Critic Reviews

Spartacus (1960) Rank 4 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give Spartacus (1960) a score of 3.6173 out of 4
based on (26) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Good
2
Good
(0)
Fair
1
Fair
(0)
Poor
0
Poor
(0)
Reviews by Score:
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Popcorn Pictures ReviewPopcorn Pictures Review
The all-star cast, cracking script and screenplay and superb battle scenes make this stand the test of time as one of the outstanding epics. Kirk Douglas is in his best role ever here, playing Spartacus with such emotion and passion and always managing ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Popcorn Pictures Review
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for BBCi - FilmsBBCi - Films
The story follows Spartacus (played with career-defining heroism by Douglas), a slave bought by Peter Ustinov to join his gladiator school. Once there, he becomes the best darn fighter in the biz (sound familiar?), but decides to do something about the ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at BBCi - Films
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.com DVD review (James Plath)Reel.com DVD review (James Plath)
Some stories are epic even behind the scenes. Blacklisted writer Howard Fast says he thought about Spartacus while in prison for contempt of congress — for refusing to "name names" during the 1947 House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. "In ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Reel.com DVD review (James Plath)
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.88 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.comfilmcritic.com
The original movie about gladiators, with Kirk Douglas taking the starring role in Stanley Kubrick's muddy epic (over three hours long) about slaves vs. Romans in the heyday of the Empire. Director Stanley Kubrick was obviously just collecting a ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at filmcritic.com
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.76 out of 4 stars for Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
At the time of its first release in 1960, "Spartacus" was hailed as the first intellectual epic since the silent days - the first Roman or Biblical saga to deal with ideas as well as spectacle. Even the ending was daring. The crucified hero is denied a ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.70 out of 4 stars for CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)
If you have access to a DVD player and love movies, get hold of the special Criterion edition of Spartacus and turn on the main commentary track for some of the most illuminating and brutally honest background information and criticism that has ever been ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.61 out of 4 stars for Thoughts on StuffThoughts on Stuff
This is the only Richard Linklater film I had not seen, largely because it has not been released on DVD. However, the library had the VHS, so I broke one of my major rules and watched a pan and scan presentation of the film. Despite those bad viewing ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Thoughts on Stuff
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.61 out of 4 stars for DVD BreakdownDVD Breakdown
Stanley Kubrick may have been a gun for hire on this film and never considered it to be part of his real body of work, but his cynical eye for political machinations and his negation of the heroic individual makes this a much more interesting movie than ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Breakdown
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.59 out of 4 stars for DVD Movie CentralDVD Movie Central
In his autobiography The Ragman’s Son, Douglas recalls the constant strain of reeling in actors Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton, both of whom quibbled over every little detail, from the slightest line of dialogue to the issues of money and ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Movie Central
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.59 out of 4 stars for Movie Vault (Vadim Rizov)Movie Vault (Vadim Rizov)
Spartacus was a transition period for Kubrick, between his very personal anti-war film Paths Of Glory and the beginning of his career as a director completely in control of his material. But for this movie, Kubrick was brought in one week after ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Movie Vault (Vadim Rizov)
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.58 out of 4 stars for Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Set in Ancient Rome, Spartacus follows a group of slaves that are bought up by a trainer of gladiators to hold as entertainment for patricians who want to see them fight to the death. Unable to take the injustices of slavery any longer, one of the slaves ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.58 out of 4 stars for DVD Savant reviewDVD Savant review
Spartacus is of course a spectacular, intelligent, witty and emotionally affecting movie, an epic that made a bold move and took for its subject secular totalitarian politics instead of watered-down bible sermons. Spartacus was a complicated production ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Savant review
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.58 out of 4 stars for Movie Reviews UKMovie Reviews UK
As one of the most famous film epics Spartacus takes us, battle by battle, through a slave uprising in Roman Italy and the intrigues of the Senate. The central figure, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), is a gladiator-trained slave with more brains and balls than ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Movie Reviews UK
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.57 out of 4 stars for DVD JournalDVD Journal
Certainly, in terms of careers formed and taboos broken and the beauty and skill of its 1991 restoration, Spartacus is an important film. Taken on its own merits, however — freed of the shackles of being Important Cinema, if that's possible — a more ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Journal
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.57 out of 4 stars for BigSofaBigSofa
Something about the Kirk Douglas scenes in Spartacus made me feel as if I was watching an old Star Trek script blown up to fit a big screen epic. But as Spartacus preceded Star Trek by a few years, then I should instead perhaps say that some of the ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at BigSofa
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.57 out of 4 stars for DVD VerdictDVD Verdict
Widely recognized as a classic film, and one with an undeniable place in Hollywood history, Spartacus showcases a number of luminous acting stars fixed in a slowly developing story of the indomitable human spirit colliding with inevitable tragedy. ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Verdict
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.56 out of 4 stars for digitallyOBSESSED! DVD ReviewsdigitallyOBSESSED! DVD Reviews
Spartacus is the quintessential poster child for The Criterion Collection's brand of film restoration. Locked in memory as a beloved epic, it is actually more deserving of preservation for its politics - both on screen and behind-the-scenes - than its ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at digitallyOBSESSED! DVD Reviews
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.56 out of 4 stars for I Viddied it on the Screen (Alex Jackson)I Viddied it on the Screen (Alex Jackson)
Roger Ebert and MaryAnn JoHanson both make the same modest complaint regarding "Spartacus": They think that it has dated. Now, I do love "Spartacus" and I don't require that everybody else love it also, but I'm inspired to come to the film's ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at I Viddied it on the Screen (Alex Jackson)
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.54 out of 4 stars for DVDTown (John J. Puccio)DVDTown (John J. Puccio)
The 1950s were a time of change, and not a little trepidation, for the movie industry. Television was the enemy, keeping people in their homes, and Hollywood was doing everything it could to lure viewers back into theaters. It was the age of widescreen ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVDTown (John J. Puccio)
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Chainsaw FodderChainsaw Fodder
Holy smokes, what a movie! This is another one of those "I'm really embarrassed that I have never seen this" movies that I am sure glad I finally had the good sense of renting. Kirk Douglas stars as Spartacus, a slave who revolts and leads a slave ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Chainsaw Fodder
Spartacus (1960) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The MovieHamlet (Stefan Hedmark)The MovieHamlet (Stefan Hedmark)
This is a story about freedom. Our hero was born without it and died without it. It is easy to see what Dalton Trumbo saw in the titular character in Howard Fast’s novel. Mr. Trumbo’s own freedom was taken away from him when he was blacklisted during ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at The MovieHamlet (Stefan Hedmark)
 
Advertisment
Movie Reviews:
Action
Spartacus (1960) Reviews
Spartacus (1960)

RANKINGS:

Expand All | Close All
Lowest Price:
$9.49
Buy Spartacus (1960)
Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
3.6087
Spartacus (1960) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
3.6173
Spartacus (1960) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Learn More ...
Ads by Google
 
TopTenReviews Home shop rebates Software reviews Electronic reviews Web Services reviews Mobile Movies reviews Music reviews Video Games reviews Holiday