Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink’ Gets Rotten Tomatoes Score, Here’s What Critics Are Saying

Opening night at Venice carries a certain weight every year, setting the tone for what’s often one of the most closely watched festivals on the calendar. This year, that honor went to a filmmaker with a proven track record for turning true stories into kinetic, propulsive cinema.

Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink‘ premiered as the opening film of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, where it’s also competing for the Golden Lion. The film dramatizes the true story of how Rupert Murdoch and editor Larry Lamb transformed a struggling British tabloid into a media empire, and early reactions suggest Boyle has delivered one of his most talked-about films in years.

That reaction has translated directly into strong numbers. ‘Ink’ currently holds an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews, positioning it as an early awards season contender straight out of the gate.

Based on James Graham’s Tony-winning stage play of the same name, ‘Ink’ is set in 1969 and follows Murdoch, played by Guy Pearce, as he acquires The Sun and recruits Yorkshire-born editor Larry Lamb, played by Jack O’Connell, to help turn the paper into a sensationalist powerhouse. Claire Foy also stars as Lamb’s deputy editor and wife, rounding out a cast that also includes Bertie Carvel, Brian Gleeson, and Blake Harrison.

Critics have largely praised the film’s central performances, with several reviewers singling out O’Connell’s turn as a career highlight. Writing for Variety, critic Guy Lodge called the film a “very compelling yarn, galvanized by a terrifically bullish performance from Jack O’Connell.”

The film’s ambition extends beyond its period setting, with Boyle pointedly connecting Lamb and Murdoch’s legacy to the current media landscape. Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri praised that larger scope, describing ‘Ink’ as taking “a tale steeped in the minutiae of the English newspaper business” and turning it into “something anthemic and fearsome,” comparing the result to “Citizen Kane by way of Trainspotting,” according to Gold Derby.

While the overall reception has been strongly positive, some reviewers have pushed back on aspects of the film’s execution. IndieWire’s review argued that ‘Ink’ occasionally feels overcooked stylistically, noting that Boyle closes the film with a montage connecting the rise of tabloid journalism directly to figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, a choice some critics felt was “unsubtly overplayed” by the film’s end.

Still, even critics with reservations about the film’s messaging acknowledged its craftsmanship, praising Boyle’s signature kinetic direction and the strength of the central performances. The Hollywood Reporter’s review noted that even if “the final payoff feels a bit muted,” ‘Ink’ remains a strong demonstration of Boyle’s ability to inject urgency into talky, dialogue-heavy material.

‘Ink’ is scheduled to open in select U.S. theaters on December 11 before arriving on Netflix in the United States and Latin America on January 8. The film will also receive a theatrical release in Australia and New Zealand via StudioCanal on January 7, giving international audiences their own path to catching Boyle’s latest work.

With Venice reviews pointing toward awards season buzz and a starry ensemble cast anchoring the story, ‘Ink’ looks positioned to be one of the more discussed films of the fall and winter movie season. Whether that acclaim translates into major nominations remains to be seen, but the film has certainly made a strong first impression on the festival circuit.

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