"Barton Fink" received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 90% "Certified Fresh" rating, based on 60 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Twisty and unsettling, the Coen brothers' satirical tale of a 1940s playwright struggling with writer's block is packed with their trademark sense of humor and terrific performances from its cast." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 69 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".