Variety by Maggie Lee

This ballad of sad losers mixed with satire on parochial politics is convulsively funny yet uncompromisingly bleak, bridging art with entertainment.

Los Angeles Times by Michael Rechtshaffen

As savagely satirical as it is gorgeously surreal, The Great Buddha+ is something else again — an outrageous, poignant punk Taiwanese black comedy marking the feature arrival of fresh filmmaking talent Huang Hsin-Yao.

Film Journal International by David Noh

Compositionally often quite gorgeous and filmed largely in luminous, at times otherwordly black-and-white, The Great Buddha is compelling due to its mordant wit, authentically observed performances and distinctive cynical/lyrical outlook.

The Hollywood Reporter by John DeFore

Most importantly, the pic gets laughs out of the class system without being glib about its cruelties. The gulf between rich and poor clearly matters to Huang, who poignantly shows how poverty robs even the dead of dignity.

Film Threat by Theo Schear

The strength of the film comes from the symbolic devices that decorate the strikingly illustrated social ladder.

The Film Stage by Jason Ooi

Though the satire Huang employs here is charming, it conflicts sharply with the atmosphere of hopeless melancholy. In juggling the two, Huang never quite manages to do justice to either tone. As a result, the film can feel a bit messy and occasionally frustrating.

RogerEbert.com by Simon Abrams

The Great Buddha+ is one of those movies that's much more rewarding to think about than it is to watch.