---
title: "Searching for Sugar Man: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/searching-for-sugar-man/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/searching-for-sugar-man"
critics_score: 75
critics_reviews: 20
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."
---

# Searching for Sugar Man (2012): what the critics said

Critics' score 75 from 20 reviews: 15 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics like this a great deal, and none of the twenty dislikes it. The praise settles on the story: an obscure Detroit singer whose records became anthems in apartheid-era South Africa, and the fans who set out to find him. Reviewers return to the songs, which they find have aged well, to Rodriguez’s modesty, and to the way Bendjelloul orders the telling, opening with the fans and holding the surprises back.

The reservations are about what is left out. Several reviews notice gaps around Rodriguez’s earlier travels and family life, and The Guardian argues that the film inflates the mystery of his obscurity to sharpen the emotion. The Hollywood Reporter finds the pace sags after the first hour; Slant thinks the money questions crowd out the man; Radio Times and Den of Geek find him a vague presence at the centre of his own film. The spread is narrow: nobody is hostile, and the doubters mostly wish it had told them more.

## IndieWire — Todd Gilchrist

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2012. Festival review. 

The review calls the film an entertaining, touching, and revealing look at the forgotten singer, highlighting its strong hook and emotional payoff in tracing the South African fans' quest.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/tribeca-review-searching-for-sugar-man-an-entertaining-touching-revealing-look-at-forgotten-pop-singer-rodriguez-252387/)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2012. 

The film is a miraculous and inspiring documentary about the search for a gifted but obscure Detroit singer-songwriter whose music became an anti-apartheid anthem in South Africa. It enlists viewers in the quest and portrays Rodriguez as a deeply good man whose story exists because we need it to.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/searching-for-sugar-man-2012)

## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis

Rating Critic's Pick. 26 July 2012. 

This hugely appealing documentary explores several entrancing mysteries around an enigmatic musician who faded from view in the US but became a star and political inspiration in South Africa. Bendjelloul transforms a good story into an electric one by smartly starting with the South African fans and preserving key surprises.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/movies/malik-bendjellouls-searching-for-sugar-man.html)

## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2012. 

The critic calls it one of the most uplifting documentaries in recent memory, praising its enchanting account of Rodriguez's improbable stardom in South Africa and the miraculous journey of his rediscovery through fan interviews and footage.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9429990/Searching-for-Sugar-Man-review.html)

## Time Out — Trevor Johnston

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 2012. 

The surprising and emotive music documentary tells the unlikely story of Rodriguez and enshrines the idea that an authentic spirit will find listeners. It is fascinating, unexpected and cherishable, with striking material from his early albums.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/searching-for-sugar-man)

## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2012. 

The excellent documentary is a sweet mystery and truth-is-stranger-than-fiction saga about an unknown Detroit singer whose music became a hit among anti-apartheid youths in South Africa. Bendjelloul preserves a sense of mystery in the telling while giving an indelible portrait of an artist given a second chance at fame.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-jul-26-la-et-mn-searching-for-sugar-man-20120727-story.html)

## The Independent

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2012. 

The uplifting and surprising documentary is so far-fetched it almost seems made up, but it is a rousing story that takes the astonishing tale at face value. It singles out the charismatic and politically engaged Rodriguez himself, along with his music that stands up remarkably well, for praise while noting some omitted details about his earlier travels.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/searching-for-sugar-man-12a-7979636.html)

## Evening Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2013. 

This extraordinary documentary about the forgotten musician is confusing, engaging and totally unbelievable, with deeply affecting concert sequences and a well-told story of his rediscovery. It singles out Rodriguez as a gentle, talented and admirably centred man for praise, while complaining that the film prevaricates on some details of his prior travels and family life.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/searching-for-sugar-man-review-7979366.html)

## Screen Daily

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Festival review. 

The film mixes detective work with the tale of Rodriguez's improbable resurrection through the efforts of South African fans. It builds a compelling portrait of a forgotten talent whose music thrived under apartheid, lifted by its songs and unexpected elements.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/searching-for-sugar-man/5036760.article)

## Radio Times — Jamie Healy

Rating 3/5. 

The documentary reveals Rodriguez's incredible story as an intriguing mix of detective drama and fairy tale, with his songs striking a chord in apartheid-era South Africa. It is a shame the enigmatic man at its centre is such a vague, fleeting presence.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-annsuu/searching-for-sugar-man/)

## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 April 2012. 

The critic praises the phenomenal hook, evocative location work, and electrifying interviews but finds the film uneven in looping themes of money and myth, faulting an overemphasis on financial questions that undercuts Rodriguez's humble priorities.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/searching-for-sugar-man/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2012. 

The critic finds the documentary funny, sad and flawed, noting its insight into the secret history of white liberal South Africa under apartheid but criticizing the director for omissions and exaggerating the mystery around Rodriguez's obscurity to heighten the emotional story.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/26/searching-for-sugar-man-review)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Justin Lowe

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Festival review. 

The critic finds undeniable charm in the musicological mystery and Rodriguez's story but notes flagging narrative momentum after the first hour of interviews and cutaways, with revelations arriving too late to fully overcome pacing issues.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/searching-sugar-man-sundance-film-283530/)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Festival review. 

The critic describes the film as one of the most inspiring true stories seen, about an obscure Detroit singer whose music inspired a generation in South Africa. It praises the director's suspenseful storytelling and the artist's rediscovery.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/undiscovered-detroit-folk-artist-sugar-man-34626/)

## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Festival review. 

The review describes the film as a hugely entertaining, emotionally touching and musically revelatory crowd-pleaser and a time capsule tribute to Rodriguez. It highlights the central mystery and the grace and modesty of the story as standout elements.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/sundance-review-searching-for-sugar-man-an-entertaining-touching-revealing-look-at-forgotten-pop-singer-rodriguez-20120120/)

## Eye for Film — David Graham

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 August 2012. 

The critic calls it one of the most intriguing music documentaries of recent times and a seductive introduction to Rodriguez. They single out the feverish South African fanbase and the timeless music for particular praise while noting some minor narrative manipulation.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/searching-for-sugar-man-2011-film-review-by-david-graham)

## NME — Rebecca Schiller

Rating 4/5. 30 July 2012. 

The film tells the remarkable, mystical story of Rodriguez's unknown fame in South Africa and the fans' quest, driven more by the fans than the enigmatic musician himself. The critic notes some selective facts but appreciates how it serves the incredible tale.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-various-artists-13494-305288)

## /Film — Germain Lussier

Rating 7.5/10. 20 January 2012. Festival review. 

The critic finds the real-life story enthralling and inspirational, comparing its discovery elements to a musical Harry Potter tale. They praise the beautiful music on the soundtrack and the way the filmmakers build audience engagement.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/519428/searching-sugar-man-documentary-feels-musical-harry-potter-story-sundance-2012/)

## Paste — Annlee Ellingson

Rating 6.2. 26 July 2012. 

The critic finds the true story of Rodriguez's rediscovery by South African fans more compelling than fiction and praises Bendjelloul for skillfully revealing the layers of mystery around the singer's life and music. However, the review notes that some personal details and financial questions are left unresolved, leaving the viewer heartened but not fully convinced the subject has been completely found.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/searching-for-sugar-man)

## Den of Geek — Michael Leader

Rating 3/5. 26 July 2012. 

The review finds the documentary a crowd-pleasing tale of South African fans tracking down their obscure hero Rodriguez, whose music found unlikely fame there. It commends the infectious enthusiasm but suggests it is almost too satisfying and charming, lacking tension due to the subject's modesty and the delayed filming.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/searching-for-sugar-man-review-2/)

---
© 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/searching-for-sugar-man.md