M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut Aug 17, 2022 2.5/5

The film takes on a plastic, almost sterile feel, and the rugged landscape is less of a character, where it needs to be the center of the movie, especially since Alpha is in serious need of some star power

Go to Full Review

Michael Clark Epoch Times Apr 9, 2022 5/5

Containing bits of Quest For Fire, The Revenant, Jeremiah Johnson, The Grey, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and maybe even a little bit of The Lion King, Alpha deftly mixes the survival, coming-of-age and shaggy dog genres to brilliant, mesmerizing effect.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Mar 11, 2022 3/4

The grandeur and scope throughout, obvious computer animation notwithstanding, leaves the viewer with a sense of awe.

Go to Full Review

Nicolás Delgadillo Discussing Film Jun 25, 2021 3.5 / 5

A very standard story, but its unique setting, inspired and beautiful cinematography, and its boldness in not holding back from telling that story in a fresh and realistic way elevates it to a level above averageness.

Go to Full Review

Allen Almachar The MacGuffin Jul 9, 2020 B-

The panoramas of rolling mountains and snow-covered hills are gorgeous, but having those shots repeated over and over turns the narrative into a glutton for eye candy.

Go to Full Review

Steven Prokopy Third Coast Review Jun 23, 2020

I'm truly in awe that it exists at all, and Smit-McPhee sells every moment so beautifully that the whole thing ends up working quite nicely. It's a mild recommendation, but it's probably the best of the bigger-budget movies released this week.

Go to Full Review

Chris McCoy Memphis Flyer Jan 21, 2020

Alpha ultimately won me over with its pluck. It's not a perfect movie, but its heart is in the right place, and that's what counts.

Go to Full Review

Phumlani S Langa City Press (South Africa) Jan 3, 2020 4.5/5

Hughes uses a lot of long shots, showing just the silhouettes on screen and it's a striking effect... I also enjoyed how very little script there is in this.

Go to Full Review

Vincent Schilling Indian Country Today Aug 22, 2019 7/10

Decent actually, aside from the Easter Egg stone and painting set decorations I guess the cavemen had in their pockets if someone croaked. But I loved the prehistoric animals. A fun movie experience.

Go to Full Review

Victor Stiff In The Seats Jul 25, 2019 3.5/5

Hughes just delivered the type of gripping original movie we pine for whenever a new Transformers flick steamrolls through multiplexes

Go to Full Review

Víctor López G. Espinof Jul 11, 2019 3.5/5

It is very effective, involving a charming aura of prehistoric mysticism and for making use of a primitive idiom. [Full Review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Kaitlyn Booth Bleeding Cool May 15, 2019 6/10

Alpha tells an interesting story with a compelling lead performance, but the pacing issues make the movie a struggle to get through.

Go to Full Review

S. Indra Sathiabalan The Sun Daily (Malaysia) Mar 25, 2019

Though the humans speak in a language that requires subtitles, the actors do manage to convey their emotions very well. Go in with no expectations, and enjoy this movie for what it is.

Go to Full Review

Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Feb 25, 2019 8/10

This movie is about a billion times better than it has any right to be.

Go to Full Review

Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com Feb 21, 2019

Director Albert Hughes tells the story in a reasonably effective low-key manner that mostly eschews melodrama for realism.

Go to Full Review

Sarah Ward ArtsHub Jan 28, 2019 3/5

When Alpha hews close to its core focus, it howls with heart.

Go to Full Review

Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Jan 4, 2019

A compelling story of endurance, determination and friendship.

Go to Full Review

Nick Johnston Vanyaland Dec 21, 2018

Yes, it's Old Yeller meets Hell in the Pacific, and I wish the movie were half as good as that logline suggests it would be.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Dec 21, 2018 2.5/4

The familiar "boy and his dog" tale receives a bit of a welcome twist.

Go to Full Review

Tim Stevens Comicsverse Nov 27, 2018

Gorgeous to behold. Largely emotionally inert.

Go to Full Review