Ridley Scott’sNapoleonmade its theatrical debut on August 14, 2025, just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. The biopic, written by David Scarpa and produced by Apple Original Films and Sony Pictures, has a total run time of 2 hours and 38 minutes, making the film quite long in ayear filled with lengthy runtimes. Taking on the titular role of Napoleon Bonaparte is Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix. Starring alongside him is the talented Vanessa Kirby in the role of Empress Joséphine, Bonaparte’s wife. Despite centering on one of the most famous figures in history, Scott’sNapoleonhas divided critics and viewers, with some loving and others faulting the film.
Napoleondetails Bonaparte’s rise to power. The biopic follows his journey as he goes from being a mere artillery commander to being the emperor of France, Napoleon I. In narrating Bonaparte’s life, the film documents the famous figure’s military conquests, including the battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo, his political strategies, and the ups and downs of his personal life. Although there was palpable excitement ahead of the film’s release, the biopic has only managed to score a somewhat dismal 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, alongsideits mixed reviews. What exactly has divided viewers, and what does this mean forNapoleon?
Why Do Viewers Love Napoleon?
One of the greatest aspects in whichNapoleonexcels is itsaction-packed battle scenes. The biopic delivers above and beyond in depicting the military conquests that brought Bonaparte his fame, and the brilliance has not escaped the attention of viewers. Praise for the epic battle scenes has poured in since the film’s release, alongside appreciation for Scott’s talent in bringing the battles to life. The scenes' detail and luster contribute hugely to making the film a noteworthy cinematic experience.
The performances of Phoenix and Kirby have also been points of praise for the film. Viewers have applauded Phoenix’s compelling portrayal of the emperor and commended him for the character he brought to the role. Similarly, Kirby’s talent in bringing the dynamic Empress Joséphine to life has also been highly praised, with some viewers commenting that the scenes where Bonaparte and Joséphine share the screen are some of the best moments of the biopic.
Many have also been surprised by the comedic element that Scott has added to the film, primarily through Bonaparte’s character.Uproxx’s Mike Ryan, referring to the humor inNapoleon,went as far as to say, “I probably laughed harder during this movie than I have during any new movie this year. And the laughs are genuine and intentional”.
What Are Napoleon’s Faults?
Alongside praise, the film has drawn its fair share of criticism. One of the central points that has attracted critique is the film’s length. Many viewers have faulted the biopic for being too drawn out with a less-than-compelling storyline to justify its duration. The runtime, disconnected plot, lack of flow, and pacing issues have been cited as reasons for viewers losing interest inNapoleonbefore the film reaches its halfway mark.
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Given that the film was initially produced for a streaming release on Apple TV+, criticism regarding pacing issues and disconnected sequences seems justified. The4-hour and 10-minute version, which will supposedly be released on the streaming service, was compressed to half the original length to fit the requirements of a theatrical release. Given this, it is perhaps not surprising that many viewers feel the entire story is not quite there and has been haphazardly put together with no thought for flow.
Another point that has drawn severe criticism isthe accuracy of the film.Napoleonmay not be for history lovers, given that the biopic has favored creative freedom over historical accuracy in bringing Bonaparte’s life to screens. For example, the scene that centers on the execution of Mary Antoinette has been flagged for its inaccuracy. Moreover, some scenes in the film have not even occurred in history, such as when Bonaparte shoots at the Egyptian pyramids. Viewers feel as if the arbitrary inclusion and exclusion of events, with no thought to their historical relevance, take away from the overall effect ofNapoleon.
Why Is the Film Attracting Mixed Reviews?
No film is suited to the tastes of every viewer, andNapoleonis no exception. However, given the excitement and anticipation that had built up ahead of the film’s release, it is unfortunate thatNapoleonhas attracted mixed reviews. With the length of the movie, the debates regarding its historical accuracy, and what it means for the portrayal of Bonaparte as an influential figure in history at the center of discussions, it is yet to be seen if the negative views will affect the box office performance ofNapoleon.
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AlthoughNapoleonis attracting mixed reviews, the differing opinions have not affected director Ridley Scott. Hitting back at critics who have flagged the film for historical inaccuracies, Scott has said, “Were you there? Oh you weren’t there. Then how do you know?”. With the director confident in his work, only time will tell if this confidence also translates into overallbox office successfor the biopic.Napoleon,which is in theaters now, will make its way onto Apple TV+ once it has exhausted its theatrical run.
