"In the same spirit of how Joel Coen made The Tragedy of Macbeth minimalist, The Return strips the journey of Odysseus and Penelope down to its bare bones."
— Kevin L. Lee, AwardsWatch
"As tender and somber as it is thrilling, The Return proves a sword-and-sandals saga rooted in life’s biggest issues, all of them written on the unforgettable countenance of its illustrious star."
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
"There’s an inherent and sweeping tragedy to 'The Return' that makes Pasolini’s film feel truly epic, namely in the ways the visual language of the film mourns the bloodshed that would otherwise thrill in a picture like this."
— Zachary Lee, RogerEbert.com
"Reminiscent of another Pasolini, Pier Paolo, in its minimalist take on a classic story, the film relies mainly on the elemental power of Fiennes and Binoche, both suitably haunting as the long-separated lovers who have lapsed into emotional despair."
— Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
"By telling a decidedly bare-bones version of a story known for its scale and excess, The Return’s harsh landscape and violent undertones highlight the all-too-human struggles at its center in ways that make its ancient source material feel brand new."
— Lacy Baugher, Paste Magazine
"With bold performances, a strong vision for the source material, and a wise decision to focus on this under-represented portion of this narrative, The Return makes for an effective character piece that proves these stories are not only timeless, they’re as timely as ever."
— Jason Gorber, Collider
