critically acclaimed

Meaning

This phrase describes a creative work (like a movie, book, play, or album) that has received strong praise and positive reviews from professional critics. It implies high artistic quality, though it doesn't always mean the work was a massive commercial success. It is a formal, sophisticated term used frequently in media reviews and discussions about art.

Examples

• The director's new indie film is critically acclaimed but hasn't made much money at the box office.

  The director's new indie film is critically acclaimed but hasn't made much money at the box office.

• She starred in a critically acclaimed drama on Broadway last season.

  She starred in a critically acclaimed drama on Broadway last season.

• The novel was critically acclaimed for its deep character development and poetic style.

  The novel was critically acclaimed for its deep character development and poetic style.

• Despite being critically acclaimed, the television series was canceled after just one season.

  Despite being critically acclaimed, the television series was canceled after just one season.

• He is a critically acclaimed musician who rarely plays commercial venues.

  He is a critically acclaimed musician who rarely plays commercial venues.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The movie was critical acclaimed by everyone.

  ✓ The movie was critically acclaimed by everyone.

  You need the adverb 'critically' to modify the adjective 'acclaimed', not the adjective 'critical'.

• ✗ This book is very acclaimed by critics.

  ✓ This book is critically acclaimed.

  While 'acclaimed by critics' is grammatically correct, 'critically acclaimed' is the standard, natural collocation used in English.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Her debut novel was ___ but didn't sell many copies to the general public.

  💡 Received excellent reviews from professional critics.

  Show answer

  critically acclaimed

• The theater group performed a ___ production of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

  💡 Two words, meaning highly praised by experts.

  Show answer

  critically acclaimed