--- title: "The Kite Runner: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-kite-runner/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-kite-runner" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 15 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 Kite Runner (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 15 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews split almost down the middle, and the split is wide. Where they agree is on the children: nearly every critic, including those who dislike the film, praises the young, mostly unknown cast, and the Los Angeles Times singles out Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada for making the boys’ friendship feel natural. The warmer notices, led by the trade papers, call it a faithful, moving adaptation with understated direction and handsome production design, and find its treatment of guilt and childhood regret affecting. The reservations gather around what happens once the story leaves childhood. Several critics, the Los Angeles Times among them, find the adult sections less involving, and more than one calls the final stretch rushed. The harsher reviews go further: The AV Club sees Forster pushing too conspicuously for effect, IndieWire finds the adaptation safe and culturally thin, and Slant calls it kitsch with its symbolism overblown. Even admirers mention an insistent score and tidy coincidences. ## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2007. The critic praises the film as a highly effective, faithful adaptation that should earn critical recognition. They single out its naturalistic performances and understated direction, while noting that the final section feels rushed. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kite-runner-158644/) ## Variety — Alissa Simon Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 2007. Festival review. Simon gives the adaptation a strongly positive verdict, praising its emotional power and historical sweep. She especially singles out the nuanced performances and production design, though she finds the score overly insistent. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/the-kite-runner-5-1200555639/) ## Time Out — Wally Hammond Rating 4/5. 17 December 2007. The review describes the film as an accessible, deftly directed and moving tale. It singles out the direction and emotional treatment of childhood regret for praise. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-kite-runner) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 13 December 2007. Ebert finds the film emotionally affecting despite its difficult subject matter. He singles out its portrayal of friendship and guilt for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-kite-runner-2007) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 2007. Jolin finds the film an engaging melodrama, despite its heavy-handed plot and tidy coincidences. He especially praises the affecting performances of the mostly unknown cast, particularly the young actors. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kite-runner-review/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2007. Grierson finds the adaptation emotionally engaging, though less effective at conveying Afghanistan’s societal traumas. He praises its sensitive characterization and exploration of family and friendship. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-kite-runner/4035239.article) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2007. The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/movies/14kite.html) ## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael Rating 3/5. Papamichael finds the adaptation coasts for the most part on the charm of its young leads. She singles out those performances as its main strength. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-esmc9p/the-kite-runner/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2007. Turan finds the film compelling in its childhood sections but disappointing and less involving once it shifts to adult Amir. He praises the young actors, especially Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, for making the boys’ friendship feel alive and natural. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-14-et-kite14-story.html) ## IndieWire — Michael Koresky Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2007. Koresky finds the adaptation safe, diluted, and culturally superficial despite its brisk storytelling. He praises the emotionally compelling performances, especially those of the young actors and Homayon Ershadi. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-frequent-flyer-marc-forsters-the-kite-runner-73376/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2007. Phipps finds the film emotionally manipulative and increasingly deadening, despite its serious subject matter. He singles out Forster’s constant, conspicuous push for maximum impact as the main distraction. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-kite-runner-1798203528) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 1/4. 16 November 2007. Gonzalez pans the film as shrill, clumsy adaptation, turning a nuanced story into kitsch. He particularly criticizes its simplistic treatment of class and tragedy, along with its overblown symbolism. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-kite-runner/) ## Paste — Tim Basham Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2007. Basham calls the adaptation beautiful and uplifting despite its tragic subject matter. He especially praises the child actors and the portrayal of the boys’ friendship. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/marc-forster/the-kite-runner) ## /Film — Elaine Mak Rating 4/10. 14 December 2007. Mak finds the film poorly adapted and weakly directed. She praises its glimpse of Afghan culture, while criticizing the rushed pacing and overexplained exposition. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/497702/movie-review-the-kite-runner/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2007. The critic finds the adaptation ultimately unimpressive, despite some effective performances and moments. The cast is singled out as its strongest asset, while the return-to-Afghanistan section is criticized for grotesque, heavy-handed portrayals. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-kite-runner-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) --- © 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-kite-runner.md