What Bell accomplished with “World” exists in the minds of every aspiring filmmaker: Give me a chance and I’ll make a great movie. Creating one very special movie is rare, and far better than churning out one below average, forgettable film after another.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jul 5, 2024

...a sprightly indie comedy, with smart performances from the cast, notably Bell who has crafted a story to her own likable talents...

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 10, 2021

...most directors' first films do not have the basis of quality that this movie has. I'm excited to see her next film, but, in the meantime, we have In a World... If you have the opportunity to see it, I recommend that you do.

| Feb 25, 2021

In a World questions just what about any voice is authentic and valuable. And with any luck, it'll be Bell's own calling card to more voiceover work.

| Jan 20, 2021

Bell's sharp instincts fuse the caustic and the cute to often delirious effect.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 15, 2020

Bell's script is distinctly female in perspective, taking aim at industry sexism without being seminar-like about it. An accomplished feature debut, IN A WORLD... shows there should be more to come from Bell as writer/director.

| Feb 13, 2020

In a World... is a clever, character-centric comedy that's got a great cast and is framed by such a strangely peculiar backdrop that it sets itself apart.

| Original Score: 7.4/10 | Apr 12, 2019

Many of the contrivances seem like placeholders in the script, meant to be replaced with better thought out action later on, but the movie still contains some truths that don't make their way into films directed and written by men.

| Mar 13, 2019

The director's take on a world unfamiliar to even the most ardent of film fans may be ultimately inconsequential, but it's a sharp and witty calling card for Bell.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 2, 2019

In a World... is a movie built for film geeks, trailer junkies and, well, anyone who's ever noticed Hollywood's sexist side.

| Feb 25, 2019

In A World... sends up the ingredients of sexism, romanticism, wacky family dynamics and the competing kookiness of behind-the-scenes Hollywood shuffling and serves it with gentle, stinging absurdity.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 16, 2018

A low-stakes, languid, lovely debut.

| Nov 16, 2018

Unfortunately, it is a tedious story with unrelatable characters and a script that make you wonder how it ever made it onto the big screen in the first place. It's just a waste of time.

| Original Score: 3/10 | Nov 6, 2018

This film's success is attributed in no small part to the excellent cast. They appear effortless in their roles and make it easy for audiences to identify with the film and its characters.

| Oct 26, 2018

What a completely delightful surprise the film "In a World" was.

| Aug 22, 2018

The simplicity of the film's plot leaves plenty of breathing room for the cast to just bounce lines and looks off one another, which they do with the relaxed aplomb of an alt-comedy all-star team.

| Jul 31, 2018

The outline of the film shows a lot of potential for [Lake] Bell's future directorial projects, and ability to bring out the authenticity in her characters and cast, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

| Original Score: C+ | Sep 6, 2017

Pin-sharp observant one minute, appealingly messy the next, this marks [Lake] Bell as one of America's most promising new talents.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 5, 2017

What a pleasant surprise.

| Aug 9, 2017

In a World... is far from perfect and doesn't quite have the laser-focus of a more seasoned writer and director, but even the most awkward and fumbling moments of the film are a joy to watch and experience.

| Mar 17, 2017