The film was received with widespread acclaim. Film aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes reports a 93% "Certified Fresh" rating, based on 149 positive reviews out of 161, and an average rating of 8.31/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Unlike more traditional spy films, "The Lives of Others" doesn't sacrifice character for cloak and dagger chases, and the performances (notably that by the late Ulrich Muhe) stay with you". It also has a score of 89 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".