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Upgrade
2020
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Certified-fresh
$ 16 Million
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Upgrade
Positive Reviews
148
Negative reviews
22
Average Rating
3.5
/5
futuristic
entertaining
enjoyable
unique
fascinating
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Positive
Negative
3.5
It is in Grey discovering an illegal operation grown out of hacking artificial limbs where the movies creativity shines.
Den Of Geek
3.0
As a movie, its the cinematic equivalent of paint by numbers: competent, attractive even, but take a single step closer and the lines peek through.
EW
3.8
Upgrade may not be a capital G Good film, but it can be a very enjoyable one.
Rogerebert
3.0
Whannells high tech detective story has plenty of action, but lacks a good mystery.
Indie Wire
1.5
Of course, such a gimmick requires some explanation, and theres plenty (perhaps a bit too much) of that.
Indie Wire
3.0
Upgrade is a compact sci fi action B movie that wants to be a hip little genre exercise but doesnt have the chops (or maybe its just the imagination) ..
Variety
4.5
It knows what it is, it knows what it isnt, and it plays to its strengths remarkably well.
Austin Chronicle
4.0
Theres little in this silly B movie that wasnt done a generation ago, but at least its in on the joke The latest Blumhouse production is a lean, playf ..
The Guardian
4.0
Upgrade is as fluid and exhilarating as anything the Wachowskis signed their names to in the days when they were brothers: the kind of nifty, sometime ..
The Guardian
4.0
Upgrade is a veritable cornucopia of genre thrills and spills, machine tooled for fans of action packed sci fi.
The Guardian
3.0
They dont call it the future tense for nothing, but the guy could stand to loosen up a little.
The Guardian
3.1
Its here that Upgrade announces its allegiance to the technophobic nihilism of Black Mirror, though it serves up its cautionary tale with a schlocky b ..
2.5
Although writer director Leigh Whannells themes are as predictable as his premise, the action scenes are efficient and effective.
3.5
Why is it so cathartic and hilarious on a bone deep level to see this kind of horror expressed
Vulture
3.5
Infusing its familiar dystopian sci fi tropes with stylishly gonzo, low budget filmmaking and inventive narrative flourishes, Upgrade proves far more ..
The Hollywood Reporter
3.5
For the ambition alone, its worth the watch; for its daring approach, and another effortless depiction of a broken soul from Marshall Green, its defin ..
3.0
knows what it is, it knows what it isnt, and it plays to its strengths remarkably well.
1.0
In the not too distant future of this new film written and directed by Leigh Whannell (who made his bones, so to speak, with creative contributions to ..
The New York Times
4.1
But this is a relatively minor complaint.Boldness is what makes this movie stand out.
IGN
3.0
Marshall Green does an excellent job of suggesting a person who is being jerked around in a manner that is somehow both technically precise and physic ..
E Film Critic
3.0
Descartes might have coined the whole notion of a mind body split, but could never have foreseen it pitched, for midnight movie crowds, as such crazy ..
Telegraph
4.0
Theres an unmistakable pleasure in seeing Grey go in for the kill, and not just because of his pinpoint precise martial arts moves and creative use of ..
4.0
He absolutely deserves it, and to sing a different tune means its time to refresh your playlist.
The Young Folks
4.0
Leigh Whannells Upgrade is rooted in classic sci fi, but with healthy doses of horror and slick action, its a surprisingly fresh and thrilling ride.
Screen Rant
3.0
Its body horror is extreme and its action propulsive, but it is far from revolutionary.
The Globe And Mail
3.1
Theres little to scare you The Little Stranger Theres little to scare you The Little Stranger Aug 30 Upgrade is an update on the old Six Million Dolla ..
Philly
3.0
But if youre willing to put your brain on hold for the duration, its a pretty enjoyable action lark.
One Guys Opinion
3.5
Thats one of many times that Whannell jolts Upgrade with something rarely seen in violent thrillers: ideas about violence.
Village Voice
3.1
But Upgrade manages to entice and provoke, impress and terrify, if you let it.
Rogers Movie Nation
3.1
This will undoubtedly frustrate science fiction fans but the end result is almost certainly what Whannell wanted.
ReelViews
4.4
Its not too much to suggest that a movie like Upgrade, with its low budget, lack of stars, and hands on practical effects while still being exciting a ..
Combust Ible Celluloid
3.8
Upgrades smooth turn into intellectual provocation may be the most surprising thing about it.
Chicago Reader
3.1
Without exploring the ideas behind this conceit, though, Whannels screenplay sets a marker for its own success: the movies ability to continuously rai ..
Mark Reviews Movies
2.0
Keenes technicians will install a very special microchip on Greys spine.
3.8
Whannells old school sensibilities are reflected most keenly in the movies overtly tense moments, as the filmmaker does an effective job of infusing s ..
Reel Film Reviews
4.0
I like movies like this because you never know how its going to turn out. Its not really predictable...its refreshing.
You Tube
4.5
Im so excited that its good, because it could have been so bad...I had a lot of fun.
You Tube
4.0
I thought this movie was so cool but felt so original at the same time...it took a couple twists and turns that I did not expect.
You Tube
4.0
Leigh Whannell absolutely crushes his second directorial effort with an original, exciting story that shows off A+ world building and a fantastic perf ..
You Tube
2.0
It never looks cheap...Upgrade is a really fun movie, a low budget action film that feels like a grindhouse 1970s film.
You Tube
4.0
Apart from a few flimsy special effects (the self driving cars look as though they are made of cardboard), this is a satire that cleaves dangerously
The Times
3.0
Some viewers will willingly go along for the ride into action goofiness, while others may not like the genre detour the pic takes when it arrives at t ..
Screen It
3.0
Writer director Leigh Whannell brings wit and originality to what could easily have been very hackneyed genre fare.
Independent
4.4
Leigh Whannells hi fi, lowbrow gem from the House of Blum is exactly the sort of sick, satisfying Grand Guignol genre flick you want smuggled in among ..
Rolling Stone
3.0
It looks simply amazing and features committed performances from a fine cast.
Shadows On The Wall
3.0
The shattered bones, punctured necks and viscera spray are frequently as witty as they are shocking, and theyre juxtaposed disorientingly against a co ..
The Wrap
3.8
In another summer of computer generated blockbusters, its a handmade blast of entertainment.
News Day
2.5
Upgrade has a more compelling character in Gilbertsons young genius King, but it doesnt really exploit that potential for what its worth.
Film Journal
4.4
Writer/director Leigh Whannell gives us a glimpse of the near future and its both fascinating and terrifying.
Toronto Star
5.0
Upgrade is a fun action filled science fiction film that may make some think about how much technology one really needs while entertaining them.
Cinema Crazed
4.0
Although Whannell is an experienced screenwriter, its only the second directorial outing for one of the key names in genre filmmaking and he delivers ..
Flim List
4.5
With refreshingly low stakes, spectacular bloodshed, and surprising bursts of humor, Whannell delivers the goods.
Film Inquiry
2.5
Susan Grangers review of Upgrade (Blumhouse Productions) If youre into grisly, gruesome, dystopian sci fi, you might watch this low budget, revenge sa ..
Susang Ranger
4.0
In another summer crowded with big budget CGI blockbusters, Upgrade opts for practical effects and an 80s retro vibe while finding its own voice.
Flickering Myth
4.5
All in all, Upgrade is much more than the sum of its parts, is as enjoyable as hell and taps into all of those innovative sci fi movies that you alrea ..
Flickering Myth
5.0
As a director, Whannell packs a wallop.This is a system shock top to bottom.
Flim Threet
0.5
It takes just the right number of liberties with what you can actually believe in.
Bbc
2.0
This is an age of artistic extremes, and such movies of complexity and originality are ubiquitous.
New Yorker
2.0
All coverage within bostonherald.com from the last 14 days remains free of charge.
Boston Herald
5.0
But while those two horror movies used modern technology for lurid thrills, this clever mystery thriller delves much deeper.
Express
3.1
I wish the talk dependent sequences werent so foreshadowed and clunky; only Gabriel transcends them.
Chicago Tribune
3.8
Its to Whannells credit that his film feels not like a retread of that classic but a stylish reconfiguring of its still relevant themes, rescued from ..
Boston Globe
3.0
Jed Palmers excellent 1980s alike score would alone justify the admission price. Good, clean, gory fun.
The Irish Times
4.8
It doesnt feel gratuitous, but Whannell never shies away from the harsh realities of extreme measures.
Lyles Movie Files
4.5
This action/horror hybrid balances its components gracefully. The action is clear, creative and visceral.
Birth Movies Death
4.5
Upgrade is unquestionably one of the years more pleasant surprises. I didnt know much going in, and it didnt take long for it to turn into something u ..
Pajiba
3.8
Featuring a strong performance from Marshall Green and a number of terrific, eye popping set pieces that are as gripping as they are gruesome, this R ..
Movie Freak
2.0
The trick in movies like these is to stay a step or two ahead of the audience, which knows the twists are coming, and Whannell manages to pull off the ..
Detroit News
2.0
Marshall Green, however, is masterful at this novel style of computer manipulation fu, and you believe it.
Forbes
2.0
A banal and all too familiar story is set in a near future where technology has come a long way, fast.
Herald Sun
3.0
The answers are suitably dark, but Upgrades sheer energy and the strength of its concept do more than enough to elevate this revenge picture into some ..
Consequence Of Sound
4.0
However such is the rushed nature of the opening act, the film doesnt earn the emotional impact it really needs.
Hey U Guys
3.0
Upgrade eschews highfalutin scientific theory and instead resorts to sound sci fi concepts, captivating cinematography, and high octane action in orde ..
The Play List
3.8
Its the rare film thats smarter than its audience and also not a dick about it.
Film Freak Central
4.0
It starts with the familiar before finding its own bloody groove.
Film School Rejects
4.5
Upgrade manages to keep surprising, not just in its plotting but in tone and its staunch refusal to play to the tropes.
Film Ink
2.0
But it totally squanders that premise through boring story execution and on the nose twists.
Ner Dist
3.0
Upgrade is Blumhouse Productions at its best: a slick, taut genre piece that may have been done on a budget but doesnt look like they cut corners.As t ..
Maki At The Movies
3.5
Here, with advanced technology and futuristic vehicles, theres more of a Minority Report feel in the production design.
4.0
Upgrade ransacks those bygone classics to imagine a near future that looks much like ours (it saves money that way) bar a few more drones buzzing the ..
Games Radar
3.5
This is a nasty little future shock that doesnt overdo the philosophical argument about man versus machine.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
4.0
It doesnt take too long before weve sussed out whats really going on, but getting there is an exhilarating self driving ride.
Star Burst Magazine
3.0
In one way or another, though, it is Whannells film that is the singularity.
Lw Lies
3.0
Part Frankenstein story, part HAL inspired cautionary tale, Upgrade is a sugary sci fi thriller inspired by 80s genre movie heavyweights like John Car ..
Abc
4.0
A gleeful cyberpunk action thriller with both old school charm and a contemporary feel, this is a premium example of a filmmaker keeping their ambitio ..
Flicks
3.0
Fun for an hour, then a self drive speed ride to nowhere very much.
Ft
4.0
Gleefully anarchic, wince inducing and laugh out loud in equal measure, Upgrade is perfect late evening entertainment. Stuff
Stuff
4.0
And yet, for... the very occasional clumsiness in its execution, Australian director Leigh Whannell (co creator of the Saw franchise) has incredibly m ..
Stuff
3.5
A gritty tech action thriller, infused with 1980s B grade schlock tropes, and featuring a fantastic performance from Logan Marshall Green, Upgrade jus ..
Matts Movie Reviews
4.5
Leigh Whannells latest film Upgrade is one of the most strikingly invigorated sci fi watches Ive been awestruck by in quite some time.
Film
4.0
Its unusual to find a movie this thrilling, up to date, and intellectually provocative in equal parts.
Scmp
3.5
Upgrade is a knockout blend of sci fi, horror, and action. Leigh Whannell delivers his best film since Saw.
Movie Web
4.5
The action is cool, sort of a Matrix choreography but still confined to Earths gravity.
We Live Entertainment
2.5
This is where the movie thrives, finding sparks of humor in its frenetic action scenes.
Cinemix Tape
4.0
There are a few rough edges to Upgrade the editing could be more crisp, for example but this is a story that ripples with adrenaline and clever plotti ..
Straits Times
3.5
One of my favorite MoviePass forays this year was The Commuter; a fun, unapologetically silly Liam Neeson vehicle that added to the ever growing libra ..
The Ringer
3.5
It was a great theater experience.Upgrade is a great theater experience.
The Ringer
3.0
Upgrade isnt sticking around long enough to build out a franchise or prognosticate on the dangers of technology.
News Week
3.0
The B movie pulp fiction tale offers low level thrills in its cheesy Grand Guignol presentation, which aims to please an undemanding audience that dem ..
Dennis Schwartz Reviews
5.0
An homage to the 1980s sci fi action thrillers but made for the 21st Century, Upgradeshows why we shouldnt place our faith in the hands of technology.
Solzy At The Movies
3.8
STEM not only restores Traces mobility, it amps up speed and power of movement.Thats not all.
Daily Herald
4.0
But he makes sure the action is brutal enough to satisfy hardened genre fans and theres a pleasingly logical through line to the plot as well, one tha ..
Scots Man
3.0
The road to revenge is straightforward for Grey and STEM, playing out in an escalating series of sci fi set pieces violent enough to ride the line bet ..
Film Avclub
3.5
You can still enjoy it if all you want is a good, wild time with cyborgs and car chases.Is it good
The Verge
5.0
The answers to these questions require the bashing of many miscreants, which is, as I say, very gratifying to watch.
reason
4.0
Its a highly entertaining B movie thats smarter than it looks, and theres a real sense of glee both from the writer director and the star that makes i ..
Scifi Now
1.5
And it isnt that hes on any altruistic mission to clean up the crime ridden streets.
Film Journal International ..
3.0
Its a bloody good time if you are fan of clever sci fi premises steeped in relatable drama and B movie action.
Fresh Fiction
5.0
Although the concept might sound more tired than wired on paper, it makes for a sharp, sleek and savage wander into genre territory.Every element that ..
Concrete Play Ground
2.0
Upgrade has the makings of a thought provoking thriller, but downgrades itself to a generic sci fi shoot em up instead.
National Post
3.0
And its very much a genre upgrade itself for Whannell a middle class middle brow revenge thriller, though it maintains a tongue in cheek enthusiasm fo ..
Original Cin
2.5
Its one of those movies that makes you feel rather sad for everyone concerned with making it.
The Australian
4.5
After a while, you just wished that this movie wouldve been released in IMAX because of the immense amount of effort put into the films production.
Rendy Reviews
4.5
Still, Upgrade still works as a bonafide fun ride, and its a far better film than Whannells first effort as a director, the forgettable third Insidiou ..
Third Coast Review
4.5
I daresay it pushes the envelope of what we can expect from a film in the action genre.
Blacknerd Problems
3.5
Upgrade is a brutish, efficient and well executed slice of cyberpunk action horror with a silly streak.
Winnipeg Free Press
1.5
At the very least, it is never not fascinating, says Alex Doenau about Mamma Mia!
Trespass Mag
4.5
A perfect blend of action, terror and sci fi which not only entertains, but makes us think.
4.0
Leigh Whannell writes and directs a smart science fiction film with the heart of a B movie.
2.0
Their latest film, Upgrade, is more of a science fiction film than horror, but it definitely falls into the latter camp.
Fw Weekly
3.8
No matter: This raw and uncompromising motion picture has endured as one of Bergmans finest achievements.
Film Frenzy
3.8
The film is only semi committed to its sci fi ideas, and Whannells writing has never been more lacking in subtlety.
Sf Chronicle
2.5
Plenty of perfectly enjoyable exploitation entertainment crumbles under the pressure of the briefest thought.
Mid West Film Journal
1.5
Sometimes it has b movie sensibilities, others times Whannell stretches for the heady sci fi heights of Blade Runner (1982).
Film Ireland
4.5
This one doesnt reinvent any wheels, plot wise, but its a very well shot, well acted, and well conceived piece of horror filmmaking.
Thril List
1.5
Upgrade may not stick to your ribs like classic action movies but its scarily effective in the moment.
Battleship Pretension
4.0
Upgrade is an incredibly solid science fiction thriller that shows just how much can be accomplished on a modest budget these days.
Screen Anarchy
3.1
Besides genre fans, Upgrade is likely to prove a fun, forgettable watch, more a reboot than the next version.
Cambridge Day
3.0
Leigh Whannells near futuristic sci fi flick is sometimes a tech thriller, sometimes a revenge actioner, sometimes a tragic film about loss.
Bloody Disgusting
4.0
Despite its small flaws, its a sub guilty pleasure you might hate yourself in the morning for thoroughly enjoying.
Adelaide Review
2.0
There are some deeply nerdy sci fi ideas at its core, if thats your thing, but even as a simple genre exercise its a hoot.
Crooked Marquee
4.0
Eschewing broad humor for sly wit, director Jen Wexler manages to emulate the slasher classics without ever getting silly about it.
Crooked Marquee
4.4
Often challenging and confounding but always deliriously entertaining, the film that will be celebrated and analyzed by film buffs for generations to ..
Commercial Appeal
5.0
You will be shocked and awed at how good this film is.It may have slipped under the radar this summer, but it leaves just as big an impact as any othe ..
Geeks Of Color
4.0
When Grey teams up with Stem, this is where the movie really gets exciting.
Dread Central
3.5
Certain pieces of this old motor may have some screws loose, but theres mileage to be had, assuming the viewer can switch their brain between manual a ..
Film Monthly
3.0
Whannell freshens up the technophobe dystopian narrative with a few fresh ideas, a silly streak and serious violence.
Maddwolf
4.5
In Upgrade, a paralysed man gets rebooted as a killing machine thanks to a computer chip.Its absurd.
Student Edge
3.0
Upgrade doesnt always transcend its B movie schlockiness, but thats part of its endless charms.
Worldo Free L
4.0
Upgrade isnt a movie thats afraid to get its hands dirty and bloodied.
What I Watched Tonight
3.5
I enjoyed Whannells work on his previous directorial effort, Insidious: Chapter 3, but Upgrade is truly his most ambitious film to date.
Daily Dead
4.0
This is not going to rock anyones socks as the next hard hitting sci fi think piece, but if you are looking for thrills with an emphasis on fun, Upgra ..
The Hollywood Outsider
3.8
An entertaining sci fi thriller that recalls those 90s B movie favorites.
Victoria Advocate
2.5
What if Siri were, like, in your mind Thats the Black Mirror for dummies premise of Upgrade, a passable action thriller from writer/director Leigh Wha ..
Pitts Burgh Magazine
3.0
Ashas an Eron fan, and he tells her about a new chip hes designed thats going to disrupt the world of medical tech.
CNET
5.0
As this timely film further unfolds, it magically morphs right in front of your eyes from a futuristic sci fi into a thought provoking, exploration of ..
Baret News Wire
3.8
As a standalone summer movie experience, Upgrade is a rowdy, stupid, popcorn and soda scarfing blast.
Play Boy
3.5
The action sequences scattered throughout the film are humorous despite being quite brutal.
High Def Digest
4.0
But youve not seen it depicted as vividly striking and frighteningly brutal as it is in Upgrade.
Reel Reviews
5.0
A tremendous turn from Logan Marshall Green perfectly compliments Whannells vision of the future. The revenge thriller has long needed an upgrade, and ..
The Hollywood News
3.5
Recognizing the beats means you can anticipate them ahead of time, and if the film doesnt stray from them at all, your wish for excitement dwindles co ..
The Lonely Film Critic
5.0
Mountain: In this documentary narrated by Willem Dafoe, filmmakers look at mans modern obsession with mountain exploration from locations around the w ..
Sd City Beat
5.0
This doesnt change the fact genre stories can be huge in theme and speak so much to our real lives, no matter if theyre far fetched, wild tales.
Father Son Holy Gore
3.5
The well told Upgrade maintains the dystopian vibrancy until the end, compensating the less vivid moments with a subtle dark humor that fits hand in g ..
Always Good Movies
4.5
Automobile mechanic Grey Trace (Boy, theres an 80s sounding movie character name!)
4.5
This isnt some kind of seminal sci fi master work, nor is the the most compelling or urgent film of SXSW.
2.5
Charlie Plummer is tremendous in the lead role. A portrait of America in 2018 and a movie that really stayed with me for weeks after seeing it
rachelsreviews.net
0.5
This is not a SHARKNADO looking to be a bit of disposable kitsch culture.
Comicsverse
4.0
Though Upgrade is mostly a moody neo noir, the action scenes also show its sense of humor.
The Pop Break
3.0
Fiendishly bizarre, expertly choreographed action sequences that blend unique steadicam cinematography with edgy body horror. Youve never seen anythin ..
Geek
4.0
Take the best bits of Robocop, The Terminator and The Six Million Dollar Man, the heart of a horror B movie and the focus of a bloody revenge story, s ..
The National
4.0
With its gut punch, rug pulling, balls out ending Upgrade is not to be missed and proves that theres still a place for smaller scale sci fi faire.
Film Pulse
4.5
A good thing, too, since the movies hour and 35 minute runtime doesnt leave much room for floundering.
Jamaica Gleaner
4.0
While the film doesnt get as heady as a movie like Ex Machina, it does still manage to deliver in other ways.
The Movie Blog
0.5
Even though its characters are not elaborated and the dialogue was simple, Upgrade has the merit of being the first to show, in a key of horror, the r ..
Letras Libres
2.5
We find ourselves mocking its self seriousness instead of enjoying every wild development as an over the top construction of pure entertainment.
Buffalovibe
4.0
I was totally unprepared for how good this movie is. A great script that incorporates elements of Death Wish and Robocopas well as a spot on performan ..
Jackiek Cooper
3.5
And yet it totally succeeds as a pulpy little thriller with a few tricks up its sleeve.
Isolated Nation
4.5
UPGRADE kicks into high gear and the ultra violent revenge tale comes alive, reveling in its B movie pedigree.
4.5
Upgrade is just a fun ass B movie with some clever ideas and a great premise.
The Movie Sleuth
1.5
Upgrade never really takes hold of its audience as it fails to really engage on an emotional or visceral level, as it attempts to channel some of the ..
Phawker
4.5
Upgrade is the best of revenge thrillers mixed with a masterfully creative futuristic world.
Jordy Reviews It
4.0
Combining sci fi smarts and grindhouse gore, this retro futuristic thriller sees Australian writer director Leigh Whannell deliver a heady dose of cyb ..
Movie Talk
2.0
Upgrade is a throwback to those movies, a sort of schlock action sci fi thriller thats heavy on the viscera and light on the introspection.
Portland Mercury
4.5
Theres so much to praise about Upgrade that its easy to overlook one of the most impressive elements of this slick sci fi riff: namely, how relentless ..
Cut Print Film
3.0
Marshall Green is not a famous martial artist, but the bloody fights here (perhaps aided by the wooziness of that camera pivoting) dont feel CG fudged ..
Nylon
4.3
Upgrade doesnt have a massive budget, but it absolutely makes the most of whatever kind of budget was at its disposal.
God Hates Geeks
3.0
Whats unfortunate is that there really isnt all that much great action.
Lewton Bus
5.0
Its also just damn cool.Style Goes a Long Way With so much of action cinema falling victim to grounded realism, its great to see a film like Upgrade c ..
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Upgrade