Critics’ reviews

Pressure (2026)

15 reviews from 15 publications. Critics’ score 76: 9 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative.

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76
Positive
9
Mixed
1
Negative
1

Most critics find Pressure a tense, tightly focused drama that makes the weather forecasts behind D-Day planning absorbing. Praise centres on Andrew Scott’s restrained performance as the meteorologist, particularly his ability to convey conflicting emotions through small reactions, with Brendan Fraser’s Eisenhower providing a strong contrast. The reviews also value the clashes between expertise and military authority; the Los Angeles Times singles out the direction, editing and saturated cinematography for giving the confined setting pace and visual interest.

Reservations concern the film’s theatrical roots, conventional wartime uplift and limited exploration of its ideas, though most critics find the performances and tension sufficient compensation. The Playlist praises Scott but finds the treatment predictable and insufficiently thoughtful. The Wrap takes the sharper dissenting position, arguing that the historical anecdote cannot sustain a feature and generates little suspense despite a capable cast and direction.

Los Angeles Times
29 May 2026 · Katie Walsh
85*

The critic praises the film's focused dramatization of the weather's role in D-Day planning as a tense one-setting thriller, highlighting strong performances by Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott. They single out the skillful direction, editing, and richly saturated cinematography for creating a propulsive and visually striking chamber piece.

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Vulture
29 May 2026
85*

Praises the gripping narrative and performances, especially Andrew Scott's subtle acting and the contrast with Brendan Fraser's Eisenhower. Singles out the focus on the meteorologist's determination and the film's economy.

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The Hollywood Reporter
26 May 2026 · Frank Scheck
80*

The critic praises the film's sustained tension and Andrew Scott's superb performance as the meteorologist, noting it turns weather forecasting into an edge-of-your-seat thriller. They single out Scott's subtle emotional depth for praise.

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The Telegraph
1 September 2026 · ★★★★ · Robbie Collin
80

The critic praises the tense, affecting chamber drama adapted from a play, calling Andrew Scott's understated performance breathtaking and note-perfect in conveying suppressed emotions and micro-reactions. It turns an overlooked historical detail into gripping foreground drama with enjoyable supporting turns.

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Variety
26 May 2026 · Guy Lodge
80*

The review commends the absorbing, efficient chamber drama about the meteorological planning for D-Day, adapted from a play, with magnetic performances from Andrew Scott as the steadfast meteorologist and Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower. It singles out the dry comedy in the absurdity of mighty generals thwarted by weather forecasts and the timely stand for expertise and sensible decision-making.

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The AV Club
29 May 2026 · B · Monica Castillo
77

The review highlights the effective tension and ensemble cast in this D-Day weather thriller, praising how it focuses on science and egos clashing. They single out Andrew Scott's performance for making the suspense work.

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Financial Times
10 September 2026 · Danny Leigh
75*

The critic calls the film flawed but rewarding, with Andrew Scott's central turn bringing intense gravity and stellar presence as the real-life meteorologist advising on D-Day conditions. It spotlights the courage of refusing to tell people what they want to hear amid crackling hostilities.

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The Observer
12 September 2026 · Wendy Ide
75*

The critic calls it a sturdily old-fashioned but unexpectedly gripping drama that creates tension through antagonism between characters rather than action. Andrew Scott delivers terrific work conveying warring emotions with subtle expressions, making the film solidly watchable and elevated by top-tier acting.

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Radio Times
8 September 2026 · 4 out of 5 · Terry Staunton

The critic highlights the gripping behind-closed-doors Anglo-American battle of wills and Andrew Scott's beautifully balanced, stoic portrayal of the pragmatic meteorologist who prioritizes professional integrity, noting Maras's skill at conveying jeopardy in tense decision-making scenes despite the theatrical roots.

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Slant Magazine
27 May 2026 · #### · Marshall Shaffer

The critic frames the film as turning war planning into workplace drama, praising its focus on the meteorologist's disruptive innovation and Scott's performance. They single out the contrast with historical precedent and old-guard resistance for praise while noting some issues with the combat scenes.

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The Guardian
10 September 2026

The critic finds it a slick and watchable if slightly cheesy and unreflective period drama adapted from a play, with staginess reflecting its theatrical origins. Andrew Scott brings complexity to the stoic meteorologist Stagg, though the film is unsure how much inner darkness to give the character.

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Time Out
5 May 2026 · 4 out of 5 stars · Phil de Semlyen

The critic calls it a terrifically tense WWII thriller centered on the high-stakes weather decisions for D-Day, praising Andrew Scott's magnetic, icy charisma as the meteorologist and the film's chamber-piece focus on information, communication and groupthink under pressure.

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Deadline
26 May 2026 · Pete Hammond
85*

The critic calls the film a crackerjack thriller about the high-stakes weather forecast decisions leading to D-Day, praising director Anthony Maras for turning the topic into edge-of-your-seat cinema and highlighting strong performances from Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser.

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The Playlist
29 May 2026 · C · Ned Booth
57

The film is a conventionally rendered WWII drama adapted from a stage play that benefits from its contained setting but fails to explore its ideas thoughtfully, instead delivering expected triumphant pathos. It praises Andrew Scott's versatile performance as the meteorologist and the focus on unsung heroes of the war effort.

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The Wrap
26 May 2026
40*

The critic describes the film as middling, arguing that the historical anecdote about rival meteorologists cannot sustain a full feature and lacks suspense or depth despite capable direction and cast.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate