--- title: "Widows: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/widows/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/widows" critics_score: 80 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." --- # Widows (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 26 reviews: 24 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics welcome Widows as an intelligent, involving heist thriller, praising Steve McQueen’s handling of suspense alongside Chicago politics and questions of race, class and gender. Viola Davis draws the most consistent praise for conveying grief, resolve and vulnerability, while Elizabeth Debicki and Daniel Kaluuya also attract attention within a widely admired ensemble. The reviews largely find that the social detail and character work give the crime story weight without slowing its momentum. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to two mixed responses, with no outright negative reviews. Reservations centre on strained plotting, uneven character development and how comfortably the serious themes sit within the heist format. Film Comment admires the cast and visuals but finds the narrative logic frustrating; The Wrap shares the praise for Davis yet finds the pace sluggish and the genre elements ill-fitting. Even some favourable reviews acknowledge gaps in plausibility. ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 5/5. 11 October 2018. The critic calls Widows a supercharged Chicago-set caper of consummate skill that reminds viewers how entertaining crime movies can be. They single out the three lead women's transformation into a hard-nosed heist crew as the year's most pleasurable piece of character work. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/widows) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2018. McQueen turns a B-movie heist template into smart social realism with political astuteness and superb performances. The film stands out for integrating anxieties about race, class, gender, and privilege without feeling like escapism. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-widows-review-20181113-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 November 2018. McQueen delivers an empowering, electrifying thriller with a dream cast led by Viola Davis. It seamlessly intertwines character studies, politics and reimagined heist elements in a modern tale of class, race and gender. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/04/widows-review-steve-mcqueen-viola-davis-heist-thriller-lynda-la-plante) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2018. The critic praises Steve McQueen for delivering a sophisticated, exciting and socially aware heist thriller that expands on the original TV series with sharp commentary on race, gender and corruption in Chicago. Viola Davis's layered central performance is singled out as exceptional, particularly in conveying grief and resilience without words. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/widows-review-steve-mcqueen-pulls-off-one-hell-of-a-job-with-this-heist-thriller-a3978726.html) ## Sight and Sound — Pamela Hutchinson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2018. The critic hails McQueen's slick, intelligent blockbuster as an adult heist thriller with razzle-dazzle plotting and emotional heft. They single out Viola Davis's sophisticated performance and the camera's lingering on her face as one of the film's greatest pleasures. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-widows-takes-heist-thriller-spectacular-ride) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 November 2018. The critic calls the film a successful blend of prestige cinema and multiplex entertainment, commending McQueen's confident direction, the strong ensemble cast and its blend of thrilling action with political themes about inequality and power in America. Viola Davis is highlighted as the standout for her mix of vulnerability and toughness. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/widows-review/) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 4/4/4. 5 November 2018. The critic commends McQueen for delivering a taut crime drama with exceptional twists that also comments on gender and racial imbalance. They single out Elizabeth Debicki's transformation from submissive waif to resourceful figure as particularly bewitching. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/widows) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating ★★★★. The critic praises the film as an accessible, slick commercial offering that delivers unexpected food for thought alongside genre-savvy twists and suspense. They single out Viola Davis's determined intensity and soulful humanity as powering the movie. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/widows-review-delivers-food-for-thought-and-genre-savvy-twists/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2018. Festival review. The critic finds Widows an intelligent, entertaining drama that empowers multi-racial female casting in a big-budget thriller. They single out the strong, real and capable women at its centre as a key strength. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/widows-toronto-review/5132470.article) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2018. Widows is McQueen’s most fascinating, bracing feature to date, a demonstration of embracing commercial instincts while exploring subtext with depth and giving a holistic portrait of social context. The rich characterizations and visual precision stand out amid some shortchanged commentary. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/widows/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2018. Festival review. The film is a solid piece of genre fiction made more resonant by its characters and sociological implications, electrified by racial, political and gender issues. McQueen loads nearly every scene with incident and import while delivering kinetic goods. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/widows-review-1141429/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2018. The thriller is fractious and riven with grief, yet retains a clear-eyed view of American power and transactions. Strong cast, led by Viola Davis, carries the film despite logical gaps and its downbeat tone. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/19/the-fractious-frustrating-thrills-of-widows) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2018. The film is a somber heist thriller driven by grief and desperation rather than typical motives. Viola Davis commands the screen as the lead widow navigating loss and crime. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/movies/widows-review.html) ## Film Comment — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds it a dazzling but immensely frustrating film that gestures at brilliance but strains plausibility; praises the cast, visuals, and social grounding but complains about narrative logic and character development. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/film-week-widows/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 5/5. 10 October 2018. Festival review. McQueen delivers a stunning and impressively ballsy thriller that proves he can excel in the mainstream heist genre. The standout is Viola Davis's towering performance as the calculating widow Veronica. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/widows-review/) ## Paste — Tim Grierson Rating 9.4/10. 14 November 2018. McQueen's Widows is a mature, exciting, and engrossing heist film that avoids condescension or draining the material of vibrancy. The critic singles out the film's clear-eyed character work, menacing tone, and stellar ensemble including Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/widows/widows) ## Collider — Adam Chitwood Rating A-. 15 November 2018. Festival review. The critic praises McQueen for delivering a crackling, entertaining heist thriller that balances popcorn thrills with meaty themes and strong visuals. Standout performances from the female ensemble, especially Viola Davis, and supporting turns like Daniel Kaluuya are highlighted as key strengths. [Read the review](https://collider.com/widows-review-viola-davis/) ## Polygon — Matt Patches Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2018. Widows is a perfectly calibrated thriller that joins the canon of great heist movies like Heat through its blend of plot ingenuity, social commentary, and standout performances. The critic highlights the script's twists and the way it delivers satisfaction while remaining a crowd-pleaser. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/20/18103403/widows-review-best-heist-movies/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. Widows is an exhilarating film that uses its female ensemble to explore identity, race, and power in a thoughtful way beyond typical genre tropes. The critic praises the integration of Chicago politics and the strong performances that make the gender-reversed heist concept feel fresh and substantive. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/11/16/movies/widows-female-cast-viola-davis-michelle-rodriguez-cynthia-erivo-elizabeth-debicki) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 November 2018. The critic calls it a gripping heist movie and sensational thriller with a social twist, loaded with action and high drama from a superb ensemble cast led by Viola Davis. McQueen succeeds in blending genre thrills with his distinctive style and serious themes of race, class and injustice. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/widows-review-viola-davis-steve-mcqueen-michelle-rodriguez-elizabeth-debicki/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 14 September 2018. Praises the film's brutal authenticity, terrific performances (esp. Davis), and thematic depth on social issues, while noting some third-act strains in credibility. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/widows-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2018. McQueen crafts a gritty, gripping heist film far more interested in substance than the glossy surfaces of typical entries in the genre. The top-notch cast, led by Viola Davis's steely brilliance, grounds the story in lived-in reality while tackling themes of race, class, and corruption. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/widows-2018-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## /Film Rating 8/10. 9 September 2018. Festival review. Steve McQueen and Gillian Flynn deliver an exciting, brilliantly acted thriller that is a gem with more on its mind than a standard heist film. The film stands out for its emotional depth, strong female ensemble, and satisfying empowerment in the finale. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/560864/widows-review/) ## The Skinny — Caitlin Quinlan Rating 4/5. 1 November 2018. Festival review. Highly positive on the polished heist, ensemble cast (esp. Davis, Debicki, Kaluuya), balance of thriller and social commentary. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/widows-review-tiff-2018) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Rating B. 9 September 2018. Festival review. McQueen's stylish thriller is a good film that often reaches for greatness with its strong cast and heist plotting but feels like it could have been more. The screenplay checks the genre boxes effectively while weaving in social commentary, though it occasionally prioritizes thrills over deeper character clarity. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/widows-viola-davis-review-20180909/) ## The Wrap — Steve Pond Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. Festival review. The critic views it as a curious heist movie where McQueen focuses more on obsessions, desperation and corruption than on the intricacies of the robbery plot, resulting in a polished but slogging action film. Strong performances from the cast, especially Viola Davis, provide power and drama but the genre elements feel ill-fitting. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/widows-film-review-viola-davis-steve-mcqueen-heist-movie/) --- © 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/widows.md