A visually stunning sci-fi epic that rewards patience despite its slow burn.
Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Blade Runner 2049 is broadly positive, with most reviewers praising Denis Villeneuve's direction and Roger Deakins' cinematography as standout achievements. Ryan Gosling's performance and the film's ambitious visual world-building were widely highlighted, with one critic suggesting Deakins deserves an Oscar for his work. The most consistent criticism concerns the film's slow pacing and lengthy runtime, with several reviewers cautioning that its deliberate narrative tempo may test audience patience.
1 not-rated review isn't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 10 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
If Deakins does not finally receive the Oscar for this one it's time for the Academy to shut down. Gosling is perfectly cast, and you're better off not knowing anything about the rest of the characters in the film.
Top critic
Film review ·
You will walk away impressed from 2049, mesmerised by its reimagining of Earth, delivered by the multiple Oscar-nominee cinematographer Roger Deakins. But you probably won't care much for this cold, radioactive, and fairly heartless, Earth.
Film review ·
Blade Runner 2049 is bold, challenging cinema, an almost Biblical success; like Terence Malick's The Tree of Life, Martin Scorsese's Silence, and Nolan's Interstellar, it positively demands multiple viewings.
Film review ·
Denis Villeneuve deftly picks up the Ridley Scott story and makes it better. Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto's performance is an added bonus.
Film review ·
This is a potential Oscar Goldmine even in terms of performance and probably the best ever sequel of an original iconic film, made.
Film review ·
Is Blade Runner 2049 the greatest sequel ever made, as some fans have claimed? I don't think so, as that honour still lies with The Godfather Part II and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Blade Runner 2049 is an improvement on the original movie, when it comes to ideas and definitely, technical values. The movie is an absolute marvel visually, but if the narration and the editing had been worked upon, the movie would have ended up as an instant classic. Do watch Blade Runner 2049 if you are a huge fan of the original.
Film review ·
Villeneuve's Blade Runner is grim, gritty, appropriately allegorical and morally ambiguous sans an iota of force. Ridley Scott, with his alarmingly precognitive visual and mortal landscape, had done to the generation what Black Mirror has consistently been achieving with millennials.
Film review ·
Watch Blade Runner 2049 only if you've the patience to sit still for around 3 hours. Don't expect it to be your usual fast-paced thriller film, this is slow and takes time to build up. This film is like an airplane, speed up on a runway for the first hour but takes off whirl winding on second.
Film review ·
Nevertheless it is fascinating as a potent, unwaveringly brutal and emotionally devastating film.
Film review ·
To summarise, treat yourself this week with a trip to 2049. You may return with more questions than before you went in, but at least it'll make you think.
From our readers
3 ratings · user score 7.0
Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 is an equally dull and boring yet visually appealing sibling of the 1982 Ridley Scott film, both of which basically have the same plot, same setting, and even the same characters to some extent, and which can only be completed watching with a struggle unless you doze off somewhere in the 31st minute, or if I want to sound pretentious like the film looks, the 49th minute. TN.
Credits
Ryan GoslingOfficer K
Harrison FordRick Deckard
Ana de ArmasJoi
Dave BautistaSapper Morton
Robin WrightLieutenant Joshi
Sylvia HoeksLuv
Mackenzie DavisMariette
Jared LetoNiander Wallace
Carla JuriDr. Ana Stelline
Hiam AbbassFreysa
Lennie JamesMister Cotton
David DastmalchianCoco
Edward James OlmosGaff
Barkhad AbdiDoc Badger
Wood HarrisNandez
Denis Villeneuve
Andrew A. Kosove
Broderick Johnson
Bud Yorkin
Hampton Fancher
Michael Green
Hans Zimmer
Benjamin Wallfisch
Roger Deakins
Joe WalkerEnglish films like Blade Runner 2049
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