The Congress isn’t for everyone but the animation is beautiful and the ideas that this film raises is provocative. Robin Wright carries the film well and overall, this is a film we’d recommend.

| Original Score: A- | Aug 19, 2024

Folman maintains an intelligible tone that is terrifyingly prophetic in exploring the impact of AI on actors, but unfortunately, his sci-fi dystopia loses its witty effect during the hallucinogenic and surreal animated journey. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 10, 2024

The Congress is anything but banal as a reflection on acting in digital age. Nevertheless, the hard landing Folman bludgeoned audiences with in his previous movie is certainly more striking and profound than the hybrid, dreamlike pillow offered [here]

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 8, 2024

Based on the novel 'The Futurist Congress' by Stanislaw Lem, Folman updates and adapts the novel into two parts, one that works (animation) and one that doesn't (live-action).

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 31, 2021

It all makes for a lopsided viewing experience that will be remembered as an interesting, but ultimately self indulgent, curio.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 6, 2021

...gloriously gonzo.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 14, 2020

In its totality, this is a very uneven work.

| Aug 13, 2020

The Congress is part live action and part Ralph Bakshi fever dream, but all nightmare. It paints a vision of the future where individuality and anything resembling free will is supplanted by delicious chemical cocktails and a candy-coated reversal.

| Sep 24, 2019

This is an extraordinary film, a unique film, the kind of film that reminds us of the true power of science fiction to comment on our society.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 7, 2019

It had a lot of interesting ideas and... it's very well done but I really thought it was very self-indulgent.

| Jul 2, 2019

Thrillingly audacious and bursting with ideas, humanity and heart.

| Original Score: 5/5 | May 25, 2019

For a film that looks at a believably nightmarish future, The Congress sits out of its time: a feverish relic of a post-revolutionary cinema of the mind.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 3, 2019

The film then becomes philosophical posturing with dialogue that is so abstruse it is impossible to tell if they are even trying to cobble together a story.

| Aug 21, 2018

Wright's utterly human performance...grounds the film in matters of the heart, even as the filmmaker concerns himself with tricks of the mind.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Aug 7, 2018

It isn't brilliant, outrageous and challenging. But it is pretty and occasionally fun. So go for the first half, then leave.

| Feb 21, 2018

The film is a fiercely original, bold and riveting meditation on the future of the silver screen and the stars that make it shine.

| Sep 27, 2017

In these hyper-dissociative times, [The Congress] may be just what the doctor ordered.

| Aug 4, 2017

It flits between hallucinatory animation and 'reality', giving small moments of relief and attempting to anchor the story in a desolate Los Angeles.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 10, 2017

Ari Folman's follow up to the impressive Waltz With Bashir is bold, daringly different and visually arresting, but it's also a bit too much.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 11, 2016

Some provocative ideas are left unfulfilled in this visually dazzling indictment of Hollywood and technology.

| Jan 9, 2015