Bosley Crowther of "The New York Times" wrote: "Compounded generously of music, dance, color spectacle and a riotous abundance of Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen and Donald O'Connor on the screen, all elements in this rainbow program are carefully contrived and guaranteed to lift the dolors of winter and put you in a buttercup mood." "Variety" was also positive, writing: "Arthur Freed has produced another surefire grosser for Metro in "Singin' in the Rain". Musical has pace, humor, and good spirits a-plenty, in a breezy, good-natured spoof at the film industry itself ... Standout performances by Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, especially the latter, enhance the film's pull." "Harrison's Reports" called it "top-notch entertainment in every department – music, dancing, singing, staging and story". Richard L. Coe of "The Washington Post" called it "yet another fresh and breezy, colorful and funny musical" from Gene Kelly, adding, "Of the players there's not a dud in the lot, from Kelly's facile performing to the brief but electric dance appearance by Cyd Charisse, a swell partner for him."