Ian McKellen is one of the greatest English actors of all time, whose roles on the screen and stage range in genre from Shakespearean dramas to popular fantasy and science fiction. In film, McKellen is best known for playing Magneto in the X-Men movies and the wise wizard Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit (2012–2014) trilogies.
His other notable film roles include Gods and Monsters (1998), for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, Touch of Love (1969), Plenty (1985), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Restoration (1995), Flushed Away (2006), Mr. Holmes (2015), and The Good Liar (2019). Now, at 86 years of age, Ian McKellen’s new comedy has premiered to rave reviews.
The Christophers Debuts With Near-Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
The Christophers has debuted with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, his third film this year after Presence and Black Bag, with a script written by Ed Solomon, the comedy movie stars Ian McKellen as a once-famous artist whose estranged children hire a forger to complete his unfinished paintings in order to sell them.
Led by Ian McKellen, the cast also includes two-time Emmy winner Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You, Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Emmy winner Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), and 12-time Emmy winner and former late-night host James Corden.
Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, The Christophers has debuted with a 92% score from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie only has 13 reviews at the time of writing, so its score should fluctuate as more are published. The movie doesn’t yet have a theatrical release date, so it’s unknown when it will have an audience score.
Ian McKellen missed the premiere, seemingly because of health issues.
What The Christophers’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Movie
The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score means that its reviews are overwhelmingly positive. For instance, in ScreenRant‘s review of The Christophers, Rachel Labonte writes, “Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel are an unexpectedly perfect duo in Soderbergh’s art-centric drama,” calling it “a stripped-down affair that serves as a perfect showcase.”
At the time of writing, nearly all the reviews are positive. There is only one negative review from Christopher Schobert of The Film Stage, who writes, “For audiences wishing to see two actors dig into juicy roles, The Christophers will get the job done. If you’re looking for a deep analysis of originality and artifice, look elsewhere.”
Otherwise, the reviews are praising Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel’s magnetic performances, Soderbergh’s deft direction, the film’s exploration of artistic legacy and intimate character dynamics. While some note that the narrative isn’t exactly groundbreaking nor the conclusion fully satisfying, critics emphasize that the actors’ chemistry and its thought-provoking themes are enough to make The Christophers a compelling and rewarding experience.
