Australian actress Mia Wasikowska's portrayal of Alice in Wonderland has been savaged by a British movie critic, who says she "looks like she's on heroin".

News of The World critic Robbie Collin gave the Tim Burton blockbuster just one star in his column on Sunday, describing the 3D film as one that should be burned and fired off into space.

On Wasikowska's performance, Collin wrote that "there's not been a lead character this paper-flat since the South Park movie".