Review Roundup For James Gunn's The Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad will finally be hitting theaters on August 6, and as writer-director James Gunn has made repeatedly clear--yes, he knows people weren't that fond of the 2016 predecessor in the film franchise. Gunn has repeatedly been on record saying this movie isn't intended as a make-good, nor a reboot, but is very much its own thing. We could tell that from trailers alone, but now that critics are starting to see it and weigh in, what is the movie? Is it good?

As of this writing, the movie has 14 critics giving an aggregate score of 76. Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, has 40 reviews netting it a much more impressive 98% fresh. Of course, these scores will shift as the film comes closer to release--but all signs seem to point towards if you're at all interested, go check it out.

Below, you'll see a selection of the many reviews of The Suicide Squad, including our own.

The Suicide Squad

• Directed and directed by: James Gunn
• Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi
• Release Date: August 6

Gamespot - 9/10

"The Suicide Squad is one of the most fun, heartfelt, and surprising modern DC movies we've seen yet. Here's hoping it leads to Warner Bros. taking more chances on talented filmmakers, because the results are something special indeed." - Michael Rougeau - [Full review]

CNET - No score

"Gunn's jet-black sense of humor oozes from a serious, even angry foundation.... The Suicide Squad is demented and delicious, heartfelt and horribly hilarious." - Richard Trenholm [Full review]

IGN - 9/10

"The Suicide Squad is a gut-wrenching, gut-busting wild ride and DC's best film in years… it’s a fascinating examination of DC’s bottom-of-the-barrel baddies." - Joshua Yehl [Full review]

Screenrant - 4/5

"It's the kind of filmmaking that rewards returning fans while being accessible to new or casual viewers. As a result, The Suicide Squad is a delicious, deviant and delightful watch for everyone." - Molly Freeman - [Full review]

Empire - 4/5

"When Gunn took on Guardians Of The Galaxy, he turned nonsense into gold for Marvel. By giving The Suicide Squad the same sense of mischief and an equally surreal streak, he’s done the same for DC." - Olly Richards - [Full review]

Entertainment Weekly - C+

"The script, accordingly, herks and jerks along with a sort of forced-festive glee, its mounting body count buffeted by goofball banter and pounding soundtrack cues. A good half of the jokes don't land, but unlike his predecessor's joyless slog, Gunn's version at least celebrates the nonsense."

- Leah Greenblatt - [Full review]

The Wrap - C+

"The Suicide Squad is by no means perfect, but like the Deadpool movies, it's a showcase for what can happen when a superhero movie is allowed to be sprightly, self-aware, and sardonic while also indulging in hard-R violence, gore, and language. Gunn’s latest creation is not without moments that drag, but when it pops, it pops brilliantly." - Alonso Duralde - [Full review]