For all its ache and churning emotions, “Butter” winds up being little more than a meager “Afterschool Special.”

Lisa Kennedy

The New York Times

While it may resonate for some young viewers, anyone whose reality really resembles that of the film’s protagonist should probably look elsewhere.

John DeFore

The Hollywood Reporter

Instead of exploring the more complex dynamics of adolescent social structure, it limits itself to an artificial set-up and a superficial level of storytelling, more afterschool special than feature film.

Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com