--- title: "The Commuter: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-commuter/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-commuter" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 25 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 Commuter (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 25 reviews: 12 positive, 7 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews are mixed, with a slight lean towards enjoying The Commuter’s familiar action formula despite its strained logic. Praise centres on Liam Neeson’s committed, reassuring presence and Jaume Collet-Serra’s inventive use of the train’s cramped spaces. Supportive critics find that the camerawork, physical fights and steady momentum keep the thriller entertaining. Several also appreciate the opening’s economical attention to ordinary working and family life, which gives the subsequent danger something concrete to disturb. The disagreement is wide, particularly over whether the action compensates for the plotting. Even favourable reviews acknowledge implausibility, predictability and limited staying power; others find the conspiracy too convoluted to follow and the final act overextended. Vulture values the tactile action and specific commuting details, while The New Yorker finds the violence carelessly choreographed and the drama cynical. Neeson attracts more consistent approval than the script, though enthusiasm for his performance does not always translate into a recommendation. ## Vulture — Emily Yoshida Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 2018. Yoshida finds the film’s train-bound action surprisingly tactile and more memorable than expected. She especially praises its lovingly specific depiction of commuting and the mundane details that give the thriller its texture. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/01/the-commuter-review.html) ## Little White Lies — Elena Lazic Rating 4/4/4. 17 January 2018. The critic finds the film a total delight and praises its commitment to entertaining, straight-faced action. She singles out the opening sequence and the film’s energetic choreography. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-commuter) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating B. 10 January 2018. The review finds the thriller smart, politically astute entertainment, despite a plot that makes little sense in retrospect. It praises Collet-Serra’s inventive camerawork in the train’s cramped spaces. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/if-only-every-january-thriller-were-as-smart-dumb-as-li-1821936245) ## Slant Magazine — Carson Lund Rating 3/4. 12 January 2018. Lund finds the film’s final optimism convincing despite some implausible plot turns. He praises Collet-Serra’s inventive, immersive camerawork and the way it sustains the train-bound paranoia. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-commuter/) ## Empire — David Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 2018. Hughes calls it a surprisingly enjoyable, forgettable crowd-pleaser whose momentum outweighs its plot holes. He praises Neeson as an engaging, relatable everyman, while faulting the thriller’s implausible logic. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/commuter-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2018. Turan finds the film an entertaining, if not top-tier, entry in Neeson and Collet-Serra’s action-thriller series. He praises Neeson’s ability to carry the formula and Collet-Serra’s skill at keeping the film moving, despite a far-fetched and confusing plot. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-the-commuter-review-20180111-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2017. Mintzer finds the thriller enjoyable and worth the ride, though ultimately forgettable. He praises its sustained train-bound suspense and a showy, inventive fight sequence that uses the setting effectively. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/commuter-1066038/) ## Screen Daily — Sarah Ward Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2017. The visible standfirst suggests a familiar Liam Neeson and Jaume Collet-Serra setup moved to a new location, but does not reveal the critic’s overall verdict. The review’s specific praise or complaint is unavailable in the paywalled text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-commuter-review/5125150.article) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 3/5. The critic calls it a workmanlike thriller that falls short of the tension in Neeson’s earlier films of this kind. They fault its convoluted plot twists for undermining the narrative. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-39vftl/the-commuter/) ## The Guardian — Steve Rose Rating 3/5. 10 January 2018. Rose finds it an efficient, enjoyable action thriller, though too familiar and stripped-down to linger in the memory. He particularly praises Liam Neeson’s commanding presence and the film’s inventive camera work aboard the train. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/10/the-commuter-review-liam-neeson-train-thriller) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 2/5. 12 January 2018. The critic finds the thriller unsuccessful. The Hitchcockian wrong-man premise is singled out as going wrong. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-commuter) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2017. Lodge finds the film less enjoyable than the director’s previous action collaborations, though it still offers some transient thrills. He particularly criticizes its breakneck pace for leaving the story and its conspiracy hard to follow. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/the-commuter-review-liam-neeson-1202646190/) ## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2018. The review is negative about the film’s contrived thriller plot. It singles out the increasingly implausible events aboard the train as a key weakness. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/movies/the-commuter-review-liam-neeson.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2018. The critic finds the film a cringe-worthy, mostly bad action thriller that is best avoided. She singles out the uniformly excellent acting as a bright spot amid the implausible action and clumsy moments. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-commuter-review-stop-this-crazy-train-i-want-to-get-off-a3744431.html) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 2018. Brody gives the film a sharply negative assessment, calling its action laughable and its drama cynical. He particularly faults the contrived plotting and the director’s failure to observe or choreograph the violence with care. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-commuter-and-critics-distorted-notion-of-the-auteur) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2018. The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it a fascinating, edge-of-seat thriller. They single out Liam Neeson’s reliable authenticity, decency and compassion as the film’s great strengths. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-commuter-2018-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 7.1. 12 January 2018. Crump finds the film a goofy, highly enjoyable action thriller, despite its familiar plot structure. He praises its escalating twists and over-the-top set pieces, including Neeson fending off an attacker with an electric guitar. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/liam-neeson/the-commuter) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2018. The critic finds the film a gripping, enjoyable thriller whose escalating pulpiness is easy to forgive despite a predictable mystery and underused supporting cast. They especially praise Collet-Serra’s fluid, well-paced direction and the electric-guitar fight sequence. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/01/film-review-the-commuter-delivers-b-movie-thrills-at-a-fleet-footed-pace/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2018. Nayman praises The Commuter as an inventive, technically accomplished thriller, while noting its predictable plot and overly simple resolution. He especially singles out Collet-Serra’s visual craft and the film’s sustained sense of momentum. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/01/11/movies/liam-neeson-the-commuter-review) ## The Playlist — Will Ashton Rating B-. 11 January 2018. The critic finds the film an over-the-top, mostly entertaining ride, despite its formulaic script and implausible plot. They praise Collet-Serra’s inventive visual flair and Neeson’s committed performance. [Read the review](https://staging2.theplaylist.net/the-commuter-review-20180111/) ## /Film — Karen Han Rating 6/10. 12 January 2018. Han finds the film a highly enjoyable, familiar Neeson action vehicle, with the star’s commitment and Jaume Collet-Serra’s direction making the formula work. She praises the tense train-bound action, while criticizing the bloated, unnecessarily theatrical final act. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/555571/the-commuter-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2018. Hammond finds the film entertaining for much of its runtime but ultimately forgettable and reliant on familiar action tropes. He praises Neeson’s ability to carry the mystery and action, while noting the supporting roles are one-dimensional. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2018/01/the-commuter-review-liam-neeson-vera-farmiga-video-1202242310/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2.5/5. 12 January 2018. Kaye finds the film a rote, disappointing entry in Neeson and Collet-Serra’s action-thriller collaborations. He praises the opening montage’s economical depiction of family life, but faults the convoluted plot and unconvincing action. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-commuter-review/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2018. The critic finds the film entertaining at its best but ultimately weighed down by a third-act slowdown. He praises Neeson’s capable action-hero performance, while faulting the delayed explanations and convoluted plotting. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-commuter-film-review-liam-neeson-2018/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film an incoherent, frustrating thriller that derails its own story. They praise Jonathan Banks and Vera Farmiga, while faulting the script for constantly changing direction. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-commuter-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/the-commuter.md