--- title: "Rear Window: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rear-window/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rear-window" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 6 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." --- # Rear Window (1954): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 6 reviews: 5 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Rear Window an absorbing suspense film, with praise centred on Hitchcock’s control of viewpoint and the way watching the neighbours draws the audience into the guilt of spying. The confined courtyard, uncluttered storytelling and carefully used natural sounds are recurring strengths. The reviews also value the humour and romance, particularly the interplay between Stewart and Kelly and Ritter’s dry delivery, as relief from the mounting tension. The disagreement concerns whether that restricted setup creates enough drama. The New York Times finds it entertaining but regards it chiefly as a clever visual exercise, lacking the sense of personal danger in earlier Hitchcock. The Guardian dissents more sharply, finding the single-set approach static, the leads stilted and the experience often dull, despite admiring the premise and spare sound. The spread is wide, then, though the reservations are concentrated in a small minority of the reviews. ## Radio Times — Adrian Turner Rating 5/5. The critic calls it a masterpiece that began as a technical stunt but became a classic study of voyeurism. Tension builds brilliantly, complemented by sexy repartee between Stewart and Kelly and dry humour from Thelma Ritter. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-hmejxn/rear-window/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 1983. Ebert calls it a perfectly constructed film that draws viewers into its voyeuristic premise alongside James Stewart's character. He singles out the simple, uncluttered structure and the way the audience shares the guilt of spying. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rear-window-1954) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2000. The review hails the restored print as one of Hitchcock's most enthralling films and a masterly meditation on voyeurism and spectatorship. It singles out the subjective point-of-view shooting and the ambiguous final shot for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/rear-window-review/) ## Variety — William Brogdon Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 1954. Brogdon calls it one of Hitchcock's better thrillers and a tight suspense show with strong commercial prospects. He highlights the director's technical and artistic skills, the confined courtyard setting, and the effective use of natural sounds and performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1954/film/reviews/rear-window-1200417736/) ## The New York Times — Bosley Crowther Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 1954. Crowther finds the film absorbing and entertaining in a morbid way but considers it a clever pictorial exercise rather than top-tier Hitchcock. He praises the observational setup but notes it lacks the subjective danger of earlier works like Notorious. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1954/08/15/archives/a-point-of-view-hitchcocks-rear-window-provokes-contrast-of-this.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2000. The critic finds Rear Window the most overrated Hitchcock classic, often dull, static and undramatic due to its single-set limitations. The urban voyeurism premise is intriguing and the ascetic sound design pleasing, but the film is ultimately frustrating and literal-minded, with stilted leads. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/feb/04/culture.peterbradshaw1) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jack Moffitt 13 July 1954. The critic calls it one of the directional masterpieces of recent years and recommends exhibitors buy and play it for strong box office and audience pleasure. He singles out the impressive set design, the warm love story with Grace Kelly, and the continuous laughs alongside suspense. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rear-window-1954-review-1235190090/) --- © 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/rear-window.md