--- title: "The One and Only Ivan: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-one-and-only-ivan/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-one-and-only-ivan" critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 13 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 One and Only Ivan (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 62 from 13 reviews: 5 positive, 6 mixed, 2 negative. ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating B. 18 August 2020. Erbland finds the film a smart, touching family feature that slips serious ideas into a children’s story. She praises the voice performances and visual effects, while noting the third act’s uneven pacing and shifting tone. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-one-and-only-ivan-review-disney-plus-adaptation-thea-sharrock-mike-white-1234580674/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 August 2020. Walsh finds the film sweet, effectively moving and emotionally grounded, despite its familiar Disney story. She especially praises the computer-generated animals’ expressive performances, which blend believable animal movement with human emotion. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-08-20/one-and-only-ivan-review-disney-sam-rockwell-angelina-jolie) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 August 2020. Gleiberman finds the film familiar but unexpectedly soulful and moving, praising its quiet, old-fashioned storytelling. He singles out Ivan’s expressive digital-animated face for conveying the gorilla’s sadness. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-one-and-only-ivan-review-sam-rockwell-angelina-jolie-bryan-cranston-1234740399/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2020. The accessible page identifies this as a review but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is available in the visible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-one-and-only-ivan-review/5152344.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 August 2020. The page returned only a JavaScript and ad-blocker notice, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. I cannot determine what the review praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/movies/the-one-and-only-ivan-review-a-gorilla-with-heart.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 21 August 2020. O'Sullivan finds the film technically brilliant but says it could have been grittier. She praises its moving, unsettling ending, while noting that it is extremely sad. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-one-and-only-ivan-review-all-star-cast-escape-from-the-circus-a4530556.html) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 3/5. Simmonds calls the film sweet and soppy, finding it moving despite its copious artistic licence. She singles out Sam Rockwell’s charismatic voice performance as Ivan for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-a27oeq/the-one-and-only-ivan/) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Rating 2/4. 18 August 2020. The critic finds the film’s charitable view of animal captivity weakens its dramatic impact. They criticize its sugarcoating of the animals’ conditions and its refusal to condemn their exploitation. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-the-one-and-only-ivan-is-a-rosy-eyed-depiction-of-animal-welfare/) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 18 August 2020. Lee finds the film rushed, unremarkable and emotionally underdeveloped, a disappointing family adventure. He praises the well-matched voice cast and solid effects, but says the story gives its characters and emotional moments too little room to land. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/18/the-one-and-only-ivan-review-disneys-painting-gorilla-movie-lacks-colour) ## Collider — Drew Taylor Rating A-. 18 August 2020. Taylor finds the film an understated, emotionally complex family drama that is perfectly suited to its streaming release. He praises the expressive computer-generated animals, which deepen the emotional connection while avoiding the hypocrisy of using performing real animals. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-one-and-only-ivan-review-disney-plus-sam-rockwell-angelina-jolie/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2020. The critic finds the film unexpectedly melancholy and ultimately heartwarming, though its ending turns cheesy and tear-jerking. They praise the nuanced treatment of animal exploitation, the rendered CG animals, and Bryan Cranston’s understated performance. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-one-and-only-ivan-film-review-disney-movie-puts-a-tiger-king-spin-on-dumbo/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film clumsily sentimental but ultimately charming and entertaining for families. They single out Brooklyn Prince’s sweet voice performance as Ruby, while finding most of the famous cast uninspiring. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-one-and-only-ivan-review/) ## Consequence — Josh Spiegel Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 18 August 2020. The critic finds the film merely competent and not compelling enough to entertain. He singles out the real Ivan’s story as far more fascinating than the fictionalized film. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/08/film-review-the-one-and-only-ivan/) --- © 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-one-and-only-ivan.md