--- title: "The Harder They Come: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-harder-they-come/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-harder-they-come" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 9 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 Harder They Come (1972): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to The Harder They Come, with the reggae soundtrack drawing the most consistent praise across otherwise differing assessments. The reviews also value its closely observed depiction of Kingston and its anger at social conditions and the music business. Jimmy Cliff’s performance attracts praise even from a sceptical critic. Supporters find energy and political force in a film whose rough edges do not necessarily diminish its impact. The spread is wide, though the reservations centre chiefly on the storytelling. Radio Times finds the early struggle to enter the music business convincing but argues that the film later slips into banal blaxploitation. The New Yorker is more dismissive of the hurried mixture of musical biography and social protest, while still admiring Cliff and the music. Some enthusiastic retrospective assessments also concern restored editions and supplementary material, rather than the film alone. ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 5/5. 26 August 2019. Watson praises the Blu-ray package as a definitive presentation of the film and Henzell’s career. He singles out the reggae soundtrack for its stirring impact and the disc’s vivid image and sound. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/the-harder-they-come-blu-ray-review-perry-henzell/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2019. Turan warmly celebrates the film’s cultural impact and recommends its new collector’s edition. He singles out its role in introducing reggae to a wider audience and praises the restored bonus feature. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-15/review-critics-choice-the-harder-they-come-changed-the-way-the-world-saw-reggae) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2002. Tobias finds the film a powerful, politically radical work whose social critique remains forceful. He singles out its reggae soundtrack and documentary-style depiction of Kingston’s slums for praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-harder-they-come-dvd-1798195689) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2022. Bradshaw finds the film raw, energetic and sharply self-aware, with Ivan’s downfall giving it a forceful tragic edge. He particularly praises the throbbing reggae soundtrack and Jimmy Cliff’s performance. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/03/the-harder-they-come-review-jimmy-cliff-falls-hard-in-visceral-revenge-western) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls it a Jamaican classic that feels worn around the edges but still has angry momentum. The rollicking reggae soundtrack is singled out as the film’s greatest strength. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/harder-come-review/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 1972. Festival review. Variety gives the film a favorable verdict, praising its taut pacing and visual flair. It also singles out the music’s lively rhythm and the film’s effective use of local color. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1972/film/reviews/the-harder-they-come-1200422872/) ## Time Out — TR Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict cannot be recovered from the available material. Its description frames the story around Jimmy Cliff’s country-to-Kingston journey and the reggae industry. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-harder-they-come-1) ## Radio Times — David Parkinson Rating 3/5. Parkinson finds the film compelling at first but says it later descends into banal blaxploitation. He praises its keenly observed depiction of Kingston and the convincing portrayal of the struggle to enter the music business. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ppofvy/the-harder-they-come/) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 1973. Kael finds the film’s narrative a messy, hurried blend of musical biography and social-protest fantasy. She praises Jimmy Cliff’s radiance and the music’s infectious cultural vitality, which linger despite the film’s flaws. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1973/02/24/the-riddles-of-pop) --- © 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-harder-they-come.md