A contemporary review in Variety called the film "part ersatz Kubrick, part raunchy Disney". Al Goldstein, editor of Screw, praised the film's "sophisticated direction, magnificent photography and editing". Bijou was named "Best Picture of 1972" by Screw, though it shared the honor with the film Deep Throat. According to Poole, Goldstein considered Bijou to be superior to Deep Throat, but did not want to "honor faggotry over heterosexuality".
