In a retrospective review, "Slant Magazine"'s Jeremiah Kipp gave "Velvet Goldmine" four out of four stars and said that, although unsupportive critics may be "terrified of a movie with so many ideas", the film successfully shows a "melancholic ode to freedom, and those who fight for it through art", because of Haynes' detailed imagery and the cast's "expressive, soulful performances".