Philip French Observer (UK) Sep 22, 2025

What it does -- through a combination of Julian Mitchell's intelligent, literate script and Stephen Fry's magnificently rounded and wholly convincing performance -- is to produce a remarkable portrait of the man.

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Matthew Sweet Independent on Sunday Sep 22, 2025

Although Fry manages to make something of the film's emphasis on Wilde's conventional streak, this seems to be more than his director can manage.

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Stefan Pape Common Sense Media Dec 8, 2021 3/5

British actor Fry is such a natural fit as the intelligent, witty dandy, Wilde, that when his casting was secured, the makers of this biopic must have known their work was pretty much done.

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Derek Elley Variety Mar 26, 2009

A tony biopic that manages to combine an upfront portrayal of the scribe's gayness with an often moving examination of his broader emotions and artistic ideals.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid May 26, 2006 1.5/4

Stephen Fry is extraordinary as Oscar Wilde, but the movie lacks balance and finesse and comes across as a TV movie of the week.

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Stephen Garrett Time Out Jan 26, 2006

If anybody was born to play Oscar Wilde, it must have been Stephen Fry: not only does he look like the Green Carnation Man, but he himself is often portrayed as being too clever, too complex for his own good.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Oct 10, 2005 3/5

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 19, 2005 2/5

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Rebecca Murray About.com Feb 24, 2004 3/5

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Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Oct 4, 2003 3/5

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Emily Blunt Blunt Review Sep 17, 2003 4/5

Stephen Fry captures Wilde completely.

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Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Aug 29, 2003 4/5

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John A. Nesbit Old School Reviews Jun 28, 2003 B-

[Stephen Fry] was born to play Oscar Wilde!

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Christopher Smith Bangor Daily News (Maine) Feb 21, 2003 5/5

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Shannon J. Harvey Sunday Times (Australia) Feb 10, 2003 5/5

There's never been a better story about the misadventures of one of the world's greatest writer. Fry should have been Oscar nominated, and Law is equally electrifying.

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Nick Davis Nick's Flick Picks Jan 10, 2003 D+

Julian Mitchell's script freely doles out all kinds of pithy, self-conscious bon mots among its cast, but doesn't bother to flesh out convincingly the emotional conflicts and dramas in which the characters find themselves.

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Rob Vaux Flipside Movie Emporium Jan 9, 2003 3/5

Fry is great, though the film struggles to make a lasting impression.

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Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Jan 7, 2003 3/5

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Brandon Judell Detour Magazine Jan 4, 2003

Call it "The Picture of Oscar Gray" or "The Importance of Being Overly Earnest." Somberness aside, "Wilde" is still worth placing a green carnation in your lapel for and scampering off to see.

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Christine James Boxoffice Magazine Jun 5, 2002 2/5

A plodding, downbeat drama with all potential for mirth drained from it.

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