--- title: "Pressure: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/pressure/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/pressure" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 11 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." --- # Pressure (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 11 reviews: 9 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. 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 — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-05-29/pressure-review-fraser-scott-in-world-war-ii-showdown) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/pressure-review-a-gripping-new-addition-to-the-wwii-canon.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pressure-review-andrew-scott-brendan-fraser-kerry-condon-1236605550/) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 4/5. 1 September 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/09/01/pressure-andrew-scott-d-day/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/pressure-review-andrew-scott-brendan-fraser-1236754722/) ## The AV Club — Monica Castillo Rating B. 29 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/pressure-review) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/c9edc481-cdc7-457a-8f1b-59b4ad589ec0) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-the-other-films-pressure-practical-magic-2-oasis-dont-look-back-in-anger-fall-2-deadpoint-better-go-mad-in-the-wild) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4 out of 5. 8 September 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/pressure-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Marshall Shaffer Rating ####. 27 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pressure-review-brendan-fraser-andrew-scott/) ## 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/10/pressure-review-stormy-weather-in-tense-d-day-forecast-retelling) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4 out of 5 stars. 5 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pressure-review-2026) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/05/pressure-review-brendan-fraser-andrew-scott-ww2-d-day-1236921215/) ## The Playlist — Ned Booth Rating C. 29 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/pressure-review-brendan-fraser-andrew-scott-star-in-conventionally-rendered-wwii-drama-about-the-weather-on-d-day-20260529/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/pressure-review-brendan-fraser-andrew-scott/) --- © 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/pressure.md