--- title: "The Theory of Everything: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-theory-of-everything/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-theory-of-everything" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 26 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 Theory of Everything (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 26 reviews: 19 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics find The Theory of Everything moving, with praise centred on Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones as Stephen and Jane Hawking. The reviews repeatedly credit their chemistry with making the marriage’s affection, strain and compromises convincing; Redmayne’s physical performance draws particular attention, while Jones is often judged essential to the emotional weight. Several critics also admire the cinematography and James Marsh’s sensitive direction, accepting the emphasis on the relationship rather than the physics. The main disagreement is over how much those performances overcome a conventional script. Supporters see restraint and an adult account of a difficult marriage; more qualified reviews find the storytelling formulaic, too polite or reluctant to explore its complications. The spread reaches from warm approval to outright rejection: Time Out praises the avoidance of schmaltz, whereas Eye for Film finds the film sentimental and superficial, with both the science and the characterisation underserved. ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2015. The film is deeply affecting thanks to astounding performances from Redmayne and Jones that make the unusual marriage into a love story speaking to all. It prioritises the relationship over theoretical physics in a conventional biopic structure elevated by inventive cinema techniques. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-theory-of-everything-film-review-eddie-redmayne-and-felicity-jones-give-performances-that-are-not-to-be-missed-9941675.html) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2014. Marsh's biopic honours both brain and body in a poignant, probing portrait of an ordinary marriage sustained in extraordinary circumstances, driven by the chemistry between the lead performances. It avoids awards-season clichés while balancing science, emotion and support turns. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/theory-everything-review/) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2014. The film offers a compassionate and inspiring look at an extraordinary life, anchored by two of the best performances of the year from Redmayne and Jones. It focuses on the couple's mutual respect and the strains on their marriage amid Hawking's illness. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/theory-everything-review/) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 4/5. Highlights Redmayne's Oscar-winning transformation but credits Jones's performance as key to the film's success in foregrounding the relationship. It's a grandly photogenic work based on Jane's memoir. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-k1mow9/the-theory-of-everything/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2015. The critic finds the film an unexpectedly charming and moving portrait of a difficult marriage, crediting strong performances especially from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones for creating a grown-up study of compromises under unique pressures. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/01/the-theory-of-everything-review-stephen-hawking-biopic-gravity) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 22 December 2014. It smartly avoids schmaltz while delivering approachable science and focusing on the couple's relationship with painful strains below the surface. Praises the extraordinary performances, especially Jones's strong portrayal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-theory-of-everything) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 3/4. 10 September 2014. Festival review. The film offers an elegant but conventional and risk-averse biopic that sands down the complexities of the Hawkings' marriage, though Redmayne and Jones succeed in subtle moments of empathy. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-theory-of-everything/) ## Film Comment — Eric Hynes Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 November 2014. The film slots Stephen Hawking's story into formulaic biopic conventions despite its unconventional subject. Redmayne delivers a standout central performance founded on genuine characterization. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/review-the-theory-of-everything-james-marsh/) ## IndieWire — Nikola Grozdanovic Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2014. Festival review. The biopic focuses on the relationship between Stephen and Jane Hawking with strong performances from the leads at its Toronto premiere. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/tiff-review-james-marshs-the-theory-of-everything-starring-eddie-redmayne-felicity-jones-272768/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2014. The film's emotional effectiveness comes down to the chemistry between Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones as they portray the Hawkings' complex marriage. Director James Marsh brings energy and intelligence to an effective script focused on personal challenges over physics. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-theory-everything-review-20141107-column.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2014. Festival review. It's an absorbingly lovely and sad recounting of a marriage, with stellar performances, though it can seem too rigid and prestige-picture precious at times. Singles out the performances and technical aspects like cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-theory-of-everything/5077237.article) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2014. The film tries to show Stephen Hawking in full, exploring his ideas, emotional life and struggle with illness. It succeeds as a moving portrait of marriage and resilience centered on strong performances. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/07/movies/in-the-theory-of-everything-stephen-hawkings-home-life.html) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2014. Festival review. Superb performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones anchor this sensitively directed inspirational biopic about the Hawkings' marriage and Stephen's struggle with motor neuron disease. It plays more as a stirring bittersweet love story than a cerebral scientific exploration. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/toronto-film-review-the-theory-of-everything-1201300258/) ## Little White Lies — Simran Hans Rating 2/3/3. 1 January 2015. The critic finds it a stylish but slightly fusty love story that mostly evades mawkishness thanks to strong performances, though it has occasional melodramatic lurches. Praises the lead performances of Redmayne and Jones for making the marriage as compelling as the science. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-theory-of-everything) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2014. Eddie Redmayne's performance is astonishing and a triumph of sympathetic imagination, but the film has many problems, shallow dramatic technique, and lousy final scenes that prevent it from jelling. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/11/movie-review-the-theory-of-everything-stephen-hawking.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2014. Festival review. The film is a solid, duly moving account of the Hawkings' complicated relationship made with professional polish, but a disappointment for fans of director James Marsh as the highs are not frequent. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/theory-everything-toronto-review-730837/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2014. The film refuses to wallow in tragedy or indulge in hagiography, instead highlighting Hawking’s humanity and drive through strong performances by Redmayne and Jones. It immerses viewers in the protagonists’ lives with lush visuals and avoids typical biopic cynicism. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2014/11/film-review-the-theory-of-everything/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 2 January 2015. The film is a compelling, even-handed portrait of Hawking and his wife that avoids excessive sentimentality. Redmayne and Jones deliver superb performances, supported by astute direction and imaginative cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-theory-of-everything-review-2/) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 2014. The critic praises the authentic portrayal of the relationship and standout performances by Redmayne and Jones, noting it transcends typical biopic tropes with humor and emotional depth, while criticizing its overambitious scope covering too much ground. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-theory-of-everything-review/) ## Collider — Phil Brown Rating B. 8 September 2014. Festival review. The film is a beautiful and moving but flawed biopic that shoots straight for the middle in telling Hawking’s life story. It excels in Redmayne’s extraordinary performance depicting his physical decline while retaining wit and charm, though it glosses over some complexities. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-theory-of-everything-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating B. 7 September 2014. Festival review. The review highlights beautiful cinematography and strong performances by Redmayne and Jones but notes it's a standard biopic that may disappoint on the science side, ultimately calling it accomplished and emotional. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/tiff-review-james-marshs-the-theory-of-everything-starring-eddie-redmayne-felicity-jones-20140907/) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 6.5. 10 November 2014. The film follows boilerplate romantic comedy tropes in depicting the Hawkings’ life together but succeeds through restraint and strong performances by Redmayne and Jones. It is earnest and anchored by the actors despite its formulaic biopic trappings. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/theory-of-everything) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Rating 3/5. 2 January 2015. The earnest biopic elevates a lacklustre script through strong direction and performances, with Redmayne and Jones shining. It remains too polite and reluctant to engage with harsher realities of the story. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a618927/the-theory-of-everything-review-eddie-redmayne-shines-as-stephen-hawking/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2014. Festival review. The film is a conventional biopic that renders the Hawkings' story standard-issue despite its extraordinary real-life basis. It singles out Eddie Redmayne's captivating performance for praise while noting the formulaic approach overall. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-theory-of-everything-review-eddie-redmayne-stephen-hawking/) ## The Skinny — Philip Concannon Rating 2/5. 18 December 2014. The film is a straightforward, clichéd potted history aimed at awards voters with no artistic ambition. The leads' chemistry provides the only elevation above mediocrity. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-theory-of-everything) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 2014. The critic finds the film superficial and sentimental, like a life insurance commercial, criticizing the lack of depth in characterizations, sidelining of science, and overly polished but empty portrayal. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-theory-of-everything-2014-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © 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-theory-of-everything.md