The Wolverine
Stream
Rent & Buy
Wolverine faces his ultimate nemesis - and tests of his physical, emotional, and mortal limits - in a life-changing voyage to modern-day Japan.
What critics thought
The Wolverine earns genuine goodwill for its smaller-scale, Japan-set character study — critics responded warmly to Jackman's performance and the film's more grounded, existential tone — but the final act's pivot to large-scale CGI spectacle struck many as a betrayal of everything that made the first two-thirds work. Mangold himself later confirmed the studio pushed for bigger action, and the tension between intimate drama and blockbuster obligation is exactly what divides critics.
“an entertaining and surprisingly existential digression from his usual X-Men exploits. Though Wolvie comes across a bit world-weary and battle-worn by now, Jackman is in top form, taking the opportunity to test the character's physical and emotional extremes. Fans might've preferred bigger action or more effects, but Mangold does them one better, recovering the soul of a character whose near-immortality made him tiresome.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
“The Wolverine is a stand alone adventure for the classic character that reminds us that there's more to this genre than universe-building and crossovers. ... [The] story paints a deep and compelling portrait of Logan, a haunted character that Jackman still finds new ways to play all these years later.”
Scott Collura·IGN
“Hugh Jackman's sixth time out in the claws and hair combo is looking increasingly wearied, as the backstory gets more complicated and the action gets duller and flatter.”
Henry Barnes·The Guardian
“Hugh Jackman has the role of the mutant superhero down pat, but the rest of the film is the same old slice and dice.”
Joe Neumaier·New York Daily News
“features some breathtakingly suspenseful action sequences, exquisite production and costume design and colorful characters, some of whom register more powerfully than others.”
Christy Lemire·RogerEbert.com
Genres
Action, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
James MangoldDirector
Hugh JackmanLogan / Wolverine
Hiroyuki SanadaShingen Harada / Lord Shingen
Tao OkamotoMariko Yashida / Scarlet Samurai
Rila FukushimaYukio
Famke JanssenJean Grey / Phoenix
Will Yun LeeHarada
Svetlana KhodchenkovaMadame Hydra / Viper
Hal YamanouchiIchiro Yashida / Silver Samurai
Brian TeeNoburo Mori
Ken YamamuraYoung Yashida
Marco BeltramiComposer
Scott FrankWriter
Mark BombackWriterThe Wolverine
Wolverine faces his ultimate nemesis - and tests of his physical, emotional, and mortal limits - in a life-changing voyage to modern-day Japan.
What critics thought
The Wolverine earns genuine goodwill for its smaller-scale, Japan-set character study — critics responded warmly to Jackman's performance and the film's more grounded, existential tone — but the final act's pivot to large-scale CGI spectacle struck many as a betrayal of everything that made the first two-thirds work. Mangold himself later confirmed the studio pushed for bigger action, and the tension between intimate drama and blockbuster obligation is exactly what divides critics.
“an entertaining and surprisingly existential digression from his usual X-Men exploits. Though Wolvie comes across a bit world-weary and battle-worn by now, Jackman is in top form, taking the opportunity to test the character's physical and emotional extremes. Fans might've preferred bigger action or more effects, but Mangold does them one better, recovering the soul of a character whose near-immortality made him tiresome.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
“The Wolverine is a stand alone adventure for the classic character that reminds us that there's more to this genre than universe-building and crossovers. ... [The] story paints a deep and compelling portrait of Logan, a haunted character that Jackman still finds new ways to play all these years later.”
Scott Collura·IGN
“Hugh Jackman's sixth time out in the claws and hair combo is looking increasingly wearied, as the backstory gets more complicated and the action gets duller and flatter.”
Henry Barnes·The Guardian
“Hugh Jackman has the role of the mutant superhero down pat, but the rest of the film is the same old slice and dice.”
Joe Neumaier·New York Daily News
“features some breathtakingly suspenseful action sequences, exquisite production and costume design and colorful characters, some of whom register more powerfully than others.”
Christy Lemire·RogerEbert.com
Genres
Action, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
James MangoldDirectorHugh JackmanLogan / WolverineHiroyuki SanadaShingen Harada / Lord ShingenTao OkamotoMariko Yashida / Scarlet SamuraiRila FukushimaYukioFamke JanssenJean Grey / PhoenixWill Yun LeeHaradaSvetlana KhodchenkovaMadame Hydra / ViperHal YamanouchiIchiro Yashida / Silver SamuraiBrian TeeNoburo MoriKen YamamuraYoung YashidaMarco BeltramiComposerScott FrankWriterMark BombackWriterStream
Rent & Buy