Stephanie Zacharek

Stephanie Zacharek is the film critic at TIME. She is the recipient of a Newswomen's Club of New York award, and was a 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Recent Articles

Review: Netflix Cop Thriller 'Reptile'

Benicio Del Toro stars in a movie that's low on tension, suspense, and snakes.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Cassandro

Gael García Bernal sensitively inhabits the role of a real-life luchador who rose to fame as an exótico, a fighter who dresses in drag.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Ava DuVernay's 'Origin'

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor sensitively plays 'Caste' author Isabel Wilkerson as she embarks on an ambitious project in the face of grief.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Sofia Coppola's 'Priscilla'

A new film about Priscilla Presley walks us through a teenage dream of love, and heartbreak—and life with Elvis.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Less Is More in David Fincher's Assassin Thriller 'The Killer'

Instead of overloading his story with fussy layers, Fincher pares everything back to the genre’s essence.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Bradley Cooper's 'Maestro'

'Maestro,' Bradley Cooper's opus on Leonard Bernstein, is a superb and deeply felt film. Read TIME's review.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things

In 'Poor Things,' Yorgos Lanthimos' finest movie yet, Emma Stone is a Frankengirl on the verge of coming into herself. Read TIME's review.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Michael Mann's 'Ferrari'

Ferrari, from director Michael Mann and starring Adam Driver, made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Read TIME's review.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: 'Bottoms' Is More Work Than Fun

Though it presents itself as an heir to 'Heathers' and 'But I’m a Cheerleader,' the raunchy comedy runs its jokes into the ground.

By Stephanie Zacharek

'Heart of Stone' Mostly Misses

It occupies that vast middle zone of small-screen movies that easily fill the void of a few empty hours, if you happen to have any to spare, though it’s nothing you’d carve out time in your schedule to watch.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Dreamin' Wild

The new movie tells the story of Donnie and Joe Emerson—who, as kids in 1979, made a wonderful album that almost nobody heard until decades later.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Passages Tackles a Tricky Love Triangle

This is a smart, lustrous film, and a bracingly honest one, the kind of movie that leaves you feeling both invigorated and a little blue.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Oppenheimer

Either despite its intense craft or because of it, Christopher Nolan's 3-hour movie about the architect of the atomic bomb works.

By Stephanie Zacharek

'Barbie' Is Very Pretty But Not Very Deep

Read TIME's review

By Stephanie Zacharek

There’s Something Sad About Barbenheimer

Both movies succeeding at the box office won’t be nearly enough to solve Hollywood’s myriad problems.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One

The new 'Mission Impossible' movie is light on logic and heavy on Tom Cruise's stunts—but ostensibly greater movies have given us less.

By Stephanie Zacharek

The Best Movies of 2023 So Far

From Celine Song's 'Past Lives' to Judy Blume adaptation 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.'

By Stephanie Zacharek

Review: 'Past Lives' Is an Exquisite Romance

Celine Song's debut stars Greta Lee, John Magaro, and Teo Yoo in a tender story about the life we live and the life we might have lived.

By Stephanie Zacharek

Asteroid City Is Too Stiff and Stylized

Read TIME's review of Wes Anderson's latest

By Stephanie Zacharek

The Idol Pretends to Be Above Titillation

Sam Levinson's controversial HBO series, which stars co-creator The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, is an almost Biblical cautionary tale about a pop star.

By Stephanie Zacharek
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