--- title: "The Blues Brothers: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 7 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." --- # The Blues Brothers (1980): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 7 reviews: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews lean positive, with praise clustering around the rhythm and blues performances, the soundtrack and the physical comedy. The musical numbers are the most consistent pleasure, earning approval even from critics who find the surrounding film excessive. More enthusiastic reviews also celebrate the inventive car chases, ambitious stunt work and Belushi and Aykroyd’s straight-faced performances, treating the sprawling chaos as part of the appeal. The disagreement concerns how much of that chaos the film can sustain, and how it treats the black culture it celebrates. Some critics find the chases exhilarating; others see repetition and a thin story stretched too far. Time Out admires the music but questions the cultural tourism, while The New York Times finds the staging and editing exhausting and the brothers’ attachment to black culture insufficiently explored. The spread is substantial: the same excess that delights the admirers wears down the dissenters. ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 2014. The 1980 film is a comedy classic recognised as one of Landis's finest, with memorable car chases and terrific musical performances. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10509291/The-Blues-Brothers-review.html) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2013. The film is a cult hit whose over-the-top style and music captured the counterculture mood of its era. Newman singles out the exceptional rhythm and blues soundtrack and the authentic performances by legendary musicians for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/blues-brothers-review/) ## Radio Times — John Ferguson Rating 4/5. This wonderful sprawling mess remains one of the best musical comedies of modern times. It singles out the string of rousing musical numbers and iconic cameos from music legends for praise alongside the spectacular car chase. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-tqcaxs/the-blues-brothers/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 4/5. 24 July 2009. The stunts remain impressive in this re-release of the 1980 comedy, with plenty of laughs from the brothers' chaotic quest. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/24/film-review-the-blues-brothers) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 21 July 2009. The film is a mix of soul-stirring celebration of rhythm and blues and crass cultural exploitation. It singles out the brilliantly performed music sequences for praise while complaining about the excessive car chases and cultural tourism. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-blues-brothers) ## Evening Standard — Derek Malcolm Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2015. The reviewer expresses puzzlement over the film's enduring cult status despite its excessive budget and premise. The music is noted as a possible reason for its appeal to fans, with the black performers singled out as more authentic than the leads. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-blues-brothers-lay-waste-to-chicago-once-more-7415644.html) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 1980. Kael reviews the film alongside another release in her Current Cinema column. The verdict and specific praise or complaint details are not extractable from available metadata without full text access. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1980/07/07/muckrakers-and-saints) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 1 January 1980. The film is a big, raucous powerhouse that works as a musical despite its over-the-top chaos and massive scale. Ebert singles out the sensational chase sequences and stunt coordination, along with the strong personalities of Belushi and Aykroyd, for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-blues-brothers-1980) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin 20 June 1980. The movie is airless and exhausting, with too much overkill in editing, staging, and chases that highlight its hollowness despite the high budget. Maslin complains about the over-staged elements and neglect of the story's potentially interesting thread about the brothers' love of black culture. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/20/archives/blues-brothersbelushi-and-aykroyd.html) ## Variety — Variety Staff Rating **. 31 December 1979. The film is basic and fleeting in inspiration and humor, akin to old Abbott and Costello fare but at a vastly higher budget. Variety singles out the musical performances by Aretha Franklin and others as the greatest pleasure, while noting Landis keeps the chaos reasonably controlled. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1979/film/reviews/the-blues-brothers-1117789404/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode 23 July 2009. The critic finds the film unbeatable for its slapstick, inventive chases, memorable lines and blues soundtrack. She singles out the perfect execution and charismatic straight-faced performances by Belushi and Aykroyd for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-blues-brothers-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © 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/the-blues-brothers.md