--- title: "Point Break: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/point-break/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/point-break" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 13 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." --- # Point Break (1991): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 13 reviews: 10 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like Point Break, and the praise falls first on Bigelow’s action. The bank robbery, the foot chase and the skydiving sequences are singled out for their pace, and Donald Peterman’s sun-drenched photography gets its share of the credit. Reeves and Swayze are thought well cast, with Busey noted for a fiery turn. Several later pieces go further and read the bond between Utah and Bodhi as the film’s real engine, its homoerotic charge and its puncturing of macho posturing taken as the point rather than an accident. The reservations cluster around the script. Even admirers call the story silly and the dialogue occasionally comic, and the two mixed notices find the action terrific but the rest generic. The one negative review, from the Los Angeles Times, sees technical polish spent on a vacuous story with no conviction behind it. The spread is wide, from 30 to 90, and the 1991 notices are the coolest; the film’s standing has risen since. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2021. The critic highlights the film's emphasis on bodies, desire, and the intense homoerotic bond between the leads as its core drive, while praising Bigelow for transforming a conventional story into a subversive, anti-establishment work about mutual respect and radicalisation. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/dec/10/point-break-keanu-reeves-and-patrick-swayze-face-off-in-surf-crime-bromance) ## Empire — Adam Smith Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Bigelow crashes the surf movie and heist-thriller genres to exhilarating effect, delivering a visually dazzling action film that embraces its own ludicrousness while delivering inventive, high-octane sequences. The critic singles out the film's polished, sun-drenched surfaces and balletic violence, shot with gleaming style by Donald Peterman, as its primary strength. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/empire-essay-point-break-review/) ## Radio Times — John Ferguson Rating 4/5. Bigelow delivers a silly but hugely enjoyable thriller that proves action is not just for the lads, with Reeves and Swayze turning in strong performances. The review singles out the stunning action set pieces and exhilarating surfing and skydiving scenes for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ke4llv/point-break/) ## Slant Magazine — Robert C. Cumbow Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2016. The critic views the film as a coup in Bigelow’s early exploration of men’s love of themselves and one another, puncturing the self-importance of macho action cinema. It singles out the androgynous, homoerotic bond between Johnny Utah and Bodhi, along with the film’s treatment of water, time, and male relationships. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-91-kathryn-bigelows-point-break/) ## The New Yorker — Jackson Arn Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2024. The piece examines how the film pushes action movie conventions to reveal their inherent strangeness through exaggerated plot, imagery, and dialogue. It praises the way the material blends surfing, bank robberies, and existential elements into something uniquely compelling. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-point-of-point-break) ## Time Out — NF Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2014. The review praises the film's high-octane excitement and male bonding themes despite implausibility and occasional comic dialogue. It highlights the brilliantly staged action set pieces as the standout element. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/point-break) ## Sight and Sound — Philip Strick Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2024. The critic admires Bigelow's shift to broad-daylight epic action and visceral set pieces while criticizing the film's macho posturing and some casting choices. He singles out the high-octane bank robbery and chase sequences for their thrilling, breathless execution. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/point-break-1991) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 1991. The critic finds the film an engaging California action story centered on the persuasive bond between an FBI agent and a surfing bank robber. Bigelow's direction and the strong performances, action sequences, and atmospheric score are highlighted as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/point-break-1991) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 1991. Bigelow demonstrates real talents directing fast-paced, high-adrenaline action sequences like sky-diving and chases, even as the plot spins out of control. The film benefits from Reeves' range and Busey's fiery performance. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/12/movies/review-film-surf-s-up-for-fbi-in-bigelow-s-point-break.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 1991. The critic finds the film delivers on its promised adrenaline-fueled action sequences like chases and wipeouts, which are terrific, but notes it is otherwise generic baloney built on familiar macho and Zenny stereotypes. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/point-break-review-movie-1991-1221274/) ## Variety Rating **. 31 December 1990. The review describes the film as a wild, hare-brained ride through surf and bank robberies that delivers thrills but ultimately falters under overkill and absurdity. Bigelow's hyperkinetic visual style and the cast's energetic performances generate excitement despite script weaknesses. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/point-break-1200428789/) ## Los Angeles Times — Michael Wilmington Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 1991. The film pairs visual and technical virtuosity with a silly, vacuous story, resulting in something beautiful but dumb. It is almost all style and technique with no conviction or substance from the characters. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-12-ca-2078-story.html) ## HeyUGuys — Dave Roper Rating 4/5. 25 September 2011. The critic calls the Blu-ray release a timely treat and highly recommends the film as a coherent, thrilling action classic with perfect casting and strong direction. He singles out Bigelow's deft handling of character interplay and visceral action sequences like the foot chase and raid for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/point-break-blu-ray-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/point-break.md