--- title: "Serenity: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/serenity/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/serenity" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 16 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." --- # Serenity (2005): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 16 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics welcome Serenity as a witty, energetic science-fiction adventure, with praise concentrated on Joss Whedon’s dialogue, the cast’s chemistry and the balance of action with character. The reviews generally find that it gives newcomers enough footing while rewarding those familiar with Firefly. Several also value its political satire and moral conflicts, finding more substance than the breezy humour initially suggests. Strong writing and performances account for much of the enthusiasm. The spread is wide, though positive reviews comfortably outnumber reservations. The AV Club enjoys the film but misses the television series’ looser tone and Western elements. Slant Magazine challenges the prevailing praise for the writing, finding thin characters and underdeveloped storytelling, while still appreciating the political weight. Screen Daily offers the sharpest dissent, judging it too much like an extended television episode and short on originality, although its human emphasis and jocular tone earn some credit. ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2005. The critic praises Whedon for delivering a fun, witty sci-fi adventure that blossoms into confident action with strong performances, calling it the most fun sci-fi of the year for newcomers and a magnificent return for fans. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/serenity-review/) ## Time Out — NF Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 July 2014. Praises the film as a supremely entertaining hybrid that plays like Rio Bravo in space, with textured narrative, precisely delineated characters and complex moral conflicts. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/serenity-1) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2005. The critic highlights Whedon’s success in crafting smart, entertaining sci-fi with well-drawn characters, strong performances, and a mix of action, depth, and genre appeal that works for fans and newcomers alike. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/serenity-review/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2005. Finds the unassuming sci-fi adventure more engaging, better written, and better acted than recent Star Wars films, with fun characters and a good time to be had. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/30/movies/scruffy-space-cowboys-fighting-their-failings.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Crust Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2005. Calls it a highly entertaining genre-blending piece with strong acting, writing, and riveting action that delights both fans and newcomers despite some initial unfamiliar syntax. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-sep-30-et-serenity30-story.html) ## Radio Times — Brian Pendreigh Rating 4/5. Notes the film's cult following from the cancelled Firefly series and highlights its thrills and excitement reminiscent of early Star Wars movies along with incisive points about oppressive governments. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-w4u6j8/serenity/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2005. Praises the film as an energetic old-fashioned space opera with imagination, sly wit, and political satire, made with brawny energy for fans of the genre. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/serenity-2005) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 2005. The critic calls Serenity an enormously satisfying entertainment that delivers a rousing resolution to the Firefly story with sharp dialogue and irreverence. They single out the limitations of the feature format compared to the TV series for complaint, noting it sacrifices the show’s loose tone and Western elements. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/you-cant-take-the-sky-from-me-1798208718) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2005. The film is a sci-fi action picture with more energy than Revenge of the Sith, the debut feature from Joss Whedon spun from Firefly. It rocks for the first half-hour before tailing off, though it remains enjoyable, and Whedon is a force to be reckoned with. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/oct/07/4) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2005. The critic notes that Whedon followed Firefly with this film continuation featuring spiffy effects and smart one-liners. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/rag-tale-15-serenity-15-night-watch-15-saraband-15-317656.html) ## The Times — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 October 2005. The film is a surprisingly successful spin-off from Firefly that gives enough background without overwhelming detail. A meagre budget works in its favour by focusing on characters and writing rather than wall-to-wall CGI, and it revels in the ridiculousness of the genre. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/serenity-r2v2hp9qxts) ## Variety — Derek Elley Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 22 August 2005. Festival review. Notes the quirky blend of Western and sci-fi elements bounces to sometimes memorable effect but rarely soars; praises cast chemistry and humor while questioning broad appeal. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/serenity-1200523759/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2005. The critic finds the film’s storytelling and aesthetics lazy and underdeveloped, with thin characters and UPN-style execution. They single out the socio-political gravitas and the revelation about the Reavers and River’s burden for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/serenity/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2005. Festival review. Describes it as feeling like a feature-length TV episode that lacks budget, originality and star power to compete internationally, but notes the refreshing low-tech approach, emphasis on the human element and jocular tone. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/serenity/4024110.article) ## Eye for Film — Scott Macdonald Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2005. The critic calls Serenity a riveting entertainment and one of the year's best films, superbly written with genuine fan-boy passion and infectious good humour. They single out its complete, homespun feel akin to the original Star Wars, delivered with exhilarating action and style. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/serenity-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2005. Whedon successfully adapts his cancelled TV series into an accessible, fast-paced sci-fi film that stands up well against recent blockbusters. The witty dialogue, strong cast performances, and engaging plot are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a25092/serenity/) --- © 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/serenity.md