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68 reactions from 3 sources (Bluesky, Mastodon, TMDB reviews) · newest Oct 2, 2026 · last updated Oct 9, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
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Sentiment labels for these sources are still being hand-checked; no score yet.
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluesky * | 10 | 4 | 22 |
| Mastodon * | 12 | 1 | 17 |
| TMDB reviews * | 1 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
What people are saying
A written summary appears once the title has a score.
At a glance
Empire of Light is a 2022 drama romance film, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward and Toby Jones.
- 58 people have posted about this film on Bluesky, Mastodon, TMDB reviews
- posts span Oct 23, 2022 to Oct 2, 2026
Assembled from TMDB, Wikidata and Steam fields and our own counts, nothing written by a model. Method
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
68 public posts have mentioned Empire of Light so far, but it needs 10 opinionated reactions from checked sources before it gets a score. Seen it? Post your take.
The Experts
55%
avg of 3 sources
The People
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audience score
Reactions
60 of 68 · most liked firstHow's your Sunday been, kids? I've written stories, edited stories, played stories (KCD computer game), and watched movie stories (Empire of Light). I've basically spent the day in fiction. I call that time well spent.
positive · AI labelView post →I'll just leave this here. Remember, White critics danced the Hucklebuck for this movie, and for ARMAGEDDON TIME, EMPIRE OF LIGHT and other recent movies where Black folks are treated as pawns. I was told I was overreacting. You know what my response was. www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/18/a...
neutral · AI labelView post →It was an honor and a pleasure to interview both of these incredible actors! FX’s Kindred debuts tomorrow and I’ve enjoyed it so far! And Empire of Light is a beautiful film. #KindredFX #EmpireofLight https://blackgirlnerds.com/podcast-actors-sheria-irving-and-michael-ward/
neutral · AI labelView post →Empire of Light (2022) Olivia Colman plays the manager of a movie theater at an English coastal town in the 1980s. She has mental health issues, and her relationship with a young black guy (Micheal Ward) draws attention from bigots. I found the film uneven but touching, thanks largely to Colman.
neutral · AI labelView post →June 19. Movie theater? Empire of Light - 2022 A drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s. #JuneMovieChallenge
neutral · AI labelView post →Anyone remember Sam Mendes' EMPIRE OF LIGHT? Where Olivia Colman played a woman whose life revolved around a movie theater but who, it was strongly implied, had never seen a movie before?
neutral · AI labelView post →Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, and Roger Deakins' cinematography deserve a better movie than the half-baked Empire of Light. At once moribund and lovely. Captivating in miniature sequences but struggles to articulate its Big Ideas in any meaningful way.
negative · AI labelView post →It's mostly just Drive My Car for me, very occasionally I'll switch over to Alice Coltrane's Lord of Lords or Miles Davis's Elevator to the Gallows score, three or four years ago I had a phase where it was only the Empire of Light score (never saw the movie, great score though) for like six months
neutral · AI labelView post →June 19. Movie theater? Empire of Light - 2022 A drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s. #JuneMovieChallenge
neutral · AI labelView post →1 August 1965 – Sam Mendes, 60, English stage, film director American Beauty (1999 Oscar) Road to Perdition * Jarhead * Revolutionary Road * Skyfall * Spectre * The Hollow Crown: Richard III * Henry VI, Part I/II * 1917 (3 OscarNom) Tony Awards The Ferryman + Lehman Trilogy * Empire of Light (2022)
neutral · AI labelView post →Tonight’s movie was Empire Of Light. I enjoyed it very much.
positive · AI labelView post →I can’t tell you how much I love the film Empire of Light. It’s about friendship, the beauty and escapism of cinema, racism in the 1980s and the ravages of mental illness - and yet is so uplifting. It’s a personal favourite.
positive · AI labelView post →Such a good thread on an excellent film. I never made the connection with the key image and Empire of Light. Might explain why I couldn't stop looking at it in the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice this year
neutral · AI labelView post →Empire of Light written and directed by Sam Mendes; starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward 1980s. An aging and depressed cinema manager falls in love with a younger black employee. Great cast, exquisite photography, subtle direction. The plot is a bit fragmented and unfocused with too many threads and themes. But each sequence is moving in its own right, enough to make the film worthwhile. Rating: B- #EmpireOfLight #MovieReview #Movies
neutral · AI labelView post →I first knew her from Peep Show too - she is an extremely talented actress. Confetti is a silly movie but she boldly went full frontal, outstanding in Broadchurch, great fun in Wicked Little Letters, Empire of Light is great too, she has such range and really commits to her characters.
neutral · AI labelView post →What I fancy watching, following Broadchurch, is Empire of Light with Olivia Coleman. Loved that film.
positive · AI labelView post →I'd never heard of 'Empire of Light' and will seek it out - looks terrific! The trailer reminds me of Peter Chelson's under-rated 'Funny Bones' (another wistful and melancholy British seaside movie) www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6AP...
neutral · AI labelView post →the Sam Mendes movie "Empire of Light" covers this scenario too
neutral · AI labelView post →None of this excellent period detail got any close-up shots in Empire of Light. It was fascinating to visit the film location on one of their days off. #FilmSky
neutral · AI labelView post →The (movie) Empire of Light is available today on (Google Play) for $12.99 Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie Trailer & Reviews : www.rottentomatoes.com/m/empire_of_...
neutral · AI labelView post →You bet! I don't think Empire of Light was marketed well. Such a great movie in so many ways.
positive · AI labelView post →4. Empire of Light (2022) A lot of things I’ve seen before, but excellent performances. Overall a nice time.
neutral · AI labelView post →Empire of Light - Come on general audience, why all the hate on this movie?! I liked it. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent a week in Margate during the first lockdown summer and the way I remember those locations with lockdown effect. Believe me, the town is almost the same it was in 1981. #Movies #CineMastodon #EmpireOfLight #OliviaColman
positive · AI labelView post →New from Solzy at the Movies: Empire of Light Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD #EmpireOfLight #film #movies #Oscars #AwardsSeason https://www.solzyatthemovies.com/2023/02/21/empire-of-light-arrives-on-blu-ray-dvd/
neutral · AI labelView post →#EmpireOfLight #movie #review. Olivia Colman wows once again in this complex piece. https://oldaintdead.com/empire-of-light-olivia-colman-wows-again/
neutral · AI labelView post →I saw #EmpireOfLight at #TheCastleCinema last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. A film with real heart, with beautiful performances from all. Highly recommended.
positive · AI labelView post →Empire of Light is a dark film about dark themes. Mental health, depression, racism, loneliness, and urban decay. If that hasn't made you gallop to the cinema to see it, then I don't know what will! Joking aside, there are some lighter moments in the connections made between characters. It's an okay, but ultimately forgettable film. 7/10. Which is my usual rating for films that are average. #Film #Cinemastodon #EmpireOfLight
neutral · AI labelView post →first solo trip to the cinema tonight to see Sam Mendes' #EmpireOfLight Ah, cinema in the 80s - where the local theatre thanked the folks sitting on the left of the screen for not smoking.
neutral · AI labelView post →Wordle 569 4/6 ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟩 ⬛🟩⬛⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🧚🏻😁 Good morning everyone 👋 Olivia Colman’s smile. Pics from #empireoflight premiere event yesterday.
neutral · AI labelView post →Finally saw #thefabelmans the other night. I liked it for the most part but it didn't really capture me like I thought it might given the accolades I've heard about it. I don't think it showed the same heart for me or fostered the love of movies like I think #empireoflight did, though it was fun to watch some of the technology and techniques used in that time when he started making movies. 1/2
positive · AI labelView post →If you haven't seen 'Empire of Light', I highly recommend it. Beautiful film, and Colman is amazing in it.
positive · AI labelView post →Empire of Light. A film with a lukewarm reception and certainly one which was missold - but also one that's underrated in my view. The first half drags and feels no better than quite good. But once you reach the 65 minute mark it turns around. Provided you've cottoned onto what the film […]
neutral · AI labelView post →The (movie) Empire of Light 1080p (iTunes)(AU) AU$4.99 (Drama) (iMDB) 6.7 Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie
neutral · AI labelView post →The (movie) Empire of Light 1080p (iTunes)(UK) £4.99 (Drama) (iMDB) 6.7 Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie
neutral · AI labelView post →The "Empire of Light" soundtrack is gorgeous. The movie "Soul" has a lot of their work on it as well. Banger soundtracks for films that were a bit mid. Their most famous soundtrack was for "The Social Network". www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SBN...
neutral · AI labelView post →Fantastic to take a tour around the currently delapidated Dreamland cinema in Margate to see some of the sets from the movie Empire of Light. I remember seeing films there when it still operated. It's an iconic building that really deserves to be brought back into use.
neutral · AI labelView post →Sam Mendes … Empire of Light … film for the current nightmare. Love it .
positive · AI labelView post →Empire of Light wasn't a great movie, but the soundtrack is beautiful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts5T...
negative · AI labelView post →The (movie) Empire of Light (4K) (HD/HDX) is available today on (Vudu) (US) for $5 Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie Genre: (Drama) (Movies Anywhere) Trailer & Reviews : www.rottentomatoes.com/m/empire_of_...
neutral · AI labelView post →Tonight’s film is brought to you by the letter E - Empire of Light, 2022 film written and directed by Sam Mendes and beautifully shot by Roger Deakins. I loved this. Watched on Disney+ #FilmSky #Movies #Streaming
positive · AI labelView post →Empire of Light (2022) is such a beautiful film, as one would expect with any film starring Colin Firth and Olivia Colman, but oh my. Firth goes a lot off-character. Mark Darcy, you randy old chap.
positive · AI labelView post →The backdrop for the fabulous 2022 film Empire of Light www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
neutral · AI labelView post →Does anyone else think "The Magic Faraway Tree" from the production company behind 1917 and Empire of Light, adapted by BAFTA winner Simon Farnaby (“Wonka” and “Paddington 2”) and directed by Ben Gregor (“Britannia,” “Cuckoo”) is a bit surreal. It is just this delightfully odd children's book.
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm surprised Empire of Light didn't put him in permanent movie jail (and possibly a stint in real jail for its racial politics)
negative · AI labelView post →Bringing this over from Twitter: The lowest-scored-on-Letterboxd movie I’ve given 5 stars is Daughters of the Dust (3.7) Lowest-scored I’ve given 4.5 is Empire of Light (3.0) Lowest scored I’ve goven 4 stars is Land (3.1) Lowest-scored I’ve given 3.5 is Halloween Kills (2.4)
positive · AI labelView post →From the trailers I thought Empire of Light would be a 120min movie version of the Nicole Kidman AMC ad so kmagine my surprise...
negative · AI labelView post →Nighttime Margate. Filming Empire of Light.#empireoflight #sammendes #sammendesfilm
neutral · AI labelView post →"Hilary" (Olivia Colman) is the shift leader at a grand old cinema living a routine life and largely just going through the motions each day. When the young "Stephen" (a strong and engaging performance from Micheal Ward) arrives, she takes him on a tour of the building and that takes them to the upper echelons of the building - now disused - where they discover an injured pigeon. They also discover something else, and soon are having bit of a clandestine affair. Thing is, she's also having one…
positive · AI labelView post →Trailer for #EmpireOfLight looks beautiful, and I'm thankful the #AndroidTV "Trending on #Google" feature reminded me about this now that it's streaming on #HBOMax. The low review score surprised me, so I skimmed #RottenTomatoes and most criticisms seemed plausible and reasonable. Part of Tara Brady's is so far off it's clear she lives in white denial. Even today, a huge percentage, if not still a majority, of white people refuse to acknowledge and accept the level of #racism that persists.
neutral · AI labelView post →I just watched Empire of Light (Sam Mendes, 2022) and rated it 5/10 ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Light?wprov=sfla1 #films #cinema #cinemastadon #EmpireOfLight #SamMendes #OliviaColman ~ most of the points for Olivia and the cinema!
negative · AI labelView post →I saw #EmpireOfLight tonight and thought it was a beautiful, unexpected, tender film which looked stunning and managed to pack in a lot without feeling like being flung around from one story arc to the next. I’ve seen people compare it to Belfast which I really disliked and I think the difference is that this film managed to (whilst being a deeply personal story) be about something other than just the person making the film.
positive · AI labelView post →Have just got back from the pictures. Watched Empire of light, can’t recommend highly enough. Olivia Coleman is amazing #EmpireOfLight
positive · AI labelView post →Off to #TheCastleCinema tonight to see #EmpireOfLight and maybe have a bite to eat. It's a lovely cinema with an excellent bar and friendly staff. What more could you want?
neutral · AI labelView post →@grange85 I prefer contemporary films and am a big fan of going to the cinema, I probably go once a week. Seen two belters this year already - #empireoflight and #AManCalledOtto
positive · AI labelView post →Wordle 580 4/6 ⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛ ⬛⬛🟨🟨🟨 ⬛🟩🟨🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩😁 Good morning everyone 👋 Dreamland cinema rebranded as The Empire for the new Sam Mendes film #empireoflight
neutral · AI labelView post →Well I really liked #EmpireOfLight and not really sure why some reviews are so snippy. https://chatterboxstilltalkingnonsense.blogspot.com/2023/01/empire-of-light.html
positive · AI labelView post →Went to see #EmpireOfLight - strong recommend. Not always an easy watch but moving film with brilliant performances, especially Olivia Colman & Michael Ward. Special resonance for those of us who were teenagers in the early 1980s also.
positive · AI labelView post →#EmpireOfLight - another case of the rule that a bad #guardian review is a 1 in 3 chance to see a movie I really, really like.
positive · AI labelView post →6th Film of 2023: #EmpireOfLight #Cineworld #CineworldUnlimited #subtitled
neutral · AI labelView post →#EmpireOfLight was pretty good. Not great, but better than average (albeit not really on par with Sam Mendes' best) but the performances were beautiful and the production values were absolutely fantastic. The moments that sang really did sing and other sequences? Not so much.
neutral · AI labelView post →
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