---
title: "Sound of Metal: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/sound-of-metal/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/sound-of-metal"
critics_score: 79
critics_reviews: 24
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."
---

# Sound of Metal (2020): what the critics said

Critics' score 79 from 24 reviews: 22 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative.

## IndieWire — Eric Kohn

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2019. Festival review. 

Riz Ahmed gives a brilliant performance as a heavy metal drummer who goes deaf. The debut feature impresses with its sound design and sensitive handling of the story.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-tiff-1202171828/)

## Sight and Sound

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2021. 

Darius Marder’s debut is a deeply moving portrait of a man in freefall that soars above its issue-film format. The standout is Riz Ahmed’s magnificent performance as the tightly wound drummer learning to live with deafness.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/sound-metal-darius-marder-riz-ahmed-drummer-deafness)

## The Guardian — Mark Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2021. 

Riz Ahmed gives a career-best performance in an astonishing, realist drama rooted in reality and fully accessible. Marder conjures a world of verisimilitude through live performances, ASL debates and innovative sound design that captures the protagonist's experience.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/apr/11/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-olivia-cooke-darius-marder)

## Empire — Ian Freer

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 April 2021. 

The critic highlights the film's gripping dramatic questions, imaginative sound design, and Riz Ahmed's stunning performance in this debut from Darius Marder. It is described as a powerful, sensitive exploration of deafness that challenges assumptions about hearing loss.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sound-of-metal/)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2020. 

The critic calls it a bruising, deeply moving drama with a sensational Riz Ahmed performance and innovative sound design that enters the protagonist's consciousness. It praises the nuanced portrait of deafness, addiction, and acceptance in a Deaf community, noting its graceful handling of personal limits.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-11-19/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed)

## The Telegraph

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 April 2021. 

Riz Ahmed delivers a powerhouse performance in Darius Marder’s tale of addiction, loss and redemption. The film excels through its distinctive sound design that immerses viewers in the character’s dulled auditory world.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/sound-metal-review-drummer-going-deafriz-ahmed-makes-noise/)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2021. 

The critic calls Riz Ahmed mesmerising and praises the authentic music scenes, the magnetic performance of Paul Raci, and the film's ingenious use of sound design and captions. It endorses the story's philosophy while noting its emotional impact.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-b928430.html)

## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong

Rating 4/4/5. 16 March 2021. 

Riz Ahmed gives a career-best performance in this bold and brilliant debut that is devastating and hopeful in the same breath. The intricate sound design simulates the disorientating experience of hearing loss while highlighting everyday sounds often taken for granted.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/sound-of-metal/)

## Radio Times — Beth Webb

Rating 4/5. 

Riz Ahmed delivers an intuitive, raw performance in this handsomely crafted study of addiction, community and self-discovery. Debut film-maker Darius Marder never strays into mawkishness and keeps the focus on Ahmed’s open, disarmingly vulnerable face.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-r3tifa/sound-of-metal/)

## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen

Rating 4/5. 27 February 2021. 

This searing drama features a mesmerising Riz Ahmed as a musician losing his hearing and his bearings. It is a raw, emotional and deeply empathetic film unafraid to leave its protagonist submerged in a world of muffled sounds.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/sound-of-metal-2021)

## Total Film

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2021. 

The review highlights the film as a gem with strong praise for its handling of the central story and performances.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/sound-of-metal-review/)

## The i Paper — Christina Newland

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2021. 

The critic praises the original premise, Riz Ahmed's deeply embodied performance, and the innovative sound design that conveys hearing loss disorientation. It notes some narrative contrivances in the latter part but commends the film's empathetic and specific approach to disability.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-excels-poignant-compelling-drama-reveiw-947069)

## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2019. Festival review. 

Riz Ahmed delivers a deeply felt performance as a drummer confronting sudden hearing loss. The film explores themes of acceptance and change without romanticizing deafness.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/sound-metal-1238063/)

## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis

Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 19 November 2020. 

The critic praises the film's distinctive style and potent lead performance by Riz Ahmed, which builds tension between silence and noise. It highlights the intricate sound design that immerses viewers in the protagonist's experience while suggesting that acceptance of his condition is key to his salvation.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/movies/sound-of-metal-review.html)

## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2020. 

Riz Ahmed's compelling performance anchors the film as a musician dealing with hearing loss and identity. The movie excels through its rich visual and sonic textures rather than conventional storytelling.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-sound-of-metal-starring-riz-ahmed.html)

## The Times — Kevin Maher

Rating ★★★☆☆. 8 April 2021. 

Riz Ahmed shines as the drummer facing sudden deafness, carrying the project with outstanding close-ups. The surrounding film is at best middling despite technically impressive work and strong sound design.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/sound-of-metal-review-tf29kmqx9)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 2019. Festival review. 

The critic finds the premise potent but the drama muffled and slow, criticizing the lack of interior character development despite innovative sound design. It notes the film becomes doctrinaire in its portrayal of deafness and acceptance as the only valid path.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-1203337006/)

## NME — Leonie Cooper

Rating 5/5. 9 April 2021. 

The critic calls it the first truly great film of 2021, praising how it immerses viewers in the protagonist's experience of sudden hearing loss through innovative sound design and subtitles. They highlight the authentic casting, performances, and portrayal of community and acceptance as key strengths.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-2917608)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating A. 7 September 2019. Festival review. 

The critic praises the film's unsentimental approach to loss, change, and acceptance of deafness rather than framing it as a disability to be fixed. They single out the innovative use of sound design, captions as an artistic choice, and Riz Ahmed's raw, vulnerable performance.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/sound-of-metal-review/)

## Consequence — Clint Worthington

Rating A-. 18 November 2020. 

The critic highlights the richly textured drama's focus on deafness, addiction, and grief, with strong sound design that immerses viewers in the protagonist's experience. They single out Riz Ahmed's intense, restless performance as the emotional core showing bargaining and eventual acceptance.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/11/film-review-sound-of-metal/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2020. 

The film is a technical triumph and a humane character study of a man whose life unravels with hearing loss. Pete Hammond singles out Riz Ahmed's astonishing, career-best performance for its range and authenticity.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed-darius-marder-amazon/)

## /Film — Chris Evangelista

Rating 8/10. 7 September 2019. Festival review. 

The critic praises the film's immersive sound design and Riz Ahmed's powerhouse performance, which draws viewers into the protagonist's experience of hearing loss. They single out the realistic depiction of the deaf community for praise but complain about the weaker, plot-driven final act.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/568939/sound-of-metal-review/)

## The Skinny — Charlotte Little

Rating 4/5. 24 March 2021. 

The review describes the film as a visceral, immersive experience about community, acceptance, and stillness, following the drummer's emotional journey through hearing loss and recovery. It singles out the profound exploration of deafness, innovative sound design, authentic Deaf casting, and strong lead performances for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/sound-of-metal)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2020. 

A searing central performance smooths over some rough patches in the script. The critic singles out Riz Ahmed's riveting portrayal of the drummer's terror and self-pity for praise, along with the realistic sound design.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/sound-of-metal-review-riz-ahmed/)

---
© 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/sound-of-metal.md