‘The End of Oak Street’ Scores Strong Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

“The End of Oak Street,” a new science-fiction adventure thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, is earning strong marks from critics ahead of its theatrical release Friday. The film, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, the filmmaker behind “It Follows,” is produced by J.J. Abrams and blends dinosaur survival with an unmistakable 1980s-inspired adventure style.

Set in the early 1980s in the fictional Detroit suburb of Flowervale, Mich., the story centers on Denise and Greg Platt, played by Hathaway and McGregor, who appear to have an idyllic family life with their teenage daughter, portrayed by Maisy Stella, and pre-teen son, played by Christian Convery. Their marriage, however, is struggling beneath the surface.

The family’s personal problems quickly become secondary when a mysterious cosmic event creates a time portal that swallows their entire neighborhood and sends it back to prehistoric times. With dinosaurs soon roaming the streets and attacking residents, the Platts must work together to survive while searching for a way to return to their own era.

As of Friday, “The End of Oak Street” had earned an 85% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 185 critics’ reviews. The film’s verified audience rating stood at 71% based on more than 100 ratings. Rotten Tomatoes had not yet published its official Critics Consensus or Audience Summary.

Several critics have praised the movie for prioritizing its characters over its dinosaur spectacle. Wall Street Journal critic Kyle Smith gave the film a “fresh” rating and described director Mitchell’s approach as deliberately focused on “dumb fun,” saying the movie succeeds at making viewers “squirm, scream and laugh.” Detroit News critic Adam Graham similarly praised the attention given to the people at the center of the story, arguing that the care devoted to the characters makes a significant difference.

The film’s 1980s atmosphere has also drawn positive attention. Associated Press critic Jake Coyle praised its recreation of an Amblin-style blockbuster experience, while Globe and Mail critic Barry Hertz said the movie understands the appeal of straightforward entertainment and “dumb fun done well.”

Not every critic has been convinced. Mashable critic Kristy Puchko gave the movie a “rotten” rating, describing it as bleak and brutal rather than the carefree summer entertainment some viewers may expect. Los Angeles Times critic Amy Nicholson also criticized the film’s reliance on the style of an earlier era instead of embracing a more contemporary approach.

Boston Globe critic Odie Henderson was even more critical, pointing to the movie’s similarities to films including “E.T.,” “Poltergeist” and “Jurassic Park.” Henderson characterized those similarities as an “unabashed rip-off” rather than an homage.

Originally titled “Flowervale,” “The End of Oak Street” draws heavily from the filmmaking traditions associated with Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams. Its combination of dinosaur action, suburban adventure and 1980s nostalgia has been compared to “Jurassic Park,” “E.T.,” “Super 8” and “Cloverfield,” while its tone may also remind some viewers of the Duffer Brothers’ “Stranger Things.”

Despite its familiar influences, the film offers a different setting for dinosaur-driven entertainment after years of repeated “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” stories. Mitchell recreates the look and atmosphere of the 1980s while incorporating T-Rexes, pterodactyls and other dinosaurs into the story, with Hathaway and McGregor leading the ensemble cast.

The movie also has echoes of Sid and Marty Krofft’s “Land of the Lost,” although “The End of Oak Street” is rated PG-13 and is not intended for young children.