--- title: "The Night Manager: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-night-manager/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-night-manager" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 9 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 Night Manager (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 9 reviews: 9 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. All nine reviews are positive, though enthusiasm ranges from qualified approval to wholehearted praise. Most critics value The Night Manager as polished spy entertainment, with praise clustering around Susanne Bier’s direction, the glamorous locations and the cast. Hugh Laurie draws particular notice, while Tom Hiddleston’s charm and Olivia Colman’s performance also earn approval. Reservations centre on familiar plotting and limited character depth: several critics find the series more accomplished in its execution than surprising in its storytelling. Some also miss the moral ambiguity associated with le Carré. The disagreement is chiefly about how much substance accompanies the spectacle. The AV Club finds surface pleasures but little complexity or surprise, whereas Den of Geek praises the plotting and pacing and regards it as substantive spy drama. The consensus is broad approval of the performances and presentation, with less agreement about what lies beneath them. ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Rating B+. 19 April 2016. The critic praises the flawless production, direction by Susanne Bier, and performances, especially Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman, but notes the story feels like a by-the-book spy tale that has become predictable. It succeeds in execution but doesn't break new ground. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/review-the-night-manager-perfectly-tells-a-classic-or-is-it-cliche-story-289748/) ## The Guardian — Sam Wollaston Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2016. The critic finds the BBC adaptation of le Carré's novel skilfully updated and sexed up for television, filling the Sunday-night slot splendidly. Tom Hiddleston is perfect as the charming, self-deprecating Jonathan Pine and Hugh Laurie delivers a splendid performance as the villainous Richard Roper. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/feb/22/the-night-manager-review-bbc-le-carre) ## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2016. The miniseries succeeds as escapist entertainment with suspense, glamour, and strong lead performances from Hiddleston and Laurie, directed convincingly by Susanne Bier, though it lacks le Carré's ambiguity. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/04/night-manager-succeeds-as-escapist-entertainment.html) ## The AV Club — Zack Handlen Rating B. 19 April 2016. The series is elegant and well-acted with strong performances from Hiddleston, Laurie, and Colman, offering surface pleasures and Le Carré hallmarks, but lacks depth in character complexity and rarely thrills or surprises. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-night-manager-is-elegant-well-chilled-spy-craft-1798187435) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Dalton Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2016. Festival review. The glossy, high-budget miniseries is positioned as a star vehicle for Tom Hiddleston and a mainstream crowd-pleaser with Bond-like appeal, strong on spectacle and the leads' chemistry. Supporting characters feel one-dimensional and plotting obvious at times, but it delivers solid genre entertainment. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/night-manager-berlin-review-867287/) ## Variety — Maureen Ryan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 April 2016. The critic praises the versatile cast, especially Hugh Laurie's nuanced, magnetic turn as the arms dealer Roper, and the series' timely themes and lush production values. Some plotting feels stretched and undercooked with occasional issues in character chemistry and depth, but the miniseries remains entertaining overall. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/tom-hiddleston-night-manager-review-1201752738/) ## Collider — Allison Keene Rating ★★★★★. 15 April 2016. The miniseries delivers on every front as an engrossing adaptation with strong performances from its leads. The critic singles out the sumptuous direction and juxtaposition of beauty with tension for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-night-manager-review-tom-hiddleston/) ## Den of Geek — Alec Bojalad Rating 4.5/5. 20 April 2016. The adaptation is perfectly paced and satisfying with excellent plotting, beautiful visuals, and charming performances, particularly Hiddleston's as a decent and competent hero; it's substantive spy drama. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-night-manager-review/) ## Paste — Kristofer Seppala Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 2016. The spy drama mini-series is a fantastic watch that feels like an extended cut of a spy film, with exotic locations, strong character build-up, and elevated pacing and stakes after the slow-burn start. Hiddleston's performance serves as the perfect calling card proving he should be the next James Bond. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/night-manager/the-night-manager-proves-tom-hiddleston-should-be) --- © 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/tv/the-night-manager.md