--- title: "RBG: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rbg/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rbg" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 17 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." --- # RBG (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 17 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics find RBG an engaging, affectionate portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with praise clustering around her patient work for gender equality and her partnership with her husband, Marty. The marriage emerges as a particularly moving element, giving the account of her public achievements warmth and personal detail. Several reviews also find Ginsburg herself compelling company, praising her quiet force, eloquence and the opportunity to hear her legal arguments. The spread is wide, however, and the main disagreement concerns how much the film’s admiration limits its scrutiny. Even favourable reviews question its emphasis on celebrity, its occasionally cutesy approach and its limited dissenting perspectives. The AV Club finds the judicial career glossed over and the interviews reduced to generic praise, while Slant Magazine argues that legal victories and arguments become slogans. For these dissenters, the celebration leaves too little room for a searching account of Ginsburg’s work. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 5/5. 4 January 2019. O'Sullivan gives the documentary an enthusiastic verdict, calling it revealing and inspiring. She singles out its warm, candid portrait of Ginsburg's marriage and family life. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg-proves-an-icon-of-the-supreme-court-in-revealing-documentary-a4030276.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2018. Turan finds the documentary completely engrossing and admiring, presenting Ginsburg as a force whose influence began well before the Supreme Court. He especially praises her eloquence and candid presence, alongside the film’s attention to her marriage and personal life. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-rbg-documentary-review-20180503-story.html) ## The New Yorker — Sheelah Kolhatkar Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2018. Kolhatkar is mesmerized by the documentary and finds it informative and inspiring. She praises its account of Ginsburg’s landmark legal work and its portrait of her partnership with her husband. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/recommends/watch/rbg) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 30 December 2018. The review makes a strong case for the documentary’s importance. It singles out Ginsburg’s serene yet forceful presence as compelling to watch. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rbg) ## Empire — Beth Webb Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 January 2019. Webb finds the documentary an uplifting, timely celebration, though it sometimes makes Ginsburg seem too cute. She praises its account of Ginsburg’s perseverance and the landmark work that advanced women’s rights. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rbg-review/) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 January 2019. The critic finds the documentary solid and quietly eloquent. She praises its capture of Ginsburg’s lasting impact as a feminist pioneer. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/06/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2018. Festival review. Felperin finds the documentary warmly reassuring and admiring, though it leaves Ginsburg somewhat enigmatic. She praises its fine-grained portrait and absorbing anecdotes, while noting that it never fully penetrates Ginsburg’s reserve. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rbg-review-1076848/) ## Variety — Amy Nicholson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2018. Festival review. Nicholson finds the documentary a cheerful, inspiring portrait that celebrates Ginsburg’s patient work for equality. She singles out the moving account of Ruth and Marty Ginsburg’s marriage as the film’s best part. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/rbg-review-1202677562/) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 May 2018. Edelstein finds the documentary affectionate and largely hagiographic, but cheeky and ultimately compelling. He especially praises its account of Ginsburg’s methodical, case-by-case fight against gender inequality and the thrill of hearing her arguments. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/rbg-review.html) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2018. The page could not be accessed, so its verdict cannot be verified. The review’s specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/movies/rbg-review-documentary.html) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating C-. 2 May 2018. The critic finds the documentary superficial and unconvincing in its portrayal of Ginsburg. He faults it especially for glossing over her judicial career and reducing its interviewees to generic praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/rbg-makes-an-unconvincing-case-for-the-supreme-court-s-1825683074) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 1.5/4. 30 April 2018. The critic finds the documentary hagiographic and frustratingly superficial in its treatment of Ginsburg’s legal work. He singles out its reduction of landmark victories and legal arguments to slogans and catchy phrases. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rbg/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2018. Hammond finds the documentary an inspiring, rich portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her significance. He especially praises its moving account of Ginsburg’s lifelong romance with her husband Marty. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2018/05/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsberg-documentary-video-1202379999/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 23 January 2018. Festival review. Goldberg calls the documentary a rousing celebration, though its attention to Ginsburg’s celebrity sometimes feels excessive. He praises its account of how her legal work reshaped America and highlights her supportive marriage as a moving personal element. [Read the review](https://collider.com/rbg-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg-documentary/) ## Consequence — Caroline Siede Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2018. The review finds the documentary an effective, moving tribute, though it stays too surface-level in places. It especially praises its portrayal of Ruth and Marty Ginsburg’s unusually supportive marriage. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/05/film-review-rbg-examines-the-complex-inspiring-woman-behind-all-the-memes/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2018. The review finds the portrait powerful and engaging, while noting that its upbeat approach limits dissenting perspectives. It praises the film for revealing Ginsburg’s personality and showing how her persistent legal strategy advanced equality. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rbg-2018-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 3 October 2018. The critic finds the documentary proficient but overly surface-level, ultimately more legend-printing than revealing. They praise its portrait of Ginsburg’s life and accomplishments but fault its shallow treatment of her legal legacy and modern fame. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/rbg-film-review-ruth-bader-ginsburg-2018-documentary/) --- © 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/rbg.md