3 stars out of 4 -- "Relentless suspense allows THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE to hold you in a viselike grip. But it's the performances of Nyqvist and especially Rapace that keep you coming back for more."
Rolling Stone

"[V]iolent, sordid pulp stewed in an atmosphere of Swedish austerity....This one doesn't just play with thriller conventions -- it puts them to work." -- Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly

3.5 stars out of 4 -- "[It's] an advantage that the actors are not conventional star types....The film is filled with strong supporting roles."
Chicago Sun-Times

"[T]he franchise's secret weapon is back with brilliant young Swedish actress Noomi Rapace again channeling the alienated, unwilling to be broken tough chick that Larsson envisioned and Rapace imbues with such eerie authenticity."
Los Angeles Times

"[Rapace] continues to redefine our notions of a contemporary heroine....She's a movie star unlike any other."
Wall Street Journal