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Million Dollar Baby Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 5.0
    86

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Universal acclaim
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 100

    out of 100

    USA Today Mike Clark

    As good as "Unforgiven." Or, to put it another way, as good as any movie Eastwood has ever directed.

    Read Full Review

  • 100

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    A masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true...The best film of the year.

    Read Full Review

  • 100

    out of 100

    Variety Todd McCarthy

    Staying at the top of his game when most of his contemporaries have long since hung up their gloves, Clint Eastwood delivers another knockout punch with Million Dollar Baby.

    Read Full Review

  • 100

    out of 100

    The New York Times Dana Stevens

    With its careful, unassuming naturalism, its visual thrift and its emotional directness, Million Dollar Baby feels at once contemporary and classical, a work of utter mastery that at the same time has nothing in particular to prove.

    Read Full Review

  • 100

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    Perhaps the director's most touching, most elegiac work yet, Million Dollar Baby is a film that does both the expected and the unexpected, that has the nerve and the will to be as pitiless as it is sentimental.

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  • 100

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

    Under Eastwood's painstakingly stripped-down direction -- his filmmaking has become the cinematic equivalent of Hemingway's spare though precise prose -- the story emerges as that rarest of birds, an uplifting tragedy.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    It is thoughtful, unfashionable, measured, mostly honest, sometimes clumsy or remote, often exciting, occasionally moving and eventually surprising. It's correct.

  • 91

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    A movie of tough excitement and surprise, even grace.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Million Dollar Baby reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 14+

Violent Oscar winner is inspiring but too intense for kids.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the movie features brutally realistic fight scenes with graphic injuries. A character becomes paralyzed and asks to be allowed to die. Characters drink and smoke and use some strong language, including the "N" word. There are some mild sexual references and some ugly insults. Some viewers may be unhappy with the portrayal of a priest who uses bad language.

  • Families can talk about what makes someone want to be a fighter. What does it mean to say that "everything in boxing is backward" and "sometimes the best way to deliver a punch is to step back?" How does that relate to the way the characters behave? Why does Frankie argue with the priest about theology? Do you agree with the sign in the gym that says "Winners are simply willing to do what losers won't?" What is it that winners are willing to do? How is the number one rule -- "protect yourself" -- applied by Frankie? By Maggie? By Eddie? Why did Maggie turn out so differently from her brother and sister? Families may also want to talk about Maggie's request and Frankie's decision.

The good stuff
  • message true3

    Messages: On the plus side, there's a strong inter-racial friendship between Frankie and Eddie, and a sweet, father-daughter-like bond between Frankie and Maggie. Viewers will be divided on whether Frankie makes the right decision for Maggie in the end, but his dedication to her after she's injured is admirable.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: Brutal boxing matches with graphic and very serious injuries.

  • sex false1

    Sex: Scantily-clad ring rings and reference to breasts.

  • language false3

    Language: Some strong language including the n-word and f-word.

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters drink and smoke.

Fan Reviews provided by

5

Million Dollar Baby Movie Review by Asianfreak
100 out of 100 An epic masterpiece from award-winning director Clint Eastwood that works on both sides of the camera. He fuses the story as a chick flick but turns out to be the most powerful, Oscar winning boxing drama of the decade. Let's clap for greatness.

5

by RoyaltybyGladys

5

My review of Million Dollar Baby by jwelch5742
This was excellent film. Wonderful Performances for Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, wonderful director for Clint Eastwood and great screenplay.

5


5

Best Movie I've Ever Seen!! by dansportskid4
Absolutely the most well made movie I have ever seen in the past 20 years! Perfect acting from Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood is a genius!! Go see this movie. You will not be sorry! I can't stress enough how amazing this movie is. Best movie ever. It's a tear jerker, but also a great feel good movie !!!!!!

5

by Harsh Critic2

5

by mrw1746

5

Review Title by JIVE
Review body

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