--- title: "North by Northwest: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/north-by-northwest/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/north-by-northwest" critics_score: 87 critics_reviews: 6 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." --- # North by Northwest (1959): what the critics said Critics' score 87 from 6 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are consistently positive, with praise clustering around Hitchcock’s control of suspense, the wit of the chase and Cary Grant’s ease with both comedy and danger. Critics repeatedly single out the set pieces, particularly the crop-dusting pursuit, for their ingenuity and use of locations. The improbable spy story is largely accepted as part of the pleasure: Hitchcock’s lightness of touch keeps the action entertaining without asking that it be taken too seriously. The differences concern how critics read that extravagance rather than whether they recommend the film. The New Yorker describes a bloated, colourful spectacle, but also sees Hitchcock deliberately exaggerating his familiar methods into self-parody, with the pursuits among its chief pleasures. Elsewhere, the emphasis falls on confident storytelling and sleek entertainment. Reservations are limited, and even the more qualified responses admire the humour, suspense and Grant’s performance. ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls the film a justifiable masterpiece and certifiable classic, praising its slick suspense, wit, star power, and confidence in telling an absurd story, along with the iconic set-pieces and Cary Grant's performance. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/north-northwest-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jack Moffitt Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 1959. The critic calls the film pure entertainment and praises Hitchcock's mastery of suspense that creates vicarious fear and identification with the characters. Grant's performance is singled out for its comedic and thrilling moments, especially the drunken drive and crop-dusting scenes. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/north-by-northwest-review-1959-movie-1021675/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 1959. The film delivers Hitchcock's signature blend of suspense, intrigue, comedy, and humor more delectably than ever, making it a sure box-office hit. The critic singles out the brilliant use of real locations, especially the crop-dusting airplane ambush on the prairie, as a standout achievement. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1959/film/reviews/north-by-northwest-1200419474/) ## The New York Times — A. H. Weiler Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 August 1959. Hitchcock and screenwriter Ernest Lehman deliver a suspenseful, witty, and sophisticated Cook's tour of photogenic American locales in a brisk, genuinely entertaining style that never takes its improbable spy yarn too seriously. The critic singles out the film's scenic, intriguing, and merry chase sequences as the year's best. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1959/08/07/archives/hitchcock-takes-suspenseful-cooks-tour-north-by-northwest-opens-at.html) ## The New Yorker — Whitney Balliett Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 1959. Hitchcock has created a perfect parody of his own work, flawlessly reproducing his mannerisms before exaggerating them to the point of self-mockery in a bloated, colorful spectacle. The critic singles out the two memorable set pieces—the crop-dusting plane pursuit and the drunken car chase—as highlights where Hitchcock truly skewers his own style. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1959/08/15/hitchcock-on-hitchcock) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 16 June 2009. The review praises the film's sleek, witty take on Cold War paranoia and mistaken identity, highlighting Hitchcock's lightness of touch, Grant's charming performance, and the memorable set pieces from Grand Central to Mount Rushmore. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/north-by-northwest) ## Sight and Sound 18 October 2017. The critic hails the film as Hitchcock's purest and most entertaining piece of filmmaking in years, praising its unmatched ingenuity in set pieces and Cary Grant's smooth, imperturbable performance as the ad man on the run. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/north-northwest-archive-review-pure-entertainment-that-never-puts-foot-wrong) --- © 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/north-by-northwest.md