The film was well received, and on review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes, the rating was a 'fresh' 64%. Noted "Chicago Sun Times" critic Roger Ebert gave it 3 stars out of 4 and wrote that ""Come See the Paradise" is a fable to remind us of how easily we can surrender our liberties, and how much we need them." The film was entered into the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.