---
title: "The Wolverine: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-wolverine/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-wolverine"
critics_score: 59
critics_reviews: 22
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 Wolverine (2013): what the critics said

Critics' score 59 from 22 reviews: 5 positive, 13 mixed, 4 negative.

Most critics find The Wolverine a middling improvement: a step up from the previous solo outing without being much more than that. The praise clusters in two places. The first is the Japanese setting, which many reviews credit with giving the film a flavour the series has lacked, with Logan played as a stranger in a country that has no use for him. The second is a single sequence, the fight on top of the bullet train, named by review after review as the best thing in it. Hugh Jackman is widely thought to be doing more vulnerable work than usual, and the quieter first hour has its admirers.

The reservations gather almost entirely around the final act, which most critics describe as a slide into familiar, effects-heavy spectacle, with a villain and a corporate plot few care about. The spread is wide, from HeyUGuys at full marks to The Guardian and the Evening Standard, both of which find the film flat and tired by the end.

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 23 July 2013. 

Debruge finds the film entertaining and unexpectedly existential, though its finale falls short of the preceding story. He especially praises Jackman’s emotionally vulnerable performance and the way the film gives Wolverine’s character new depth.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-wolverine-1200566296/)

## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd

Rating B. 25 July 2013. 

Dowd finds the film an enjoyable, self-contained action movie despite its underwhelming plot and thin supporting characters. He praises the kinetic set pieces, especially the fight atop a speeding bullet train.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-wolverine-1798177476)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Megan Lehmann

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 July 2013. 

Lehmann sees the film as a step forward for the franchise, though its third act collapses and the climactic battle disappoints. She praises the Japanese setting and especially the expertly staged bullet-train fight.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wolverine-film-review-589329/)

## Empire — Chris Hewitt

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2013. 

Hewitt finds it an improvement on the previous Wolverine film, though it ultimately slips into familiar, unsatisfying formula. He praises the distinctive Japanese setting and the inventive Shinkansen fight, while faulting the convoluted, effects-heavy finale.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wolverine-review/)

## Los Angeles Times — Andy Klein

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2013. 

Klein finds the film solidly made, with several impressive action sequences. He singles out the bullet-train fight for praise and faults the choice of romance, arguing Yukio is more interesting than Mariko.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/entertainment/tn-gnp-xpm-2013-07-26-tn-gnp-et-film-review-an-immortal-comes-out-of-retirement-in-the-wolverine-20130726-story.html)

## Screen Daily — Kim Newman

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2013. 

The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict cannot be read in the available text. No specific praise or complaint is visible.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-wolverine/5058438.article)

## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz

Rating 2.5/4. 25 July 2013. 

The review finds the film uneven rather than fully successful. It singles out Hugh Jackman's performance as a strength.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-wolverine-2013)

## Slant Magazine — R. Kurt Osenlund

Rating 2.5/4. 24 July 2013. 

Osenlund finds the film strongest when it feels like a muted character study, though its plot eventually loses risk and falls into familiar blockbuster conventions. He praises the Japan setting and Mangold’s stylishly staged action, especially the train-top sequence and swordplay.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-wolverine/)

## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall

Rating 3/5. 

The critic calls it a definite improvement on the previous solo Wolverine film. They praise James Mangold’s use of Logan as a fish out of water.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-efqc9c/the-wolverine/)

## Total Film — Neil Smith

Rating 3/5. 18 July 2013. 

The critic calls it perfectly decent but ponderous, and an improvement on the first Wolverine solo film. The spectacular action and Hugh Jackman’s performance stand out, while the pacing and Silver Samurai reveal disappoint.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-wolverine-review/)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 

The review finds the story vague, but appreciates the film’s steady Japanese setting and stylish action. It singles out the bullet-train fight and the snowy homage to Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood.”

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-wolverine-2)

## Time Out — Guy Lodge

Rating 2/5. 22 July 2013. 

Lodge gives the film two out of five, indicating an unfavorable verdict. The available page text does not reveal what he singles out for praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-wolverine)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2013. 

Edelstein finds the film agreeable in its smaller scale but ultimately mechanical and poorly staged. He praises the inventive bullet-train sequence and Yukio’s energetic action, while faulting the plotting and villain.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/07/movie-review-the-wolverine.html)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 2013. 

O'Sullivan finds the film unfocused and weighed down by changes to its source material. She praises Hugh Jackman's watchable performance and singles out the bullet-train fight as a delight.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-wolverine-film-review-8732412.html)

## The Guardian — Henry Barnes

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2013. 

Barnes finds the film increasingly wearied, with predictable action and a duller, flatter feel. He singles out the opening hour’s gangster-thriller pacing, but says the later fights and drab scenery undermine it.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/18/the-wolverine-hugh-jackman-review)

## HeyUGuys — Ben Mortimer

Rating 5/5. 17 July 2013. 

The critic calls it a refreshingly strong X-Men entry and possibly the best Wolverine film, praising its focused story and lively tone. They single out Mangold’s decision to strip Logan of his invulnerability for making the danger and action more engaging.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-wolverine-review/)

## Paste — Scott Wold

Rating 7/10. 28 July 2013. 

Wold finds the film a fitfully delivered, hit-and-miss entry that falls short of its promising setup. He praises Hugh Jackman’s performance and Mangold’s restraint in keeping cameos and distractions to a minimum.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-wolverine)

## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde

Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 23 July 2013. 

The critic finds it an entertaining return to form, though it falls short of the series at its best. The Logan–Mariko scenes and the bullet-train fight stand out, while the villain and corporate intrigue disappoint.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/wolverine-review-hugh-jackmans-bad-news-mutant-returns-fighting-form-105391/)

## Den of Geek — James Hunt

Rating 3/5. 17 July 2013. 

Hunt finds The Wolverine a good, character-focused improvement over its predecessor, though its final act undermines the film. He praises the Japanese setting and the well-rounded supporting characters, especially Yukio.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-wolverine-review/)

## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds

Rating 3/5. 17 July 2013. 

The review finds the film interesting but flawed, and only a modest improvement over its predecessor. It praises the Japan-set samurai influence for giving the film a distinct flavour, while faulting its shift into conventional blockbuster spectacle.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a498736/the-wolverine-review-hugh-jackman-takes-x-men-hero-to-japan/)

## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff

Rating C-. 24 July 2013. 

The critic finds the film maddeningly frustrating, especially as its dark character story fails to mesh with superhero action. The review praises its occasionally engaging, introspective early moments but condemns the ridiculous, tone-deaf final act.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-wolverine-starring-hugh-jackman-20130724/)

## Eye for Film — Owen Van Spall

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 19 July 2013. 

The review finds the film a successful but ultimately underwhelming stopgap before the next X-Men event. It praises Hugh Jackman’s charisma while faulting the film for lacking the wit and a compelling villain.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-wolverine-2013-film-review-by-owen-van-spall)

---
© 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-wolverine.md