 Writing for "The Spectator" in 1935, Graham Greene gave the film a generally positive review, describing the film as "a vehicle for Fred Astaire's genius", and noting that Astaire's performance eliminated any concern over the fact that "the music and lyrics are bad" or that Astaire "has to act with human beings [that cannot match] his freedom, lightness, and happiness".As of June 30, 2019, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that the film had a score of 100% "fresh" approval rating based on 38 reviews with an average rating of 8.61/10.The website's critical consensus reads, "A glamorous and enthralling depression-era diversion, "Top Hat" is nearly flawless, with acrobatics by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers that make the hardest physical stunts seem light as air."