Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert

Because of the ingenious screenplay by John Orloff, precise direction by Roland Emmerich and the casting of memorable British actors, you can walk into the theater as a blank slate, follow and enjoy the story, and leave convinced - if of nothing else - that Shakespeare was a figure of compelling interest.

The Hollywood Reporter by Kirk Honeycutt

The film grabs at historical facts, mangles them into a plot worthy of a John le Carré spy novel and takes the viewer on a breathtaking ride through ye olde London.

Boxoffice Magazine by Amy Nicholson

Why is Emmerich elbowing his way into the conversation about Shakespearean authorship? Because the debate is explosive - and he can't resist packing on a few more pounds of dynamite on his confident drama of incest, greed and beheadings.

Arizona Republic by Bill Goodykoontz

Tremendously entertaining.

Chicago Reader by Ben Sachs

Still, this is irresistible as self-knowing camp: the players ham it up in high fashion and the script crams at least one lurid revelation into every scene.

Charlotte Observer by Lawrence Toppman

Anonymous is fun – if you take the anti-Shakespearean tale as events set in an unreal, alternate universe.

ReelViews by James Berardinelli

Anonymous is well-paced and never threatens to bore or become too scholarly.

New Orleans Times-Picayune by Mike Scott

Anonymous starts admirably quickly, but Emmerich repeatedly forgets to look over his shoulder to see if his audience is keeping track of which stringy-haired Calvin Klein model is which.

Movieline by Stephanie Zacharek

Ifans takes dorky, grandiose dialogue and turns it into something almost - well, Shakespearean.

Orlando Sentinel by Roger Moore

Even lacking the laughs and romance, he (Emmerich) has delivered an entertaining eye-roller of alternative history.

Variety by Robert Koehler

The film as a whole isn't quite as interesting, though it is noteworthy that action specialist Emmerich has clearly decided to change course here from anything he's previously made. Although this is primarily a writer's film, with John Orloff's screenplay (and dialogue) placed front and center, Anonymous surprises with how classical, staid and traditional Emmerich's mise-en-scene is, never straying from tried-and-true costumer standards.

Tampa Bay Times by Steve Persall

The most succinct evidence that Shakespeare was a fraud is offered by Derek Jacobi in prologue and epilogue, alone on a Broadway stage before a rapt audience. As usual in matters of the Bard, the play's the thing.

Time Out by Keith Uhlich

Other than ludicrously pulpy fun, Anonymous, true to its title, ultimately signifies nothing.

Village Voice by Nick Pinkerton

Emmerich's movie is sporadically enjoyable trash with better performances than it has any right to: Hogg's verminous villain leaves a trail of cold, oozing hisses.

The New Yorker by David Denby

The Oxford theory is ridiculous, yet the filmmakers go all the way with it, producing endless scenes of indecipherable court intrigue in dark, smoky rooms, and a fashion show of ruffs, farthingales, and halberds. The more far-fetched the idea, it seems, the more strenuous the effort to pass it off as authentic.

IndieWire by Eric Kohn

Emmerich takes the story at face value and delivers a film unlike any of his others. That is to say, a boring one.

Empire by Phil de Semlyen

A curveball from the man who made "2012" and "Independence Day" and probably only a brief respite for the world's major cities.It's more of an interesting curio to a blockbuster career but there's fun to be had here if you look hard enough.

New York Magazine (Vulture) by David Edelstein

A well-polished cowpat that will confuse and bore those who know nothing about Shakespeare and incense those who know almost anything.