The Kite Runner (Broadway)
Closed 2h 30m
The Kite Runner (Broadway)
84

The Kite Runner (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets

84%
(411 Reviews)
Positive
90%
Mixed
7%
Negative
3%
Members say
Absorbing, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Intense, Ambitious

The West End play based on Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel comes to Broadway.

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Member Reviews (411)

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913 Reviews | 928 Followers
67
Long, Barebones production, Uneven, Indulgent, Disappointing

See it if There's a good story that they take from the book. Mostly Ok acting. Main actor has some severe blunders.

Don't see it if But, for Broadway, the production was definitely cheap. It's overly narrated and should have been edited to 1:45. The movie is way better. Read more

888 Reviews | 1017 Followers
65
Cheap production, Overly long, Overrated

See it if You were a fan of the book or have never read it. It's mostly entertaining.

Don't see it if The story is good however much of it is told in narration (which is the cheap&easy way to adapt a book). Lead is very unlikable.

1015 Reviews | 420 Followers
89
Absorbing, Great acting, Great staging, Epic, Intense

See it if You want to be swallowed up into the beauty, luxury and excruciating pain of this grand story that spans lifetimes, cultures and countries.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a light/fluffy story. Exquisite acting here only makes the painful story harder to bear (but so much more worthwhile). Read more

735 Reviews | 158 Followers
83
Thought-provoking, Great acting, Intelligent, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if you loved the book, are a fan of epic stories across miles and years, want to learn a bit about Afghanistan, enjoy family stories

Don't see it if Thinking about Afghanistan is a trigger, you don't enjoy linear narratives with the action more described than seen, many digressions

715 Reviews | 108 Followers
95
Relevant, Intelligent, Great writing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if you like a superbly acted drama with a very relevant story. You will be moved to tears by the well written play. The staging is simple.

Don't see it if you like comedy or simple plots. This story will tear you heart out and make you think how many people suffer in other parts of the world. Read more

655 Reviews | 129 Followers
91
Slow, Sad, Intense, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if About friendship, betrayal, country in war, and founding peace.

Don't see it if Parts are very sad, that I cried a few times. If you want happiness thru a whole story.

652 Reviews | 243 Followers
79
Long, Average, Resonant, Heavy, Absorbing

See it if You enjoy dramatic sagas that involve immigration, religion, and redemption.

Don't see it if You dislike narration-heavy shows — more talking than action. This felt like a decent regional show that isn’t good enough for Broadway.

515 Reviews | 731 Followers
85
Great acting, Emotional, Absorbing, Great writing, Great staging

See it if themes of friendship, guilt, and self forgiveness appeal to you—or if you could use a cathartic cry.

Don't see it if a scene of implied rape may be triggering for you.

Critic Reviews (21)

The New York Times
July 21st, 2022

"Under Giles Croft’s direction, Arison’s Broadway debut proves spotty. He recites his opening lines with the stiffness of a child delivering a book report, and never totally eases into the role."
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New York Magazine / Vulture
July 21st, 2022

" 'The Kite Runner' is more of a vivid recitation than fully realized drama."
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New Yorker
August 8th, 2022

"Turning 'The Kite Runner' into a play must have been a challenging endeavor, but this new Broadway production does well, for the most part, by the source material, even if it can be frustratingly earthbound."
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Variety
July 22nd, 2022

"Playwright Matthew Spangler’s adaptation of 'The Kite Runner,' Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling 2005 novel about the friendship of two boys living parallel lives in Afghanistan, is a heartbreaker – but so uplifting, it’s worth the pain."
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The Wall Street Journal
July 21st, 2022

"It may seem strange to say, but 'The Kite Runner' may be more engrossing for those who have not read the book or seen the movie, or who no longer remember the dramatic, even melodramatic, narrative. As with many if not most fine books brought to the stage or the screen the theatrical version, despite its accomplishment, is not the aesthetic equal of the book."
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Deadline
July 21st, 2022

"Despite its heartfelt intentions and some impressive performances, 'The Kite Runner' doesn’t improve in any significant way over 'The Kite Runner' on screen. And it’s a whole lot talkier."
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New York Post
July 21st, 2022

"As far as literary stage adaptations go — a touch-and-go genre if there ever was one — 'The Kite Runner' is enormously satisfying and soulful."
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New York Theatre Guide
July 21st, 2022

"If only 'The Kite Runner' on Broadway depended less on the novel and trusted more on its stagecraft. There might have been more moments like this, of flight and transcendence."
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