---
title: "Ready Player One: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ready-player-one/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/ready-player-one"
critics_score: 63
critics_reviews: 34
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."
---

# Ready Player One (2018): what the critics said

Critics' score 63 from 34 reviews: 15 positive, 13 mixed, 6 negative.

Most critics come down on the film’s side, though not by much. The praise clusters on Spielberg’s staging of the virtual-world set pieces: the New York race in the first act and an extended sequence built inside The Shining are named again and again as the high points. The effects, the pace and the sheer density of pop-culture references are widely admired, and several reviewers find the old Spielberg sweetness still working underneath the noise.

The reservations gather around the real world. Many find the scenes outside the Oasis flat and the romance thin, and several say the film peaks early and runs long. The larger argument is over whether the nostalgia means anything: some read the film as a knowing critique of fan culture, others as an exhausting celebration of it. The spread is wide, from outright raves at Digital Spy and Deadline to flat dismissals at IndieWire and The Wrap, with Sight and Sound and The New Yorker also among the coolest.

## Empire — Jonathan Pile

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 19 March 2018. 

Pile gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it an uncynical cinematic ride. He especially praises Spielberg’s ability to balance the pop-culture references with engaging characters and story.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ready-player-one-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 March 2018. Festival review. 

The critic finds the adaptation a rollicking, successful adventure that preserves the novel’s spirit and thrills. They praise its balance of live action and CGI, especially the inventive virtual-world set pieces.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ready-player-one-review-1093639/)

## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman

Rating 4/5. 29 March 2018. 

Norman finds the film an exhaustingly entertaining spectacle, despite its hollowness and thin emotional dimension. He praises its exhilarating visuals, constant gags and especially the recreated Shining sequence.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/ready-player-one-review-back-to-the-future-for-the-pop-culture-mash-up-of-the-century-a3802116.html)

## The i Paper — Matthew Turner

Rating ★★★★. 20 March 2018. 

Turner finds the film a spectacular, enjoyable rush that celebrates pop-culture nostalgia while imagining the future of VR gaming. He particularly praises the imaginative Shining sequence, while noting that the real-world scenes lack emotional impact.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/ready-player-one-review-136697)

## Total Film — Jamie Graham

Rating 4/5. 19 March 2018. 

The critic finds the film an exuberant, spectacular return to popcorn filmmaking, though it runs too long. They especially praise one extended scene as exceptionally entertaining.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/ready-player-one-review/)

## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd

Rating B. 27 March 2018. 

Dowd finds the film a flawed but highly enjoyable spectacle, praising Spielberg’s technical command and personal touch. He criticizes its relentless references and failure to interrogate the fan culture it celebrates.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/steven-spielberg-finds-fun-and-maybe-even-a-soul-in-the-1824094654)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2018. 

Turan finds the film an excellent adventure, where old-fashioned Spielberg sweetness ultimately overcomes its complicated plot and busy visuals. He singles out Wade and Art3mis’s romance as the emotional glue that keeps the film engaging.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-ready-player-one-review-20180328-story.html)

## Radio Times — Victoria Luxford

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2018. 

The review suggests the film is enjoyable but falls short of classic status. It praises the sense of wonder and video-game thrills, while faulting the story for being too slight.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/ready-player-one-review-evokes-a-sense-of-wonder-but-its-no-classic/)

## The New York Times — A. O. Scott

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2018. 

The review finds the film an entertaining, nostalgia-driven spectacle, though its affection for pop-culture references can overwhelm it. It praises Spielberg’s visual energy and skill at staging the adventure.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/movies/ready-player-one-review-steven-spielberg.html)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2018. 

Edelstein finds the film lively and agreeable, but ultimately not great. He praises its clean storytelling and crisp, economical action while faulting its filtered, secondhand feel.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/ready-player-one-review.html)

## RogerEbert.com

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. 

The URL identifies a festival review of the specified film, but the page content is blocked. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/sxsw-film-festival-2018-ready-player-one)

## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 19 March 2018. 

The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst frames the film as a YA gamer dystopia looking back to the future.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ready-player-one-review/5127510.article)

## Slant Magazine — Eric Henderson

Rating 2.5/4. 28 March 2018. 

Henderson finds the film both a fitting expression of Spielberg’s escapist style and a troublingly self-conscious work about fan culture. He praises its bold critique of corporate control and the way its spectacle turns the Oasis into a seductive horror show.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ready-player-one/)

## Little White Lies — David Jenkins

Rating 4/3/2. 20 March 2018. 

Jenkins finds the film underwhelming, arguing that spectacle cannot overcome its weak, corny treasure-hunt plot. He praises one sequence for briefly capturing Spielberg’s trademark sense of awe.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/ready-player-one)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Rating 3/5. 28 March 2018. 

Bradshaw finds the film spectacular but increasingly muddled, with its first act providing most of its energy. He praises the sensational New York race sequence and the film’s extraordinary visuals, while questioning its weightless VR world and fixation on 70s and 80s culture.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/28/ready-player-one-review-steven-spielberg-tye-sheridan-mark-rylance)

## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen

Rating 3/5. 22 March 2018. 

The critic finds the film mixed overall. The pop-culture-heavy source material is described as having a derivative plot.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ready-player-one)

## Film Comment — Jonathan Romney

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 

Romney finds the film’s referential energy appealing but its overall message unconvincing. He singles out its packed pop-culture references for praise, while faulting the final message.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/film-week-ready-player-one/)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 12 March 2018. Festival review. 

Gleiberman finds the film visually entrancing but emotionally thin, leaving viewers more occupied than invested. He praises the spellbinding pop-culture spectacle while faulting the banal reality and arbitrary-feeling plot mechanics.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/ready-player-one-review-steven-spielberg-1202723649/)

## Sight and Sound — Pamela Hutchinson

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2018. 

Hutchinson finds the film’s nostalgia-driven spectacle ultimately shallow and exhausting, despite its awareness of geek culture’s darker implications. She praises the eye-catching New York race sequence, while noting that the rest of the imagery is often more unsettling than exciting.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ready-player-one-review-spielbergs-vr-throwback)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 March 2018. 

Lane finds the film overloaded with pop-culture references and emotionally thin, ultimately judging its tears unearned. He singles out its feverish pace and sensory detail as contributing to that lack of emotional force.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/09/ready-player-one-and-lean-on-pete)

## IndieWire — David Ehrlich

Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2018. 

Ehrlich finds the film dull and inert, while reading it as a troubling critique of blockbuster culture. He praises its lucid account of how franchise references and fan service can crowd out originality.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/ready-player-one-steven-spielberg-death-of-movies-1201948519/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2018. 

Hammond finds the film an exhilarating, dazzling pop-culture adventure and says it knocks the material out of the park. He praises the production values and singles out the sequence set inside The Shining as especially brilliant.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2018/03/ready-player-one-review-steven-spielberg-tye-sheridan-virtual-reality-1202354503/)

## Digital Spy — Rosie Fletcher

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2018. 

The critic calls it Spielberg’s best film in ages and a heart-swelling, engaging adventure. The cast, especially Mark Rylance, is singled out for bringing warmth and emotion to the story.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a852466/ready-player-one-review-spielberg/)

## Den of Geek — David Crow

Rating 4/5. 30 March 2018. 

Crow calls it a supremely entertaining crowd-pleaser, praising Spielberg’s classic touch and the film’s imaginative spectacle. He notes that the exposition-heavy opening struggles to deliver its world-building, but says the cast’s sincerity gives the climax emotional weight.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/ready-player-one-review/)

## The Skinny — Jamie Dunn

Rating ★★★★. 29 March 2018. 

Dunn calls the film a blast, praising Spielberg’s eye-popping action and goofy humour. He faults its relentless pace for leaving too little downtime with the characters.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/ready-player-one)

## Paste — Will Leitch

Rating B. 29 March 2018. 

Leitch finds the film silly and overlong but ultimately a fun, distinctive Spielberg ride. He especially praises Spielberg’s kinetic direction and the playful, emotionally resonant pop-culture references.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ready-player-one/ready-player-one)

## Collider — Collider Video

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2018. 

The hosts give the film an overwhelmingly positive response. They praise Spielberg’s immersive visual world and the cast bringing it to life.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/ready-player-one-review-video/)

## Polygon — Ross Miller

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 April 2018. 

Miller finds the film a colorful, frenetic spectacle that succeeds as entertainment, though its real-world storyline feels less convincing. He particularly praises the imaginative, detailed virtual world and how its pop-culture references create atmosphere rather than burden the story.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/22/17152394/ready-player-one-review-movie-steven-spielberg/)

## /Film — Joi Childs

Rating 7/10. 12 March 2018. Festival review. 

Childs finds the film a fun, escapist adventure despite its uneven script and overlong third act. She praises its vivid visuals and energetic direction, while criticizing the shallow use of nostalgia.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/556834/ready-player-one-review/)

## Eye for Film — Jane Fae

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2018. 

Fae likes the film but feels it never rises above the standard quest formula, and finds its ending confused. She praises its diverse cast of heroes and the CGI, while noting that the biggest visual spectacle arrives early.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ready-player-one-2018-film-review-by-jane-fae)

## Consequence — Dan Caffrey

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 26 March 2018. Festival review. 

Caffrey finds the film thrilling as spectacle but underdeveloped as a drama, leaving its message about balancing virtual and actual reality unearned. He praises the imaginative world-building and exuberant set pieces, especially the pop-culture mashups.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/03/film-review-ready-player-one-cares-more-about-virtual-reality-than-actual-reality/)

## NME

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the film briefly entertaining but ultimately hollow and unlikely to reward repeat viewings. The elaborate pop-culture action set-pieces are singled out as a source of nerdy fun.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/ready-player-one-film-review-2270000)

## The Ringer — K. Austin Collins

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2018. 

The critic finds the film overbearing and ultimately only fine, despite its flashes of excitement. Spielberg’s lively action set pieces stand out, but the relentless nostalgia overwhelms the movie’s more thoughtful ideas.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/03/29/movies/ready-player-one-film-review-steven-spielberg-tye-sheridan)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2018. 

The critic finds the film an overstuffed, ultimately tedious experiment rather than a successful story. They fault its muddy, hyperactive presentation of pop-culture references, though they praise occasional moments of craft and the leads’ chemistry.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/ready-player-one-film-review-steven-spielberg/)

---
© 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/ready-player-one.md