--- title: "The End of Oak Street: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-end-of-oak-street/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-end-of-oak-street" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 20 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 End of Oak Street (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 20 reviews: 12 positive, 6 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like The End of Oak Street, though the spread is wide, running from outright raves to two firm dismissals. The praise gathers around the dinosaur set-pieces and creature effects, which several reviews rate above the recent Jurassic entries, and around Anne Hathaway, singled out in nearly every review as the film’s anchor; Ewan McGregor divides them more. The Spielberg and Amblin homage is the point of contention. For the majority it is affectionate and given a darker edge by Mitchell; for a sizeable minority it is the problem. The Los Angeles Times calls it Spielberg cosplay, The New Yorker finds the homage sits uneasily with Mitchell’s detachment, and The Guardian and The Wrap go further, finding it inert and toothless respectively, with little real jeopardy and a family drama that wastes its own set-up. Even admirers concede thin characters, repetitive encounters and a premise that does not survive much scrutiny. ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic finds it an audacious good time that slams Jurassic Park into Close Encounters, better than expected Spielberg pastiche with infectious glee in the carnage and nostalgic Americana commentary. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-i-cant-believe-the-end-of-oak-street-exists.html) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film as a summer blockbuster that wholeheartedly embraces its big, brash genre pleasures and largely out-dinos recent Jurassic entries with tense set-pieces and handsome mounting. They single out the convincing character work on suburban family anxiety as what makes the outlandish premise a delight. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-end-of-oak-street/) ## Radio Times — Rosie Fletcher Rating 4/5. 13 August 2026. The review describes it as a loving Spielberg homage that works well as a moving, funny and thrilling family romp with a dark heart, crediting Mitchell for a fresh take on the sub-genre. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/the-end-of-oak-street-review/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic calls the film a heartfelt and boisterous homage to Spielberg, praising the nostalgic adventure and performances by Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as endearing parents in a dinosaur-filled suburban setting. They single out the fun of watching the stars chased by prehistoric monsters. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/08/12/the-end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway/) ## Time Out — Dan Jolin Rating 4/5. 10 August 2026. The critic praises the fresh spin on dinosaur carnage in a suburban time-warp setting, highlighting the gripping survival thriller elements and strong performances despite some plot holes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-end-of-oak-street-review-2026) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. Celebrates the shamelessly fun, preposterous last-gasp-of-summer trash as a loopier Jurassic knockoff that succeeds by leaning into pandering with B-movie humanity and vivid performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/the-end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor-1236831473/) ## The New York Times — Elisabeth Vincentelli Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 August 2026. The critic praises the film's sui generis oddness and distinctive collision of styles, noting it undermines the formula while delivering dinosaur havoc in suburbia. Singles out the surreal atmosphere and Bosch-like visions. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/movies/the-end-of-oak-street-review.html) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2026. The critic notes the film's premise lacks scientific credibility and should not work, yet praises its preposterous dino carnage and entertaining Spielbergian adventure despite the flaws. They highlight the enjoyment of the high-concept family spectacle with Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-the-other-films-the-end-of-oak-street-lady-sunny-dancer) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating C+. 12 August 2026. The critic describes it as a pulpy dinosaur survival film that is dimwitted and repetitive but invigorating as a studio creature feature; praises the dinosaurs and Hathaway while noting it lacks tension and characters. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-end-of-oak-street-review) ## Little White Lies — Anton Bitel Rating 4/3/3. 12 August 2026. The review calls it a derivative but enjoyable suburban SF pastiche more Spielbergian than Mitchellian, praising its blend of personal and political elements in a dinosaur-threatened suburbia. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-end-of-oak-street) ## The New Yorker — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 August 2026. Praises Hathaway's feral, versatile performance in action but faults the film's alienated tone, lack of emotional depth, and uneasy mix of Spielberg homage with Mitchell's signature detachment. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-current-cinema/the-end-of-oak-street-is-a-weirdly-alienated-jurassic-lark) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. Calls the film stale '80s Spielberg cosplay and karaoke, with too much self-conscious thievery, but notes some silly goodwill, monster attacks, and strong work from Hathaway and Stella. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-08-12/end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor-maisy-stella-david-robert-mitchell) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic finds the film contrived, derivative and inert, a commercially driven Spielbergian pastiche about dinosaurs in suburbia that lacks real ambition or jeopardy. They single out a moment of dinosaur romance as the sole point of interest amid otherwise unconvincing domestic drama. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/12/the-end-of-oak-street-review-suburban-dino-survival-romp-is-more-turkey-than-t-rex) ## Financial Times Rating ★★★★☆. 13 August 2026. The critic describes it as a superior monster flick and pleasingly curious blockbuster that is slyly clever, with Mitchell pushing Spielbergian buttons while delivering a dinosaur picture set in 1980s suburbia. They single out the brisk Twilight Zone-style logic and the cast's performances amid the chaos. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/8f60f1bd-995a-41b2-bc72-4336fdfe3782) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich 12 August 2026. The critic calls it the biggest surprise of the summer and the best dinosaur movie since 1993, a wildly crowd-pleasing Amblin throwback with suburban idyll spirited back to the Jurassic era. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-end-of-oak-street-dinosaur-movie-review-1235210068/) ## Screen Daily 12 August 2026. The critic notes Mitchell's high-concept premise executed as a fun, fast-paced, family-friendly creature feature that draws effectively on classic Spielbergian adventures with well-cast leads. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-and-ewan-mcgregor-face-a-prehistoric-threat-in-fun-fast-paced-creature-feature/5219301.article) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman 14 August 2026. The critic finds the film a tense, trope-breaking sci-fi romp that feels Spielbergian but subverts expectations through its focus on family dynamics and existential themes amid dinosaur attacks. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/end-oak-street-gripping-dino-survival-film-feels-spielbergian-plays-against-expectations) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 12 August 2026. The critic finds it mindlessly entertaining high-end trash, a fun but inconsistent homage to 80s Amblin films with good dinosaur effects but weak performances especially McGregor; praises Hathaway and the creature work. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor-1236671653/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film's relentless action and monster mayhem as a fun, jaw-dropping B-movie ride that delivers thrills despite cheesy dialogue. They single out the sheer chutzpah and visual effects for praise. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/08/the-end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor-1237031428/) ## Film Stories — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 14 August 2026. The critic praises the film's Amblin-style adventure with heart and creative vim, noting Mitchell's style shines through in vicious dinosaur action and character focus, despite Spielberg influences. They single out the score and the ordinary, captivating family for praise. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/the-end-of-oak-street-review-screeching-sauropods-spend-summer-in-suburbia/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 4/5. 12 August 2026. The review highlights the film's satirical take on survival genres, its fearless absurdity, strong performances especially from Hathaway and McGregor, and precise 1980s period detail. It singles out the humor and commitment to its peculiar logic for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-end-of-oak-street-review/) ## The Playlist — Marshall Shaffer Rating B. 12 August 2026. The critic finds it a demented and delightful romp that's good enough to wish it better, praising the visual storytelling, cast (esp. Hathaway), and tonal shifts, but noting it doesn't advance the genre much. Singles out the demented death scene and visual ingenuity. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-end-of-oak-street-review-david-robert-mitchell-anne-hathaway-20260812/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2026. The critic calls it a swift, satisfying fight-or-flight suspense entertainment with visceral kicks, strong performances, and well-executed set pieces, but notes repetitive encounters and an unsatisfying conclusion that pulls back from its darker potential. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2026/08/14/movies/the-end-of-oak-street-review-dinosaurs-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Rating 3/5. 12 August 2026. The film starts as an undercooked family drama reliant on clichés and lacking emotional depth, but is ultimately saved by its increasingly ridiculous and wild final act with strong set pieces and dino action. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a73391759/end-of-oak-street-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic finds the film toothless and lacking depth, criticizing its abandonment of thematic potential in favor of generic family redemption and superficial dinosaur action. They single out the waste of interpersonal conflict setup for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/the-end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor/) ## Collider — Victoria Luxford 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film as an action-packed Amblin-style throwback with strong lead performances from Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, effective dinosaur set pieces, and edge-of-your-seat entertainment value despite some logical leaps in the sci-fi premise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/end-of-oak-street-review-anne-hathaway-ewan-mcgregor/) ## Den of Geek — Kirsten Howard Rating 4 out of 5. 12 August 2026. The critic calls it the best dinosaur movie in decades for its charming old-school Amblin/Spielberg vibes, suburban setting, and effective tension with impressive effects and a playful yet scary approach to the creatures. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-end-of-oak-street-review-dinosaur-movie/) ## Polygon — Jake Kleinman 12 August 2026. The critic hails it as a fun, spectacular Jurassic Park-style romp that captures classic Amblin magic through inventive dinosaur designs and thrilling suburban survival sequences, succeeding where recent Spielberg efforts fall short despite thinner character work. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/the-end-of-oak-street-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-end-of-oak-street.md