Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal

The story of how impoverished Indian teen Jamal Malik became a contestant on the Hindi version of "Who Wants to be A Millionaire?" -- an endeavor made without prize money in mind, rather, an effort to...( read more  read more... ) prove his love for his friend Latika, who is an ardent fan of the show.

Flixster Users

90% liked it

1,064,003 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

210 critics

R, 2 hrs.

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Release Date: August 30, 2008

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DVD Release Date: March 31, 2009

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Stats: 81,161 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (81,161)


  • October 2, 2009
    For once the hype was right! This is a fantastic film that deserved the praise it received. The younger actors steal the show and certainly upstage the older actors and It fair to say that with such a strong cast and emotional story, any director could have made this a hit, but f...( read more)air play to Danny Boyle, he did good!
  • September 19, 2009
    Scenes of our chai-wallah as a contestant on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" are interspersed with the back story explaining why he's lucky enough to know the answers. It's an interesting gimmick that provides a very accessible way for a Western audience to take in a biopic of I...( read more)ndian slum life. The love story plot was sweet, but somewhat cheesy, especially the ending.
  • September 11, 2009
    Finally I get to see it! I love watching this type of film, way after all the hype settles down.

    Despite everyone ranting and raving about this film (which can sometimes lead to disappointment) I was blissfully unaware of how the storyline would unfold and really enjoyed that...( read more) aspect of the film.

    Dev Patel is a very natural Actor and gave a very enjoyable performance.

    Whilst from a British point of view, this seemed to give us some sort of insight of the people on the poverty line in India, I was still able to watch with my Flixster Friend?s (Prith) comment about this not necessarily being portrayed correctly, in mind.

    Either way this was fascinating, entertaining and dispite the hype ? nothing like I?d thought it be, in fact better.
  • July 15, 2009
    Finally! After a long drought of Oscar - winning flicks on Iris's part, she gets to see what she missed in cinemas. And I'm not completely disappointed.

    The reviews for this film have been so overwhelmingly positive, I wonder if it's even worth it for me to list the good points...( read more); you've heard them all before. But there are some negative points which I feel I must put in.

    I have only the opinions of a few individuals of Indian descent, but it seems enough to make a statement. As an acquaintance of mine (let us call him Raj) said: 'So now we see how the poor live in India; but what about the rest of us? Is this really the only impression of India we want to give? People can be very gullible ...'
    And to a certain extent, I agree. We have seen this one - sidedness in many other films portraying a variety of cultures. Another quote, this time from an IMDb user (yogeshnachnani from India): 'And by the way, Mumbai is not just a "slum area" '.
    But does it really detract from the appeal of the film? Not significantly; but it is something worth thinking about.

    On a second negative note, this film really can?t seem to make up its mind what it wants to be. I see some typical 'Bollywoodness' (the dancing, the colours, the romance) and some 'Britishness' (everything else). 'Slumdog' is something between comedy, drama and a biopic. But not in a very appealing way. It's like pancake dough and batter balls; a welcome change in small quantities, but too many and you just get put off. Danny Boyle needs to up his stirring technique to reach my highest ranks.

    That's about it from my side; otherwise a very good film and definitely worth your time. Feels like a lot less than 2 hours, although somehow I'm not tempted to invest in the DVD.
  • July 4, 2009
    Utterly captivating 'best picture' winner from the ultra-talented and incredibly versatile Danny Boyle. The clever storytelling style and touching performances from a cast of unknowns draws you in from the beginning and never lets go. The powerful message of the pricelessness of ...( read more)life experience (no matter how harsh) really hits home and the loyalty displayed by the lead character is nothing short of trul endearing. Highly recommended viewing to anyone and everyone. A visionary work from Boyle.
  • November 20, 2009
    show the great honor and fairness in humanity. it's a destiny
  • November 19, 2009
    A film that is an inspiration to me, cinematography is simply fantastic, acting is brilliant, soundtrack amazing, film I could watch over and over. Definitely a must-see!
  • November 18, 2009
    it was a weird movie
  • November 17, 2009
    sounds really good from everyones perspective!
  • November 17, 2009
    In the face of all who raved about it, it simply did not appeal to me at all.

Critic Reviews


January 9, 2009
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

Don't worry about suspending disbelief: for an hour or so Boyle will do it for you. The film's visual panache is strong enough to ambush doubters, whose scepticism will stumble into hidden nets and be... full review

December 26, 2008
Mike McGranaghan, The Aisle Seat

As the end credits rolled, all I could think was, I've got to see this again, soon! full review

December 12, 2008
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle

Like Mumbai, Slumdog pulses and throbs with raw, unadulterated life and the hope for a better Bombay, today. It's brilliant. full review

November 21, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

I'll keep this simple: Cancel whatever you're doing tonight and go see Slumdog Millionaire instead. full review

November 21, 2008
Michael Sragow, The Baltimore Sun

It's a movie of kaleidoscopic contradictions and dazzling clarity. full review

November 20, 2008
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

You are guaranteed to leave the theater on a high. full review

November 17, 2008
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

There are no surprises in this movie, and most people will be able to predict, within the first ten minutes, roughly how the last ten will pan out. full review

November 14, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

The movie brushes against some of India's worst social ills, but it's essentially a fairy tale. full review

November 14, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Slumdog Millionaire is skillful entertainment, with the simple message that the most intense life experiences yield the greatest education. full review

November 13, 2008
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Slumdog Millionaire is [Boyle's] liveliest fusion of style and content since Trainspotting. full review

View more Slumdog Millionaire reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Benologist
    April 7, 2009
    This is a two-bit feel good summer coming of age indie flick gone horribly, horribly awry. My nightmare has come true. I'll be hiding in a cave if anyone needs me.
  • kriegerderholle
    April 2, 2009
    It looks so crappy and overated, just like all the music videoclip from India.

    Edit: Well WTF.. how did they manage with the trailer of the movie to show something that looked like a dance movie while in fact it wasn't a dancing movie until the credit... After all it was very good since it wasn't a lame videoclip of india.
  • Muktidaya
    March 28, 2009
    slumdog millionaire is just another mediocre film..
  • luvneverfails2002
    March 24, 2009
    what a shame...world is praising the slumdog bt few of our countryman still criticizing the masterpiece..every indian shld watch the excellent work by danny
  • biboyset
    March 22, 2009
    this just another asshole
  • anuka0717
    March 16, 2009
    hey everybody can u all help me.I saw slumdog millionaire.It is awesome! but I want to see it again but I have not a DVD can u all tell how I can see this film free? Please send me emails on anuka0717@yahoo.com
  • rahul8663
    March 7, 2009
    .................. PART V ............

    The plot of a slum boy entering the contest is as bizarre as our Hindi films’ B-grade movies’ plots. But, since it was made by a British filmmaker… SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE has become the toast of the season worldwide. Vidhu Vinod Chopra must be thinking, what went wrong with his PARINDA?

    Johnny D
    http://johnnydbombay.mid-day.com

    ............ THE END ..................
  • rahul8663
    March 7, 2009
    ................. PART IV ...................

    Danny Boyle’s SM is a mediocre film by Hindi film standards, which is not even worthy of becoming a hit at the box-office, especially if an Indian had made it. The 8 Oscars is a clear indication that Hollywood filmmakers and producers want to enter the Indian film market, sadly, everyone is overlooking this aspect. Remember how Indian beauties suddenly were winning Miss World and Universe pageants left, right and centre when the West wanted to enter India’s beauty products’ market??? And just like Indian Awards Function, even the winner has to perform on stage to get an award (in lieu of payments for performance) at the Oscars was very evident when A R Rahman had to run inside to get ready to perform for his second Oscars.

    ............. Cont'd PART V ...........
  • rahul8663
    March 7, 2009
    ................ PART III .................

    Why do we love to lick the Western World? I really fail to understand the logic behind such a callous approach towards our own countrymen and love for the white skin. The immediate revenge saga of brother killing the don is taken from Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s super-hit film PARINDA (1989). The characters of Jamal, his brother and Latika replicate PARINDA’s Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, who rise from Mumbai’s footpath. Wonder of wonders, PARINDA was even India’s official entry for the 1990 Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film Category… but it never won any Oscars then, while Danny Boyle’s efforts in copying Hindi film fetched him 8 Oscars. Totally unbelievable! Is this really the HIGHEST STANDARD of the most coveted award for any filmmaker in the world?

    ............... Cont'd PART IV ...............
  • rahul8663
    March 7, 2009
    ................ PART II .............

    If an Indian had made SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE… the critics would have shouted aloud and pointed out that it was a lift from such and such Hollywood, Korean or other movies. We, Indians are so much infatuated with the WHITE SKIN even today, that we will never dare to lift a finger at them, why???? Are they really superior than us in any ways? And the saddest part is that the Indian media went berserk rejoicing SM’s win as if an Indian filmmaker has made the film. If an Indian had made SM, it would have never got positive reviews, instead it would have hardly even sustained at the box-office for more than two weeks, courtesy Film Critics.

    ............... Cont'd PART III ...............

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Slumdog Millionaire Trivia


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