"Pitch Black" was a decent action flick that was probably best left as a standalone since the sequel doesn’t capture any of the meager charm of its predecessor.
Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:155
Fresh:46
Rotten:109
Average Rating:4.6/10
Consensus: As an action movie, Riddick offers some thrills, but as a sequel to Pitch Black, it's a disappointment.
Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: The sequel to cult sci-fi hit PITCH BLACK sees Vin Diesel enthusiastically returning to his role as Richard B. Riddick. Director-writer David Twohy is on board again, building on themes established... The sequel to cult sci-fi hit PITCH BLACK sees Vin Diesel enthusiastically returning to his role as Richard B. Riddick. Director-writer David Twohy is on board again, building on themes established in the first movie, and expanding his vision with some incredible special effects work. Twohy opens the movie with Riddick on the run from a group of bounty hunters. He escapes them with ease, then seeks information from an old friend named Inam (Keith David). Inam informs Riddick that he has been singled out by an Air Elemental, Aereon (Judi Dench), as the one man who can stop the evil Necromongers from taking over the Universe. Suddenly, the Necromongers arrive on the planet, causing mayhem and destruction. They capture Riddick. He soon escapes, only to fall into the hands of the bounty hunters he so deftly eluded at the start of the movie. They take Riddick to a rogue prison planet where he is met by scorching heat, an underground penitentiary, and his female companion from PITCH BLACK, Jack (who is now called Kyra, and played by a different actress, Alexa Davalos). They plan their escape from the planet, and vow to bring down the Necromongers. Things don't go according to plan however, leading to a suspense-filled climax to the film, and an eyebrow-raising ending that suggests Twohy may have plans for further installments in the story. [More]
Starring: Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos
Starring: Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Colm Feore, Alexa Davalos, Karl Urban, Nick Chinlund
Director: David Twohy
Director: David Twohy
Screenwriter: David Twohy
Producer: Vin Diesel, Scott Kroopf
Composer: Graeme Revell
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for Chronicles of Riddick
The tightness of the Pitch Black horror-movie structure has been replaced by sprawl and lots of back story, geography and interstellar politics.
A sci-fi disaster on a par with the notorious John Travolta bomb Battlefield Earth.
Although The Chronicles of Riddick offers its share of solidly entertaining moments, it doesn't hold together as a single, coherent motion picture experience.
As a follow-up to a genuinely entertaining movie like 'Pitch Black', it is a very disappointing one.
He's the ultimate badass with the ultimate chip on his shoulder and I couldn't get enough of him.
Riddick is the one of the most unique, original, and exciting movie experiences of the year.
Fans of “Pitch Black” are likely to find this new film a worthy successor, those who have never seen the first film will be able to jump right into the story and follow along.
Diesel poses pretentiously like a body builder trying to do a silent version of Hamlet.
It’s all really just a series of episodes where metal weapons clang, firearms spew, and there is much manly grunting of he-men engaged in ferocious combat
Flawed mythology but the entire production is first-rate and visually stunning.
Combining elements of Hamlet, Dune and Vin Diesel running in slow-motion; Riddick essentially becomes William Shakespeare's first video game.
Eschewing the claustrophobic minimalism of its predecessor Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick is an extravagant orgy of used sci-fi parts.
Latest News for Chronicles of Riddick
August 26, 2008:
Diesel Promises a Double Shot of Riddick ![]()
His latest movie, "Babylon A.D.," might be running at a woeful 0 percent on the Tomatometer, but Vin Diesel has bigger fish to fry; according to a recent interview with MTV, the... More...
July 12, 2008:
Exclusive: del Toro on Why Wind in the Willows Went Away
Following revelations earlier in our exclusive Dinner and the Movies conversation with Hellboy 2 director Guillermo del Toro that he'd passed up chances to direct movies like... More...
July 10, 2008:
Exclusive: Guillermo del Toro on Creating an International Animation Studio
Guillermo del Toro plans to start up an international animation studio when he's finished work on The Hobbit film(s), he told RT during our exclusive Dinner and the Movies... More...
November 20, 2007:
A Third Installment for The Chronicles of Riddick?
Despite the underwhelming reviews and receipts that greeted 2004's Pitch Black sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick, writer/director David Twohy still hopes to film a third... More...
More DVDs
| 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… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Chronicles of Riddick at Rotten Tomatoes
- Chronicles of Riddick at IGN
- Chronicles of Riddick at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

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

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





