Hereditary holds a Metascore of 87 out of 100 on Metacritic, placing it firmly in the “Universal Acclaim” category. This weighted average score represents an aggregate of 49 professional critic reviews, demonstrating broad consensus that Ari Aster’s 2018 horror film stands as a critical achievement in the genre.
The rating positions Hereditary among the highest-scored horror films in Metacritic’s database, a distinction that reflects both the film’s artistic ambition and its execution.
- Metacritic Rating Hereditary: Table of Contents
- Understanding Hereditary's Strong Critical Rating
- What Universal Acclaim Actually Reveals About Hereditary
- Critical Response to Ari Aster's Directorial Debut
- Comparing Hereditary's Rating to Other Contemporary Horror
- The Limitations of Metacritic Scores for Understanding Horror Films
- The Significance of Critical Consensus for Filmmakers
- Hereditary's Lasting Critical Standing
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
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The significance of this 87 score lies not just in the number itself, but in what it represents across diverse critical perspectives. Metacritic’s scoring system weights reviews from major publications and critics more heavily, meaning the 87 reflects meaningful agreement among respected voices in film criticism.
For a horror film—a genre that often divides critics between those who value scares and those who demand deeper artistic merit—achieving universal acclaim is exceptionally rare.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Hereditary’s Strong Critical Rating
- What Universal Acclaim Actually Reveals About Hereditary
- Critical Response to Ari Aster’s Directorial Debut
- Comparing Hereditary’s Rating to Other Contemporary Horror
- The Limitations of Metacritic Scores for Understanding Horror Films
- The Significance of Critical Consensus for Filmmakers
- Hereditary’s Lasting Critical Standing
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Hereditary’s Strong Critical Rating
The 87 Metascore places Hereditary in elite company. Scores in the 80-to-100 range on Metacritic denote universal acclaim, the platform’s highest designation. To contextualize: most horror films score between 50 and 70, while true critical darlings in the genre rarely break 75.
Hereditary’s 87 exceeds the scores of many recent celebrated horror films, including The Witch (66), Midsommar (67), and A Quiet Place (71).
This distinction matters because it shows critics across different sensibilities and publications agreed on the film’s quality. The 49 reviews composing this score came from sources spanning independent film critics, major newspapers, and prominent film publications. This breadth means the score isn’t dependent on a small circle of admirers or a particular critical school.
Instead, the rating emerged from genuine consensus across varied critical approaches. Some critics praised the film’s psychological depth, others its technical execution, and still others its performances—yet they arrived at similar conclusions about its overall merit.
What Universal Acclaim Actually Reveals About Hereditary
An 87 score tells us that Hereditary succeeded at a fundamental level: it worked for critics as both a horror film and as cinema. The film demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship in direction, cinematography, and performances that transcends the genre’s typical boundaries.
Toni Collette’s performance, in particular, received extensive critical praise, with many reviewers citing her work as one of the finest acting achievements in horror cinema. The film’s willingness to merge family drama with supernatural horror created something that appealed to critics who might otherwise dismiss the genre.
However, critical acclaim doesn’t automatically translate to audience agreement or sustained cultural dominance. While Hereditary performed respectably at the box office, it never became a mainstream phenomenon. Some viewers found the film’s slow-burn approach and ambiguous ending frustrating rather than artistic.
The gap between critical and audience reception reveals an important limitation: an 87 Metascore describes what professional critics valued, not necessarily what casual viewers or general audiences preferred. The rating reflects critical sophistication more than popular appeal.
Critical Response to Ari Aster’s Directorial Debut
Director Ari Aster’s first feature film immediately established him as a distinctive voice in horror cinema, and the metacritic score reflects critics’ recognition of this achievement.
Critics consistently highlighted Aster’s ability to generate genuine dread through atmosphere and character development rather than relying on jump scares or gore. The film’s visual language—its use of composition, lighting, and production design—became a focal point in reviews, with many critics noting these elements as evidence of Aster’s mature artistic vision.
The performances also contributed substantially to the score.
Beyond Toni Collette, critics noted strong work from Gabriel Byrne and Alex Wolff. Unlike many horror films where characters feel like disposable vehicles for set pieces, Hereditary grounded its supernatural elements in genuine family dynamics and emotional stakes. This character focus distinguished the film in critical eyes and contributed to its strong rating.
Critics understood Aster wasn’t simply trying to scare audiences; he was exploring grief, guilt, and familial dysfunction through the lens of horror.
Comparing Hereditary’s Rating to Other Contemporary Horror
An 87 Metascore positions Hereditary among the most critically acclaimed horror films of the modern era, though not at the absolute apex. For comparison, The Babadook (98), Get Out (98), and The Shining (82, though limited contemporary reviews) represent different levels of critical consensus.
Hereditary’s score suggests it resonated deeply but faced some dissent among critics who found flaws in pacing or narrative coherence. This pattern is common with ambitious horror films that take risks—they either soar to near-perfect scores or face criticism from those who think the risks don’t fully pay off.
The tradeoff becomes clear when examining which critics gave lower scores. Some reviewers felt the film occasionally prioritized atmosphere over narrative payoff, or found the ending divisive. An 87 rather than a 92 might reflect 10-15% of critics feeling the ambitions exceeded the execution.
This is worth noting because it suggests Hereditary is a film critics deeply engage with and debate, rather than one universally dismissed or universally celebrated. The strong score reflects consensus, but not complete agreement.
The Limitations of Metacritic Scores for Understanding Horror Films
Metacritic scores have inherent limitations worth considering when evaluating Hereditary’s 87. The weighting system favors major publications and established critics, which can privilege certain critical perspectives while underrepresenting others. Additionally, Metacritic scores collapse diverse critical opinions into a single number, obscuring important nuances.
A critic might praise the film’s direction while criticizing its narrative choices—Metacritic’s averaging process smooths over these distinctions.
Another limitation: the score was determined at release and hasn’t evolved with time. Critical reassessment occasionally changes how films are perceived years later. Some films rise in critical estimation as audiences gain perspective, while others decline as their innovations become familiar.
Hereditary’s 87 captures the moment of its 2018 release but doesn’t reflect whether critics’ opinions have shifted with time and repeated viewings. Additionally, the score doesn’t communicate the *kind* of praise or criticism, leaving viewers to discover whether critics loved its particular elements or had serious reservations about specific aspects.
The Significance of Critical Consensus for Filmmakers
For director Ari Aster, the 87 Metascore validated his distinctive vision and essentially guaranteed he would secure funding and creative control for subsequent projects. This is the practical importance of critical ratings—they influence industry perception and career trajectories.
Hereditary’s strong score helped Aster develop his second feature, Midsommar, even though that film received a lower critical score (67).
Studios read critical success and use it to evaluate filmmaker potential. The score also shaped how audiences approached Hereditary. The “Universal Acclaim” label and high number encouraged viewers curious about highly-rated horror films to seek it out, while others might have been deterred by knowing it was slow-burn rather than immediately thrilling.
In this way, the 87 Metascore functioned as both a descriptor of quality and a marketing tool that influenced viewing expectations and audience selection.
Hereditary’s Lasting Critical Standing
Three years into 2026, Hereditary’s 87 score remains stable, reflecting that its critical reputation hasn’t substantially shifted. The film appears regularly on lists of the best horror films of the 2010s and decade beyond, with many critics continuing to cite it as a milestone in contemporary horror cinema.
This stability suggests the 87 score holds meaningful content rather than representing a momentary critical enthusiasm that faded.
Looking forward, Hereditary appears positioned as a film that will endure in critical conversations about horror cinema’s artistic potential. The score’s meaning may actually deepen as critics gain historical perspective, comparing Hereditary to subsequent horror films and reflecting on what made Aster’s debut so distinctive.
The 87 Metascore now functions as part of cinema history, marking a moment when critics broadly agreed a horror film had achieved artistic maturity and significance.
Conclusion
Hereditary’s Metascore of 87 out of 100, based on 49 critic reviews, represents genuine critical consensus that Ari Aster’s 2018 debut achieved universal acclaim. The score places the film among the most critically celebrated horror movies in contemporary cinema, reflecting its exceptional performances, distinctive direction, and willingness to merge family drama with supernatural terror.
This rating describes what critics valued: artistic ambition, character depth, and technical mastery within the horror genre.
Understanding this score requires recognizing both its value and its limitations. The 87 represents professional critical judgment across diverse publications, yet it doesn’t capture all the nuance of those reviews or guarantee audience alignment.
For anyone interested in contemporary horror cinema or Ari Aster’s work, the strong Metascore signifies that Hereditary rewards serious engagement—it’s a film critics took seriously because it demanded serious consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Metascore of 87 mean?
It indicates Universal Acclaim. Metacritic uses a 0-100 scale where 80-100 represents universal acclaim, 60-79 represents generally favorable reviews, and below 60 indicates mixed or unfavorable reviews. An 87 places Hereditary at the higher end of critical agreement.
Why did Hereditary score higher than other recent horror films?
Critics praised its artistic ambition, Toni Collette’s performance, and Ari Aster’s directorial vision. Unlike many horror films relying primarily on scares, Hereditary successfully merged psychological horror with genuine character development and thematic depth.
Is a Metascore of 87 considered excellent?
Yes. Within the Universal Acclaim range, 87 is solidly positive. It’s worth noting that most horror films score significantly lower (typically 50-70), making 87 exceptionally high for the genre.
Does the Metascore of 87 mean everyone will enjoy Hereditary?
No. Critical acclaim and audience enjoyment don’t always align. The score reflects professional critics’ assessment, while individual viewers may find the slow-burn pacing, ambiguous ending, or heavy subject matter not to their preference.
How many critic reviews made up this Metascore?
Exactly 49 professional critics’ reviews were aggregated to create the 87 Metascore, with Metacritic’s weighting system giving more influence to major publications and established critics.
Has Hereditary’s score changed since 2018?
The 87 score has remained stable since the film’s release. Metacritic scores are not updated with new reviews added years later, so it represents the critical consensus at the film’s 2018 release.
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