← Back to results
Tolkien
2019 112 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★6.5
War, Drama, Romance
Director: Dome Karukoski
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
England, early 20th century. The future writer and philologist John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) and three of his schoolmates create a strong bond between them as they share the same passion for literature and art, a true fellowship that strengthens as they grow up, but the outbreak of World War I threatens to shatter it.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$4.54M
Worldwide:
$8.65M
Starring
Nicholas Hoult
Actor
Lily Collins
Actor
Colm Meaney
Actor
Key opinion
Tolkien is a visually polished but divisive biopic that prioritizes the author's formative life experiences over his creative process. While some viewers find its focus on brotherhood, romance, and wartime trauma poignant, others criticize it as a shallow, melodramatic, and historically loose collection of clichés.
| Production | The film features high-quality cinematography, period-accurate costumes, and a tasteful visual palette. | |
| Score | Thomas Newman's musical score is consistently praised as one of the film's strongest assets. | |
| Acting | Nicholas Hoult's performance is polarizing; some viewers find him passionate and compelling, while others label him miscast and unable to convey sufficient depth. | |
| Theme | The narrative focus divides audiences; those seeking a deep dive into the creative origins of Middle-earth are disappointed, while others appreciate the emotional focus on brotherhood and romance. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for feeling like a superficial 'Wikipedia summary' of facts rather than a cohesive or nuanced biographical study. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is widely described as slow and overlong, leading many viewers to lose interest before the conclusion. |