Released on April 12, 2013—just three days before the annual "Jackie Robinson Day"—the film *42* was met with generally positive reviews from critics and a highly enthusiastic response from general audiences. It was particularly noted as the breakout performance for Chadwick Boseman and a late-career highlight for Harrison Ford.
### **1. Critical Reception and Scores**
Critics praised the film as a respectful and inspirational tribute, though some found it to be a bit formulaic or "safe" in its storytelling.
* **Rotten Tomatoes:** The film debuted with an approval rating of roughly **79–81%**. The critical consensus noted that while the film was "earnest and inspirational," it occasionally played things "a little too safe" by adhering strictly to the biopic playbook.
* **Metacritic:** It received a score of **62/100**, indicating "generally favorable reviews."
* **A.O. Scott (The New York Times):** He described the film as "an old-fashioned, sturdy piece of hagiography," noting that while it didn't reinvent the biopic, it was effective in its sincerity.
* **Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times):** He gave it a "ground-rule double" rather than a "grand slam," praising it as a "valuable film" but criticizing it for lacking the "complexity and nuance" of the real-life man.
### **2. Performance Highlights**
* **Chadwick Boseman:** Reviewers almost universally singled out Boseman’s portrayal of Robinson. Critics like Kenneth Turan of the *Los Angeles Times* praised him for bringing "real force and dignity" to the role. His ability to convey Robinson’s restrained fury—required by the "no retaliation" agreement with Branch Rickey—was seen as the film's emotional anchor.
* **Harrison Ford:** Ford’s performance as Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey was described by many as a "stylized" or "cartoonish" departure from his usual roles. Owen Gleiberman of *Entertainment Weekly* called it an "ingeniously stylized cartoon performance," noting that Ford seemed to be having genuine fun with the character's "stogie-chomping grump" persona.
### **3. Audience Reception (The A+ Factor)**
While critics were positive but cautious, audiences were nearly unanimous in their praise. *42* earned a rare **A+ CinemaScore** from opening-day audiences. This score is historically a strong predictor of "legs" at the box office, reflecting that the film deeply moved its target demographic (which skewed older, with 83% of the audience aged 25 and over).
### **4. Commercial Success**
The film was a significant box office hit for a sports drama:
* **Record-Breaking Opening:** It opened at **#1** with **$27.3 million**, which at the time set the record for the biggest opening weekend ever for a baseball-themed movie (surpassing *The Benchwarmers* and *Moneyball*).
* **Total Gross:** It eventually grossed approximately **$95 million** domestically and **$97.5 million** worldwide against a production budget of $40 million. Its limited international earnings were attributed to the niche global appeal of baseball.
### **5. Common Critiques and Historical Accuracy**
Despite the praise, certain "specific details" were debated by reviewers and historians:
* **The "Safe" Narrative:** Some critics felt the film sanitized the era's racism to make it more palatable for a PG-13 audience. Dana Stevens of *Slate* argued that the film followed a "troubling trend" of white filmmakers depicting Black history through a lens of "inspirational legends" rather than raw reality.
* **Historical Liberties:** Historians pointed out minor inaccuracies, such as the reason for manager Leo Durocher’s suspension. The film implies it was due to an affair with a Hollywood actress, whereas in reality, his suspension involved his associations with known gamblers.
* **The Ben Chapman Incident:** One of the most discussed scenes at the time was the visceral portrayal of Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman (played by Alan Tudyk). Critics praised the scene for its honesty, as it depicted the raw, relentless verbal abuse Robinson faced, which was documented as a historical fact.