Over the years, "A Clockwork Orange" gained a status as a cult classic. For "The Guardian", Philip French stated that the film's controversial reputation likely stemmed from the fact that it was released during a time when fear of teenage delinquency was high. Adam Nayman of "The Ringer" wrote that the film's themes of delinquency, corrupt power structures and dehumanisation are relevant in today's society. Simon Braund of "Empire" praised the film's "dazzling visual style" and McDowell's "simply astonishing" portrayal of Alex.