RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Blow-Up
Blow-Up

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Blow-Up (1966)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
86 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:35

Fresh:30

Rotten:5

Average Rating:8/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 2 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Michelangelo Antonioni delivers yet another masterful cinematic expose with BLOW UP, a provocative mystery set in the seamy mod culture of London. The film follows a photographer (David Hemmings)... Michelangelo Antonioni delivers yet another masterful cinematic expose with BLOW UP, a provocative mystery set in the seamy mod culture of London. The film follows a photographer (David Hemmings) who captures evidence of a murder when he takes some innocent snapshots of a couple in the park. As he digs deeper and deeper into the photograph's actual negative in order to unravel the mystery, he also must contend with a seemingly dangerous woman (Vanessa Redgrave) who knows more than she is letting on. Atmospheric, tense, with a refreshing jolt of humor, Antonioni's stylish thriller influenced the work of many of cinema's most celebrated directors, including Francis Ford Coppola's THE CONVERSATION, Brian De Palma's BLOW OUT, and David Lynch's BLUE VELVET. [More]

Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, David Hemmings, Sarah Miles, Jill Kennington

Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, David Hemmings, Sarah Miles, Jill Kennington, Verushka, Peter Bowles, Jane Birkin, Gillian Hills

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Blow-Up

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
splat

Geoff Andrew

As often with Antonioni, a film riddled with moments of brilliance and scuppered by infuriating pretensions.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 04:32 AM

Time Out

tomato
5/5

Rich Cline

No review available.

comment Comment | Jan., 16 2004 07:27 AM

Shadows on the Wall

tomato
4/5

Almar Haflidason

Michelangelo Antonioni's first English language film is as maddening to watch as it is absorbing.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

BBC

tomato
5/5

Pablo Villaca

O rigor estético aqui exibido por Antonioni, somado à excepcional montagem de Frank Clarke, à bela fotografia de Carlo Di Palma e à atuação inspirada de Hemming, garante ao filme um vigor e um charme que só crescem com o tempo.

comment Comment | Apr., 10 2009 07:47 PM

Cinema em Cena

tomato

Jonathan Rosenbaum

This is so ravishing to look at (the colors all seem newly minted) and pleasurable to follow (the enigmas are usually more teasing than worrying) that you're likely to excuse the metaphysical pretensions.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 31 2007 11:56 AM

Chicago Reader

splat

Variety Staff

There may be some meaning, some commentary about life being a game, beyond what remains locked in the mind of film's creator, Italian director-writer Michelangelo Antonioni. But it is doubtful that the general public will get the 'message' of this film.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Jul., 31 2007 11:55 AM

Variety

tomato
5/5

Steve Crum

Still thought provoking, fascinating film making.

comment Comment | Jul., 13 2007 11:30 AM

Video-Reviewmaster.com

tomato

Michael E. Grost

Inventive, richly styled film, a visual classic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 31 2006 07:22 AM

Classic Film and Television

tomato
3.5/4

Pop-culture icon that has become a cult classic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 29 2006 09:07 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato

Andrew Sarris

The natural world is arrayed against the artificial scene; conscience is deployed against convention. If you’ve never seen Blow-Up, see it now, if only to see what part of the world was like 40 years ago.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 07 2006 12:57 PM

New York Observer

tomato
4/4

Roger Ebert

Whether there was a murder isn't the point. The film is about a character mired in ennui and distaste, who is roused by his photographs into something approaching passion.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 20 2006 03:15 AM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato
4/5

Cole Smithey

No review available.

comment Comment | Oct., 10 2005 10:04 PM

ColeSmithey.com

tomato
5/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 14 2005 10:31 AM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
A

Dennis Schwartz

A fascinating take on the mod lifestyle.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 13 2005 07:39 PM

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

tomato

Nick Schager

Speaks to the inescapability of modern man’s emotional and spiritual alienation.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 03 2005 05:44 PM

Lessons of Darkness

tomato
5/5

Derek Smith

No review available.

comment Comment | Oct., 24 2004 06:37 PM

Cinematic Reflections

tomato
4/5

Ryan Cracknell

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 18 2004 11:40 AM

Movie Views

tomato
3/5

Kent Turner

Peter Brunette’s detailed and entertaining commentary refreshingly acknowledges that, at many points, 'Things don’t add up in this movie.'

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 26 2004 02:40 PM

Film-Forward.com

tomato
4/4

Jeffrey M. Anderson

The ennui stretches into the very story itself.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 08 2004 05:00 PM

Combustible Celluloid

tomato

Thomas Delapa

Antonioni’s chic study in ambiguity calls into question the notion of photographic truth, and indeed reality itself.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 05 2004 01:53 PM

Boulder Weekly

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Blow-Up

October 27, 2009: 10 Movies That Scared Wes Craven Opens in new window
Looking for some really scary movies this Halloween season? Wes Craven -- who should know a thing or two about cinematic chills -- has provided Entertainment Weekly with a list... More...

July 31, 2007: Remembering Michelangelo Antonioni
Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni, who gave the world such influential films as L'Avventura, Blow-Up, and The Passenger, died Monday at the age of 94. More...

October 20, 2005: RT Critical Consensus: "Doom" Gloom, "Country" Sounds Sweet
This week at the movies brings stories of marines on Mars ("Doom"), iron miners fighting the man ("North Country"), little girls who love horses... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
14% 14% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
86% 86% A Christmas Tale
60% 60% Paper Heart

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • No Hobbit Until 2012? Source: The Wrap
19
  • Don't Hold Your Breath for Hancock 2 Source: HitFix
38
  • Peter Berg Talks Battleship Source: CHUD
2
  • Summit Ponders Twilight Finale Source: Variety
153
  • First Look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Source: USA Today
56
  • Jeremy Renner Talks Hawkeye Possibilities Source: Superhero Hype
14
  • Todd Phillips Talks The Hangover 2 Source: Entertainment Weekly
18
  • Tron Legacy Duo Heading into The Black Hole Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • First Iron Man 2 Poster Released Source: Yahoo! Movies
80
  • Ryan Reynolds Talks Green Lantern Source: MTV
16
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
99
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
96
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
91
  • Total Recall: Natalie Portman's Best Movies
44
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
38
  • Five Favorite Films with Jesse Ventura
31
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
28
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle
20
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
5
  • Awards Tour: Annie Nominations, Up and Coraline lead
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
22
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Blow-Up at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.