--- title: "Suicide Squad: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/suicide-squad/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/suicide-squad" critics_score: 42 critics_reviews: 28 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." --- # Suicide Squad (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 42 from 28 reviews: 2 positive, 7 mixed, 19 negative. Most critics find Suicide Squad a disappointment, and the reviews agree with unusual consistency on where the trouble lies. Nineteen of the twenty-eight are negative, and even those who enjoy it describe a story that is overstuffed, muddled and oddly dull once the opening introductions give way to the plot. The praise clusters almost entirely on the cast: Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is singled out in review after review as the one element that works, with Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller and Will Smith’s Deadshot close behind. The complaints settle on the villain, which several reviews call forgettable, and on a Joker who is either underused or, for The New Yorker, actively embarrassing. The spread is wide. Time Out dissents most sharply, finding a punky energy that most others miss, and Empire and Deadline find it entertaining on its own terms. A few reviews also raise concerns about the handling of Harley Quinn’s abusive relationship. ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 3/5/3. 5 August 2016. Woodward finds the film flawed but enjoyable as uncomplicated, silly entertainment, while criticizing its undercooked story and uneven tone. He praises its female characters, particularly Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/suicide-squad) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 2 August 2016. The critic presents the film as a rude antidote to dull superheroics. The review singles out its punky energy as a refreshing change of pace. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/suicide-squad) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. Jolin finds the film entertaining and a welcome boost for DC, despite a scrappy edit and a weak central threat. He particularly praises Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, whose performance repeatedly steals the show. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/suicide-squad-review/) ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Rating 3/5. 2 August 2016. Graham finds the film starts with promise but becomes bland, and judges it an underwhelming, overmanaged take on unruly antiheroes. He singles out Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn as the film’s brightest and most anarchic element. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/suicide-squad-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2016. Turan finds the film caught between its energetic premise and a muddled, routine plot. He praises the opening character introductions, especially Deadshot, while faulting the story for giving the squad too little compelling to do. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-suicide-squad-review-20160801-snap-story.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating D+. 2 August 2016. Ehrlich judges the film a muddled, disappointing failure that never commits to its promise of making its villains compelling. He praises Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn as a spellbinding, volatile performance, while faulting the weak antagonist and action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/suicide-squad-review-margot-robbie-batman-the-joker-1201712352/) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Rating 2/5. The critic finds the film underpowered as the launch of another comic-book franchise. The review singles out its disappointing execution despite a premise compared to The Dirty Dozen. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0qd2o8/suicide-squad/) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Rating 2/5. 7 August 2016. Ide finds the film overpopulated and underdeveloped, with a baffling villain and unconvincing effects. She praises Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn as a vivid, energetic presence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/07/suicide-squad-review-bad-film-margot-robbie-jared-leto) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2016. The critic finds the film chaotic and ultimately disappointing. Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is a standout amid the disorder. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/movies/suicide-squad-review-dc-comics.html) ## Evening Standard — Ellen E. Jones Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2016. Jones finds the film narratively hollow and unable to deliver the lively entertainment its marketing promises. She praises Margot Robbie’s energetic, nuanced performance as Harley Quinn, while criticizing the underused characters and weak plot. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/suicide-squad-film-review-bad-to-the-bone-a3312576.html) ## Film Comment — Michael Sragow Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). Sragow’s verdict is negative, arguing that David Ayer fails to make the rogues’ gallery work together. The standfirst singles out the ensemble’s lack of cohesion as the central complaint. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-suicide-squad/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. The critic’s verdict is negative, arguing that the film has too much empty attitude. He singles out its excessive posturing as a central flaw. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/suicide-squad-review/5107132.article) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. Debruge finds the film a bleak, overstuffed disappointment that ultimately feels like more of the same. He praises the unsettling Joker and Harley Quinn performances, while criticizing the muddled story and the film’s failure to make its villains compelling. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/suicide-squad-review-will-smith-joker-1201825911/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 1/4. 3 August 2016. Cole finds the film constrained and unable to deliver the anarchic energy its premise promises. He particularly criticizes Enchantress as a forgettable antagonist and the Joker as a hollow plot device. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/suicide-squad/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. McCarthy finds the film confused, increasingly dull, and unable to make its supervillain team work. He praises the promise of the opening character introductions and the cast, especially the livelier Harley Quinn and Joker. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/suicide-squad-movie-review-915825/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2016. Lane finds the film exhausting, hollow, and incoherent, with little fellowship among its characters. He praises Will Smith’s brief flashes of sharp dialogue, while criticizing Jared Leto’s performance as especially embarrassing. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/suicide-squad-reviewed) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. Edelstein finds the film’s storytelling muddled and its climactic action boring. He singles out Margot Robbie as a strong showcase, though he criticizes her accent and the film’s depiction of Harley Quinn’s romance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/review-suicide-squad-is-deathly-unentertaining.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. Hammond finds the film entertaining on its own terms, though its story lacks gravitas and spark. He singles out Margot Robbie’s consistently watchable Harley Quinn, while noting the Joker is underused. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2016/08/suicide-squad-review-margot-robbie-will-smith-jared-leto-david-ayer-1201797250/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible text. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/suicide-squad-morally-murky-villains-mildly-reluctant-heroes-satisfying-goals-review-20160802/) ## Paste — Michael Snydel Rating 5.8/10. 3 August 2016. Snydel finds the film entertaining in moments but ultimately muddled and unsatisfying. He praises the appeal of Deadshot and Harley Quinn, while criticizing the overloaded story and inconsistent sense of purpose. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/suicide-squad) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 2 out of 5. 4 August 2016. Lambie finds the film muddled and overstuffed, with its tangled plot and effects-heavy second half undermining the action. He praises the charisma and performances of Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, and Will Smith. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/suicide-squad-review-2/) ## HeyUGuys Rating 2/5. The critic finds the film contrived and narratively convoluted, with too little substance beneath its style. Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn is singled out as a bright spot. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/suicide-squad-review/) ## The Skinny — Joseph Walsh Rating ★★. 5 August 2016. Walsh finds the film a hollow, crushingly dull addition to the franchise, weighed down by weak dialogue and an uninteresting story. He praises Margot Robbie’s energetic Harley Quinn performance, with Will Smith’s charm another bright spot. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/suicide-squad) ## Digital Spy — Rosie Fletcher Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2016. The critic finds the film dull and disappointing despite calling it the best of the new DC films. Viola Davis’s forceful, morally uncompromising performance as Waller is singled out as its saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a803437/suicide-squad-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. The critic finds the film undercooked, overstuffed and boring, despite its talented cast. Viola Davis and Margot Robbie stand out, bringing force and vividness to characters the review says the film otherwise neglects. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/suicide-squad-review-dc-extended-universe/) ## Consequence — Dominick Suzanne-Mayer Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2016. The critic finds the film overstuffed and tedious, ultimately less interesting than its parts suggest. Viola Davis’s restrained performance as Amanda Waller stands out amid the showier turns. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/08/film-review-suicide-squad/) ## Eye for Film — Luke Shaw Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2016. The review finds the film messy and disappointing, despite a few moments of promise. It praises Will Smith’s charisma as Deadshot, while faulting the overcrowded plotting and underused characters. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/suicide-squad-2016-film-review-by-luke-shaw) ## /Film — Jacob Hall Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2016. The critic calls the film a baffling, compromised misfire, despite a few worthwhile performances. He praises Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis, while faulting the film’s structure and its troubling treatment of Harley Quinn’s abusive relationship. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/545830/suicide-squad-spoiler-review/) --- © 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/suicide-squad.md