Nathan Paige Call and Post (Cleveland) Mar 29, 2022

It's one of those films you forget a week after you've seen it.

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Chris Hicks Deseret News (Salt Lake City) Jun 18, 2021

The biggest problem with "Rooftops" is that it can't decide whether to be a light dance fantasy or a heavy-handed thriller.

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Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jun 18, 2021

It's cliche-ridden, poorly acted and, worst of all, indifferently danced.

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Michael Pellecchia Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Jun 18, 2021 2/10

The biggest letdown is the paucity of dance sequences that could have vaulted Rooftops into memorability.

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Jun 18, 2021

Wise's youthful, great-looking cast exudes talent and energy.

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Barbara Shulgasser San Francisco Examiner Jun 18, 2021 1/4

Wise ought to be ashamed. But chances are that if he were capable of directing the vulgar and badly made "Rooftops," shame is beyond him by now.

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Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Jun 18, 2021 2/4

"Rooftops" is a film you think you know soon after it begins, and you're right.

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Malcolm L. Johnson Hartford Courant Jun 18, 2021

It's never possible to enjoy any part of "Rooftops"...

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Juan Carlos Coto Miami Herald Jun 18, 2021 2/4

It's B-grade teen saga stuff, but in the hands of an old pro like Wise, Rooftops is fairly watchable.

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Stephen Hunter Baltimore Sun Jun 18, 2021 2/4

It's tempting to write that Gedrick is no Richard Beymer, but strictly speaking, that's not true -- Gedrick has about as much charisma as Beymer, which is no charisma at all.

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Kathleen Shea Philadelphia Daily News Jun 18, 2021 1/4

The thing is, none of this is very interesting or exciting. The music is the sort of annoying, undistinguished, monotonous drumbeat you can hear out of any passing boombox. The dance sequences are perfunctorily shot.

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews May 3, 2007 C+

This romantic musical drama about homeless Manhattan teens living on rooftops doesn't reach any heights.

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Mark Kermode Time Out Jun 24, 2006

Wise's return to the 'street-sussed musical' is painfully disappointing: a parade of frantic, vacuous gestures which, like combat dancing itself, simply never delivers the punch...

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Dec 11, 2004 1/5

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Andy Klein Los Angeles CityBeat Jun 19, 2004 0/5

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Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette Feb 13, 2004 2/5

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Richard Bernstein New York Times May 21, 2003

There ought to be a message deeper than the one contained here, which is that the good kids in the ghetto would find happiness and fulfillment jiving to the beat if only the crack dealers would leave them in peace.

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Beth Accomando KPBS.org Mar 13, 2003 0/5

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Hal Hinson Washington Post Jan 1, 2000

The main question that pops up here is what Robert Wise thought he might bring to this hip-hop update of his earlier film.

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000 2/4

If the movie had gone ahead and declared itself as a musical fantasy, that would have taken the curse off the cliches. But it hedges its bets; it pretends to be a straight narrative, and then hopes to sneak in the dance stuff.

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