--- title: "Slumdog Millionaire: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/slumdog-millionaire/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/slumdog-millionaire" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 10 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." --- # Slumdog Millionaire (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 10 reviews: 9 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics greet Slumdog Millionaire warmly, with praise clustering around Danny Boyle’s energetic direction and the vivid depiction of Mumbai. Anthony Dod Mantle’s cinematography receives particular attention, while the editing and music also earn credit for keeping the story moving. The prevailing view is that the film makes its familiar rags-to-riches story involving through warmth, suspense and a wholehearted belief in romance, even when its contrivances are easy to spot. The reservations concern predictability, depth and the treatment of hardship, with responses ranging from enthusiastic approval to marked discomfort. The New Yorker finds the story formulaic but enjoys its verve, while The Hollywood Reporter considers it entertaining yet thin in conception and execution. The Independent offers the sharpest dissent: it admires the energy and the city portrait but finds the combination of graphic poverty, violence and wish-fulfilment entertainment queasy rather than uplifting. ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2009. The critic hails it as Danny Boyle's finest since Trainspotting, celebrating its thrillingly upbeat picaresque energy, colourful Mumbai portrait and infectious vitality despite some familiar contrivances. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/slumdog-millionaire-review/) ## Evening Standard — Nick Roddick Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The review calls the film a triumph that recaptures the energy of Trainspotting, praising its Dickensian epic scope, vibrant visuals and ultimately uplifting story set against Mumbai's harsh realities. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/survival-on-a-5050-lifeline-7409530.html) ## Radio Times — Adam Smith Rating 4/5. The hyper-energetic rags-to-riches tale dazzles and delights, succeeding for the most part; the real star is the city of Mumbai brought to life by Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-djhdu4/slumdog-millionaire/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2008. Festival review. Boyle’s bravura command elevates the melodramatic story into a dazzling crowd-pleaser teeming with the sights, sounds and sensations of modern India; it builds into a moving tale of hope and the inspirational power of love. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/features/slumdog-millionaire-/4040676.article) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 6 January 2009. The critic praises Boyle's energetic, colorful direction that turns a tale of hardship into an upbeat, warm fairytale full of humanity, highlighting the vivid depiction of India by Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/slumdog-millionaire) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2008. Lane finds the film a formulaic but energetic crowd-pleaser whose unembarrassed energy brings the obvious to the boil, with no surprises but plenty of verve. He singles out the way the filmmakers get their lenses dirty on Mumbai's streets and the closing Bollywood dance number for note. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/11/24/hard-times-the-current-cinema-anthony-lane) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2009. The critic praises the film's energetic direction, exuberance and vivid depiction of Mumbai but finds the mix of graphic poverty, violence and wish-fulfilment entertainment tonally jarring and queasy. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/slumdog-millionaire-danny-boyle-120-mins-15-1299025.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 11 November 2008. Ebert calls the film a breathless, exciting story that is heartbreaking and exhilarating, a personal triumph for Danny Boyle that combines game-show suspense with the energy of City of God. He singles out its dazzling cinematography, breathless editing, driving music and headlong momentum for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/slumdog-millionaire-2008) ## Slant Magazine 22 October 2008. The review calls the film an authentically affecting crowd-pleaser and a cynicism-free celebration of fate, love, and social camaraderie that is genuine and sweet. It praises the gripping aesthetic and emotional dynamism conveyed through bold colors, extreme angles, and Indian music. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/slumdog-millionaire/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Peter Brunette 9 September 2008. Festival review. The critic finds the film solidly entertaining and energizing but feels it does not warrant all the buzz, describing it as thin in conception and execution. The Indian angle and infusion of Bollywood spectacle into Boyle's pumped-up style are singled out as the best elements. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/slumdog-millionare-125961/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 12 November 2008. Dargis describes the film as a gaudy, gorgeous rush of color, sound and motion and an undeniably attractive package that mixes thrills, tears and armchair tourism. She singles out the seductive visual style and the cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle for praise while noting it makes for a better viewing experience than a reflective one. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/movies/12slum.html) ## The Telegraph Danny Boyle's film is the equivalent of Usain Bolt's performance at the Olympics: funny, shocking and turbo-charged. It is a wonderful tribute to Mumbai and its people. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/4176184/Slumdog-Millionaire-review.html) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 6 January 2009. The critic calls it a tense and engaging masterpiece that works on many levels as an epic love story, cat-and-mouse thriller, social meditation and quiz show. They single out the intricately structured screenplay adapted from the novel and Danny Boyle's energetic, multi-faceted direction for praise, noting its balance of tension, grit, humour and strong performances from the cast. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a140466/slumdog-millionaire/) ## /Film — David Chen Rating 9.5/10. 16 November 2008. The critic hails it as his favorite film of the year, a exhilarating journey through Indian street life with stunning cinematography and music, ultimately a uplifting love story that makes cliches fresh. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/501396/movie-review-slumdog-millionaire/) ## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2008. The critic calls it an unabashed crowdpleaser that blends melodramatic romance with harsh realities of Indian underclass life, praising its vibrant energy while noting its grounding in social truths. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/slumdog-millionaire-film-review-by-anton-bitel) ## Collider — Steven Weintraub 31 August 2008. Festival review. The film is not terribly deep but is exceedingly good at what it does, transcending its story concept into gripping magical realism. It singles out the virtuoso performances from child actors and the deliriously romantic final third for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/slumdog-millionaire-telluride-movie-review/) ## Paste — Tim Regan-Porter 12 November 2008. It mostly lives up to the hype as a stylistic triumph and important evolution in depictions of India, propelled by a taut script and frenetic energy. It singles out the wondrous vibrance of Mumbai captured on location and the film's layered exploration of its characters for praise. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/danny-boyle/slumdog-millionare) --- © 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/slumdog-millionaire.md