--- title: "Rustin: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rustin/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rustin" critics_score: 64 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." --- # Rustin (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 17 reviews: 6 positive, 9 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews are mixed, with admiration for Colman Domingo considerably stronger than enthusiasm for the film around him. Critics repeatedly praise his charisma, energy and warmth as Bayard Rustin, finding a layered performance even where they find the biographical drama conventional. The other recurring strength is the attention to organising the March on Washington: several reviews welcome the practical work of building coalitions and the sense of collective effort. Reservations centre on familiar biopic habits, dutiful exposition and a shortage of dramatic tension. Some critics also find Rustin’s inner life less fully explored than his public achievements. The spread is wide: Deadline finds the film exhilarating and praises its lively handling of civil-rights debates, while Vulture finds it dull and visually static despite Domingo’s forceful performance. The central divide is over whether the energetic organising scenes and lead performance compensate for the cautious storytelling. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Sheri Linden Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2023. Festival review. Linden calls the film an overdue, admiring, and nuanced tribute to Bayard Rustin. She particularly praises Colman Domingo’s vibrant performance and the film’s portrayal of the organizers’ collective effort. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rustin-review-colman-domingo-george-c-wolfe-rousing-poignant-biopic-1235578607/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Rating Critics Pick. 3 September 2023. Festival review. Debruge finds the film compelling and sees Domingo’s performance as career-defining. He especially praises the script’s nuanced portrayal of Rustin, while noting that the march’s scale is underwhelming on screen. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/rustin-review-colman-domingo-1235711849/) ## Los Angeles Times — Glenn Whipp Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2023. Whipp finds the film an optimistic, worthwhile portrait, though its biopic conventions and restraint sometimes limit its impact. He praises Colman Domingo’s charismatic performance and the film’s nimble account of organizing the March on Washington. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-11-02/rustin-review-colman-domingo-netflix-obamas-martin-luther-king) ## The AV Club — Leigh Monson Rating B-. 2 November 2023. The review finds that the film honors Rustin’s accomplishments but offers a weaker portrait of his inner life, particularly as a gay man. It praises Colman Domingo’s commanding performance and the energetic depiction of organizing the March on Washington. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/a-review-of-netflixs-civil-rights-biopic-rustin-1850978909) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2023. Festival review. The available page identifies this as a Toronto review but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst singles out Rustin’s role behind the March on Washington and his sidelining because he was gay. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/rustin-toronto-review/5185806.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The URL identifies this as a review of Rustin, but the page content is inaccessible. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/16/movies/rustin-review-civil-rights-biopic.html) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or criticism can be verified from the page content. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rustin-movie-review-2023) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C+. 3 September 2023. Festival review. Ehrlich finds the biopic staid, but says it becomes thrilling when it embraces its theatricality. He praises its use of stagecraft to convey Rustin’s skill at building coalitions and mobilizing people. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/rustin-review-colman-domingo-netflix-1234902192/) ## Slant Magazine — Kyle Turner Rating 2.5/4. 21 October 2023. Turner finds the film entertaining but too eager to turn grassroots organizing into uplifting spectacle. He praises Colman Domingo’s energetic, charismatic performance and the film’s attention to the everyday work of organizing. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rustin-review-colman-domingo-george-c-wolfe/) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2023. The review finds the film an energetic but familiar biopic that lacks tension as it approaches its known conclusion. It especially praises Colman Domingo’s warm, layered performance and the humanity he brings to Rustin. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rustin/) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Rating 3/5. 19 November 2023. The critic finds the biopic dutiful and somewhat conventional, despite its charismatic subject. Colman Domingo’s dynamic central performance is singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/19/rustin-review-colman-domingo-dutiful-civil-rights-biopic-bayard-rustin-george-c-wolfe-netflix) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2023. Ebiri finds the film a dutiful, often dull biopic that works better as a history lesson than as a movie. He praises Colman Domingo’s theatrical, forceful performance while faulting the expository writing and visually static direction. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-netflixs-rustin-starring-colman-domingo.html) ## Deadline — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2023. Festival review. McCarthy finds the biographical drama exhilarating, fast-moving, and illuminating. He particularly praises Colman Domingo’s commanding performance and the script’s lively handling of civil-rights movement debates. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/09/rustin-review-colman-domingo-netflix-1235534291/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2023. Festival review. The headline signals a positive verdict, saying Colman Domingo gives the civil-rights icon his due. The accessible page does not provide further details about what the critic praises. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/rustin-telluride-review-colman-domingo-gives-civil-rights-icon-his-due-20230902/) ## /Film — Barry Levitt Rating 6.5/10. 18 September 2023. Festival review. The review finds Rustin formulaic and too safe, but ultimately a satisfying and valuable portrait. It singles out Colman Domingo’s energetic, charismatic performance as the film’s standout strength. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1396780/rustin-review-tiff-2023/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 5/10. 11 September 2023. The critic finds Rustin a formulaic, uninspiring biopic that fails to do justice to its subject. Colman Domingo’s committed performance is the chief strength, though the critic wishes it were in a better film. [Read the review](https://collider.com/rustin-movie-review/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 February 2024. Kermode finds the film important but poorly made and tedious. She singles out Colman Domingo’s charismatic, nuanced performance as its saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rustin-2023-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © 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/rustin.md