--- title: "Rushmore: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rushmore/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rushmore" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 13 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." --- # Rushmore (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 13 reviews: 12 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film is an offbeat and off-centre high-school comedy that turns the genre on its head with a unique protagonist and acerbic one-liners. It features a superb cast, including standout turns from Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Olivia Williams, and is likely to attract a cult following. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rushmore-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Richard Kelly Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises Anderson and Wilson as among the best things to happen to American film, highlighting the film's unsettling self-assured protagonist, lovely romance, and inspired offbeat soundtrack. Rushmore is called an immediate American classic with terrific performances, especially from Schwartzman, Williams, and Murray. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/200) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2011. The critic calls Rushmore a sublime comedy and Anderson's first masterpiece, praising its sincere, personal take on ambition, grief, and coming-of-age themes told from the ghost's point of view. He singles out the robust performances, especially the battle between Murray and Schwartzman, for evoking varied inner lives amid the humor and emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/rushmore/) ## The Guardian — Andrew Pulver Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 August 1999. The critic calls Rushmore a genre-defying marvel that switches between outrageous humour and genuine pathos. It is praised as a finely-judged parable on the line between self-delusion and reality, aided by outstanding performances from Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/aug/20/4) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 9 October 1998. Festival review. The critic praises the film's bright, spiky portrait of an ambitious schoolboy tycoon-wannabe and its skewed, hilarious take on cutthroat boyhood rivalries and comeuppance. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/09/movies/film-festival-review-most-likely-to-succeed-or-annoy.html) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 1998. The review celebrates the film's short, smart comedy and its model of economy, highlighting the touching performance of the nerdy prodigy protagonist and the inspired pairing with Bill Murray's character. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/12/07/renaissance-teen) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 1998. Festival review. The critic calls it a wickedly funny and bracingly fresh high school comedy with precise writing, shooting and performances, singling out the lead turn by Jason Schwartzman and the distinctive visual style. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/rushmore-rocket-men-carve-dark-brainy-comedy-1200455203/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 5 February 1999. The critic praises the inventive, offbeat world-building and strong performances, especially Bill Murray's, but finds the story loses momentum when the plot turns contrived and mean-spirited. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rushmore-1999) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 1998. The review praises the film's stylish, quirky comedy and strong characterizations, especially Jason Schwartzman's arrogant Max and Bill Murray's deadpan performance as Blume. It notes some preciousness but highlights the witty screenplay, visual gags, and appealing supporting cast. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rushmore-review-wes-anderson-movie-1235719144/) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2022. The review describes a peculiar, poignant comedy with an outstanding character turn from Murray as Blume. It questions the bemusing nature of Max, part Ferris Bueller and part Jay Gatsby, whose romantic yearning edges toward psychosis. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rushmore-1998) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 1998. The review highlights Wes Anderson's distinctive sensibility and the film's ambitious eccentricity along with excellent supporting turns, particularly from Bill Murray, but criticizes the central character as ultimately too repellent to engage with fully. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-11-ca-52764-story.html) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2018. The critic views Rushmore as one of the preeminent coming-of-age films of the 1990s that has aged well due to its wisdom about young and old men, its blend of dark comedy and melancholy, and its understanding of the protagonist's self-obsession and anger. It highlights the film's influence, stylistic hallmarks like the score and photography, and its portrayal of growing up without easy answers. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/10/classic-film-review-rushmore/) ## Paste — Craig D. Lindsey Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2023. The critic initially found the film merely okay but upon revisiting appreciates it as an authentic portrait of lonely, brokenhearted people. He praises its surreal yet honest take on adolescence compared to later teen films. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/wes-anderson/rushmore-wes-anderson-jason-schwartzman-bill-murray) --- © 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/rushmore.md