--- title: "Soul: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/soul/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/soul" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 30 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." --- # Soul (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 30 reviews: 23 positive, 6 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Soul’s ambition, humour and attention to everyday pleasures, with praise clustering around its animation and music. The detailed New York scenes, abstract soul world and expressive lighting draw repeated approval. The reviews also admire how jazz works with colour and movement to convey musical absorption. Many find the questions about purpose moving, though enthusiasm for the craft is more consistent than emotional involvement. Reservations centre on crowded plotting, familiar comedy and metaphysical rules that some find muddled. The spread is wide: enthusiastic endorsements sit alongside qualified approval and one sharply negative assessment. Race is a particular point of disagreement. IndieWire praises Joe’s Black identity as central to his humanity, while The New Yorker argues that the handling of race and Black culture undermines the message, despite finding authenticity in the barbershop and workplace scenes. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 5/5. 16 October 2020. Festival review. O’Sullivan finds the film unusually bold and nourishing, placing it in a league above Pixar’s other 2020 release. She especially praises its daring integration of jazz and the experience of musical immersion. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/soul-review-pixars-breath-takingly-bold-film-is-like-nothing-weve-seen-before-a4568486.html) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Rating 5/5. 12 October 2020. Harley praises the film as deeply witty and emotionally affecting, calling it peak Pixar. He singles out its layered world-building, jazz score, and delicate emotional finale. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/soul-pixar-review/) ## IndieWire — Kaleem Aftab Rating A-. 11 October 2020. Aftab calls the film one of Pixar’s very best, despite finding its ending more predictable than its early inventiveness suggests. He praises how its surreal humor and socially conscious story treat Joe’s Black identity as central to his humanity. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/soul-review-pixar-disney-plus-1234592101/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2020. Festival review. Felperin calls the film peak Pixar and places it among the studio’s finest, while noting some possible shortcomings in its theology and treatment of jazz as a stand-in for Black experience. She especially praises the animation’s integration of music with color and shape, along with the jazz soundtrack and lighting. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/soul-film-review-london-2020-4075051/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2020. The critic finds the film a sparkling, emotionally moving success despite its familiar body-swap device. They single out the story’s exploration of 22’s struggle to feel passion as especially profound. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/soul-pixar-disney-pete-docter-kemp-powers-jamie-foxx-jazz-musician-fantasy) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Rating Critics Pick. 2 December 2020. Debruge praises the film as a dazzling, big-hearted meditation on life and purpose. He especially singles out its jazz music, which beautifully blends with Pixar’s animation and metaphysical world. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/soul-review-pixar-disney-1234843312/) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 3/4/4. 24 December 2020. Strong calls the film Pixar’s best original work in years and a welcome return to form. She praises its animation, score and Jamie Foxx’s voice work, while criticizing how often its Black lead becomes a blue blob or a cat. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/soul) ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2020. The review calls the film one of Pixar’s best in years. It singles out the studio’s original ideas as the reason for its success. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/soul-review-pixar-disney-plus-comment/) ## Screen Daily — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2020. Ide’s standfirst gives the film a positive verdict, saying it does not disappoint. She singles out Pixar’s stunning animation for praise. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/soul-london-review/5153932.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2020. Festival review. Bradshaw finds the film bewildering but charming, sweet and deeply moving. He singles out its final visual montage, which turns an image of nighttime New York into a powerful emotional epiphany. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/13/soul-review-pixars-rapturous-tale-of-a-jazz-nut-on-a-surreal-out-of-body-journey) ## Empire — Alex Godfrey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2020. Godfrey finds Soul a rewarding, tender existential trip, though its big ideas do not fully cohere and its emotional journey feels slight. He praises the richly realized animation and especially its exquisite lighting and visual detail. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/soul-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2020. Chang finds the film lovely but imperfect, with its familiar buddy-comedy formula keeping its metaphysical ambitions from fully taking flight. He praises its careful musical detail and its warm, richly imagined portrait of New York life. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-12-22/soul-review-pixar-disney-plus) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2020. Scott gives the film a favorable verdict, while noting that its many ideas can make it feel overstuffed. He praises its heart and its thoughtful exploration of life’s meaning. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/movies/soul-review-pixar.html) ## Slant Magazine — Dan Rubins Rating 2.5/4. 30 November 2020. Rubins finds the film uneven, praising its sublime tribute to jazz while criticizing its muddled afterlife mythology. He also faults the central friendship and says the film asks too much of young viewers. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/soul-review-pixar/) ## Time Out — Whelan Barzey Rating 3/5. 15 December 2020. The review calls the film a half-triumph, praising its celebration of Black lives and culture. It says the jazzy odyssey gets lost in its own intricacy. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/soul) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2020. Willmore finds the film bold and visually striking, but easier to admire than to feel deeply invested in. She singles out its warm, richly detailed real-world imagery and a late montage that becomes quietly devastating. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-soul-from-pixar-and-starring-jamie-foxx.html) ## The New Yorker — Namwali Serpell Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2021. Serpell argues that the film’s handling of race and Black culture undermines its well-meaning message about finding meaning in everyday life. She praises the authenticity of some scenes of Black life, especially the barbershop and Joe’s mother’s workplace, while criticizing the film’s racialized humor and its use of a white character to teach Joe a lesson. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/pixars-troubled-soul) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 5/5. 22 December 2020. Crow gives Soul a highly enthusiastic review, finding its existential ideas moving and accessible despite some imperfections. He especially praises the imaginative visual world and the film’s ability to convey the joy of living. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/soul-review-pixar-is-bringing-you-some-christmas-magic/) ## Film Stories — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2020. The critic calls Soul an outstanding, thoughtful family film whose ambition puts it near Pixar’s highest achievements. They especially praise its striking visuals and the way it explores weighty ideas accessibly, while noting a few conventional stretches slow its momentum. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/soul-review-pixars-new-movie-comes-with-very-big-ideas/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 23 December 2020. Goldberg calls Soul a mature, emotionally powerful meditation on what makes life meaningful. He especially praises the striking visuals of the soul world and the score blending Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with Jon Batiste’s jazz. [Read the review](https://collider.com/soul-movie-review-pixar-disney-plus/) ## Polygon — Tasha Robinson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2020. Robinson calls Soul a triumphant return to Pixar’s most ambitious storytelling, praising its humanity and life-affirming outlook. She particularly singles out the film’s inventive visual world and its quiet, emotionally resonant moments. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/disney-plus/22197520/soul-review-pixar/) ## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui Rating 8.5/10. 16 December 2020. Bui finds the ambitious film compelling and soulful, though its many ideas nearly make it feel overcrowded. She praises its beautiful animation and the emotional heart that anchors its existential, shape-shifting story. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/578394/soul-review/) ## Deadline — Joe Utichi Fi1m's normalised score 83/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2020. Festival review. Utichi finds Soul an ambitious, emotionally rich return to Pixar’s inventive best, though its Earthbound slapstick sometimes dulls its larger ideas. He especially praises the abstract Great Before sequences and the film’s distinctive visual and musical craft. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2020/10/film-review-pixar-soul-pete-docter-jamie-foxx-1234595436/) ## Paste — Jacob Oller Rating 9.0. 24 December 2020. Oller finds the film playful, moving, and visually dazzling, with an ultimately resonant message about valuing everyday life. He especially praises its animation and a montage of mundane pleasures, while criticizing the body-swap storyline. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/disney-plus/soul-review) ## HeyUGuys Rating Five stars.. Festival review. The critic finds Soul ambitious and emotionally powerful despite messy plotting and tonal imbalance. They especially praise its rich animation, contrasting visual styles, and expressive voice performances. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/soul-review/) ## Consequence — Josh Spiegel Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2020. The review finds Soul uplifting and visually groundbreaking, though somewhat formulaic. It particularly praises the imaginative animation depicting the realms beyond human existence. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/12/soul-review-pixar/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2020. The review finds Soul profound and inventive, though it falls short of Pete Docter’s earlier Pixar films. It praises the imaginative world-building, visuals and score, while criticizing the story’s less cohesive second act. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34342538/soul-review-disney-plus-pixar/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-soul-kitchens-feel-goodery-20100819/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2020. The critic finds the film imaginative and enjoyable, but ultimately less satisfying than its ambitions promise. They praise its colorful animation and fine music, while noting that the plot’s complexity and unresolved ideas weaken the ending. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/soul-film-review-pixar-gets-existential-in-dizzying-animated-film/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2021. Wilkinson finds the film ambitious and often lovely, but ultimately overcomplicated and disjointed. She singles out the luminous New York animation for praise, while criticizing the fragmented narrative and jokes that may not travel well. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/soul-2020-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) --- © 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/soul.md