the good samaritan movie review

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Samaritan Reviews

It’s not Stallone’s fault “Samaritan” doesn’t rise above its lumbering mediocrity until the last 30 minutes of the film.

Full Review | Oct 26, 2023

It is a shame that the tone and pacing of the film let down some of its stronger elements with a rushed conclusion and some questionable narrative decisions, with a first act that sits uneasily with the rest of the film.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2023

Samaritan holds quite an interesting premise, but sadly, it's yet another addition to the list of films with wasted potential. A tad frustrating in retrospect.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jul 25, 2023

Isn’t bad but it isn’t great either.. Julius Avery does his best with the script handed to him & Stallone really brings a lot to this role.. but I left feeling nothing

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

Samaritan imagines what things would be like if Superman lived in Gotham instead of Metropolis.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 20, 2023

Samaritan squanders what could have been a fascinating concept by drowning in its own predictability.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 22, 2022

The movie can sometimes get boring, but it’s not a bad choice if you’ve been missing the violence of an aging action hero.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Nov 30, 2022

Despite a surprise switch ending, it is doubtful 'Samaritan' will ever prompt a sequel.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Nov 17, 2022

So, the table is set with all the main ingredients — the thing which hinders 'Samaritan' is that it’s lacking the things to make it stand out.

Full Review | Sep 23, 2022

It’s fun to see Stallone walk through raining bullets like Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, but other than that it’s a creaky, joyless ride.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 23, 2022

A solid idea is reduced to a lackluster mentorship and not much for Stallone to explore as a character given the script would rather save the most interesting angle for an obvious late turn in the story.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 20, 2022

It's familiar and formulaic yet Stallone does get a laugh when he mutters, "I'm not going to wreck my knees entertaining you."

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Sep 14, 2022

Samaritan's flaws are apparent, but all its missteps find a lifesaver in Stallone's magnetism. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 12, 2022

Sylvester Stallone looks great for his age, and Aussie director Julius Avery is an exciting visualist whose framing and colour recalls Todd Phillip’s Joker, but in every other respect Samaritan is a pretty rote fallen super-hero adventure

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 10, 2022

While it’s harmless, the cliches in the “Samaritan” script are even older than this movie’s venerable star.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 10, 2022

Stallone delivers in the role, one with a few layers to it, delivering a thunderous battle cry in the finale. That’s the cherry on top. Schut’s screenplay has a compelling third act element to it that lifts the material up a notch.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 9, 2022

Nothing new here. Old guy befriends young kid - and saves the world.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Sep 9, 2022

A colossal waste of Sylvester Stallone’s skills, and your time.

Full Review | Sep 9, 2022

The story does not get the focused and consistent treatment it deserves.

Full Review | Sep 8, 2022

Even with a PG-13 rating, Samaritan still manages to maintain a genuine hard-edged tone with surprising effectiveness, delivering entertaining superhero escapism that is a far cry from the neutered, humor driven drivel seen these days.

Cast & crew
User reviews

A young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have died after an epic battle twenty-five years ago may in fact still be alive. A young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have died after an epic battle twenty-five years ago may in fact still be alive. A young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have died after an epic battle twenty-five years ago may in fact still be alive.

Julius Avery
Bragi F. Schut
Sylvester Stallone
Javon 'Wanna' Walton
Pilou Asbæk
543 User reviews
122 Critic reviews
45 Metascore
2 nominations

Top cast 58

Tiffany Cleary

Albert Casler

Arthur Holloway

Devin Holloway

(as Kevin Curry)

(as Dwayne Alistair Thomas)

Little Girl

Beaten Cop (Junk Yard)
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

Trivia The film is inspired by Unbreakable (2000) and Finding Forrester (2000) .
Goofs The city was just blacked out, but at the end scene, where Samaritan walks away under the bridge, the lights are on. Also you can see lights far ahead. The "EMP Grenades" didn't have enough power for long (time) and far (distance).

Joe : I'm a troglodyte. Do you know what that is?

Sam Cleary : No clue.

Joe : It's Greek for a man who dwells in a cave. See, I'm a caveman. I live in a tiny apartment, and it's fine. I'm good with it. I like being alone. You know what bothers me? What really depresses me? Being around other people.

Connections Referenced in OWV Updates: Multimedia Update (15/03/2020) (2020)
Soundtracks Memories of Benny Written and Performed by John Dankworth Courtesy of Audio Network