Initial
Mario Ramírez and Roberto Cobo (right) in a publicity still for the filmLos Olvidados was largely disparaged by the Mexican press upon its release.[13] Juan Carlos Ibáñez and Manuel Palacio write, "The film was so harsh and innovative, so critical and daring in its statements that during its first screenings, spectators openly aired their indignation towards the features of Mexican identity presented by Buñuel."[14] The work was also criticized as overly bleak.[15]
Retrospective
Many critics have since proclaimed Los Olvidados a masterpiece. It currently holds a 91% score on the website Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 reviews.[16] It was inscribed on UNESCO's "Memory of the World" Register in 2003 in recognition of its historical significance.[17]
The work placed 110th in the 2012 Sight & Sound critics' poll of the greatest films ever made.[18] In April 2019, a restored version of the film was selected to be shown in the Cannes Classics section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.[19]
The film is ranked number 2 in the list of the Best 100 Mexican films of all time according to 25 cinema critics (1994/2020).[20]
