Name : Alonso Duralde / Alias : TheWrap
A fairly chilly, cerebral bit of business, from its beautifully tamped-down cinematography (by modern master Bradford Young) to Johann Johannsson's ethereal score.

Name : David Rooney / Alias : Hollywood Reporter
Anchored by an internalized performance from Amy Adams rich in emotional depth, this is a grownup sci-fi drama that sustains fear and tension while striking affecting chords on love and loss.

Name : Brian Tallerico / Alias : RogerEbert.com
A film that forces viewers to reconsider that which makes us truly human, and the impact of grief on that timeline of existence.

Name : Stephanie Zacharek / Alias : TIME Magazine
Arrival gives us a lot to take in, and the picture is big, somber and grand, if in the end somewhat sterile.

Name : Dave Calhoun / Alias : Time Out
Plenty of smart ideas and bravura visuals.