"It's an awe-inspiring achievement."
— Nicholas Barber, BBC.com
"This is, truly, bravura filmmaking."
— Jordan Hoffman, The Messenger
"Only a true master general could corral a piece of cinema this rolling and rich."
— Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph (UK)
"A visually-stunning old school cinematic epic with unbelievably majestic battle sequences."
— Edward Douglas, Above the Line
"It’s an epic crowd-pleaser with a stellar cast who deliver top-notch performances and Scott’s best work since 'The Martian.'"
— Simon Thompson, The Playlist
"Scott brings his A game. The film is a gripping, often delightfully lairy slab of pop history, made with mischief, flash and meticulous craft."
— Danny Leigh, Financial Times
"Here is a sweeping historical tapestry — no one does it better today than Scott — with a damning, almost satirical portrait at its center."
— Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
"The director’s 28th feature is a magnificent slab of dad cinema, with Phoenix a startling emperor and Vanessa Kirby brilliant as his wife."
— Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
"Phoenix is the key to it all: a performance as robust as the glass of burgundy he knocks back: preening, brooding, seething and triumphing."
— Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
"Genuinely thrilling! Ridley Scott's incredibly precise and masterfully acted film is his finest since Gladiator. The very definition of a must-see film."
— Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
"Napoleon is a grand film, both in terms of Scott creating a story with a size we’ve rarely seen from him, and the bold, large choices made by a completely game Phoenix."
— Ross Bonaime, Collider
"As entertainment Napoleon delivers without glorifying his military record or painting the man as a hero. It’s a story about power, obsession and exploitation – which arguably is the story of history itself."
— Hannah Strong, Little White Lies
"It’s a tall order to deliver a portrayal of such an auspicious historical character. Little effort is made to glorify him, and Scott makes sure that the audience renders their own judgement on his significance in history."
— John Kirk, Original-Cin
"In short, it’s the life of Napoleon as only Scott can tell it, full of verve, spectacle, and machismo. Its battle scenes are thrilling, a throwback to the sort of spectacle no one in Hollywood – save, well, Ridley Scott – is interested in anymore."
— Clarisse Loughrey, The Independent
"Napoleon features exceptional battle scenes as well as tart back-and-forths between these romantic combatants, resulting in a lavish, thoughtful drama that remains entranced and bemused by France’s most notorious emperor — a brilliant strategic mind who could not have been more insecure."
— Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
"The film’s epic nature embraces not only size and scope but also the exquisite craftsmanship on display, from the detail work of Janty Yates and Dave Crossman’s costumes to cinematographer Dariusz Wolski’s ability to differentiate a successful battle from a disastrous one simply through his lighting choices."
— Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict
