praise how the archive footage captures his charisma and stage presence across the decades. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/moonage-daydream-review/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The critic calls the film an impressive, unconventional portrait of Bowie and urges readers to seek it out. They praise its sensory blend of live footage, visual flourishes, and sound, while noting its focus on the Ziggy years. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie-3311028) ## Consequence — Morgan Enos Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2022. The critic calls the documentary a captivating accomplishment that avoids the usual music-documentary formula. They praise its surreal audiovisual approach to exploring Bowie’s life and inner world. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/09/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2022. Festival review. The critic praises the film as a bracing, gloriously messy celebration of Bowie, though its relentless chaos may exhaust some viewers. They single out its intricate audiovisual construction and powerful performances, including “Heroes” and “Cracked Actor.” [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/moonage-daydream-review-david-bowie/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2022. Festival review. The headline presents the film as an exuberant, transporting experience. It singles out the musical space-extravaganza approach, though the article itself was inaccessible. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/moonage-daydream-review-brett-morgen-beams-you-to-planet-david-bowie-in-a-musical-space-extravaganza-cannes-20220524/) ## Den of Geek — Tony Sokol Rating 5 out of 5. 16 September 2022. Sokol finds the documentary immersive, intimate, and evocative, though it is not a definitive biography. He praises the inventive musical editing and archival material for bringing Bowie’s artistic mind to life. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/moonage-daydream-ultimate-look-inside-mind-david-bowie/) ## The Skinny — Jamie Dunn Rating ★★★. 18 July 2022. Festival review. The review finds the documentary visually and aurally exhilarating but ultimately exhausting. It praises the carefully chosen Bowie footage and music, especially the use of “Hello Spaceboy.” [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/kviff-2022-moonage-daydream) --- © 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/moonage-daydream.md