The Personal History of David Copperfield (2020)
75%RT Audience Score: 54%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
17 wins & 32 nominations total
The Personal History of David Copperfield puts a fresh, funny, and utterly charming spin on Dickens’ classic, proving some stories truly are timeless
The Personal History of David Copperfield is a mad, loving, and brilliantly cinematic adaptation of the classic novel. Dev Patel carries the ensemble with great flair, looking every inch the boy who has fallen upon hard times and longs to be recognized as the gentleman he is. The film’s Victorian backdrop gives rise to a pressing look at class, poverty, and identity, albeit through a spirited and modern lens. It’s a still Victorian era-set yet unmistakably modern – and fresh, very funny and sharp-witted – big-screen adaptation. Plus, who doesn’t love great hair? Patel’s Copperfield is sturdy, kind, charismatic, and filled with a childlike curiosity and wonder even into adulthood. Overall, it’s a convivial take on Dickens, adding life, color, and exhilaration to a literary classic that deserves such treatment.
Production Company(ies)
Revolution Studios, Red Om Films, Hughes Entertainment,
Distributor
Searchlight Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic material and brief violence.
Year of Release
2020
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 59m
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Language(s):English, French
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Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 2020 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2020
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw, Gwendoline Christie, directed by Armando Iannucci, written by Simon Blackwell, comedy, drama, PG, Searchlight Pictures, box office, $1.9M, reviewed by James Parker, Shubhra Gupta, Jake Coyle, Jo Livingstone, Max Weiss, John Anderson, Dan Bayer, Brian Eggert, Lonita Cook, Sarah Ward, Witney Seibold, Dickens, classic, Victorian era, poverty, identity, colorblind casting, Charlie, David Copperfield, Betsey Trotwood, Mr Dick, Mr Micawber, Uriah Heep, Jane Murdstone, childhood, Dover, zoetrope, therapy, Mr Patel’s hair
Worldwide gross: $14,399,270
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,431,949
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,788
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,791,925
US/Canada gross: $1,876,298
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,141,166
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,015
US/Canada opening weekend: $475,800
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $542,967
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,386
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,600,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,802,181
Production budget ranking: 1,425
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,586,474
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$10,956,706
ROI to date (est.): -40%
ROI ranking: 1,623
Tilda Swinton – Betsey Trotwood
Hugh Laurie – Mr. Dick
Peter Capaldi – Mr. Micawber
Ben Whishaw – Uriah Heep
Gwendoline Christie – Jane Murdstone
Armando Iannucci – Director/Producer
Kevin Loader – Producer
Simon Blackwell – Writer
Director(s)
Armando Iannucci
Writer(s)
Simon Blackwell
Producer(s)
Armando Iannucci, Kevin Loader
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
17 wins & 32 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (247) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (227) | Rotten (20)
[A] mad, loving, and brilliantly cinematic extrapolation of the novel…
February 5, 2021
James Parker
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
It is Dev Patel who carries this ensemble with great flair, looking every inch the boy who has fallen upon hard times and longs to be recognised as the gentleman he is.
December 16, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
An exuberantly optimistic film celebrating the life force of art and eccentricity. Who couldn’t use a little of that right now.
October 30, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jake Coyle
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
The new film adaptation, co-written by Iannucci and Simon Blackwell, takes that human energy as its lifting-off point, and is simply too faithful, rich, and bright to be dimmed by the circumstances of its release.
September 18, 2020
Jo Livingstone
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
As for Patel, he makes a wonderful Copperfield — sturdy, kind, charismatic, and filled with a childlike curiosity and wonder even into adulthood (and, of course, great hair).
September 10, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
[Iannucci] is clearly at home with sprawling casts of characters and comfortable allowing them to chew the scenery when the mood comes over them.
September 3, 2020
John Anderson
America Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Whenever that energy has to drop off for a bit, it feels like the wind has been knocked out of the film, making for an uneven viewing experience.
May 13, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Dan Bayer
Next Best Picture
The film’s Victorian backdrop gives rise to a pressing look at class, poverty, and identity, albeit through a spirited and modern lens.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
[A] splendid and theatrical film.
September 14, 2021
Lonita Cook
KCTV5 News at 9
A still Victorian era-set yet unmistakably modern – and fresh, very funny and sharp-witted – big-screen adaptation.
April 3, 2021
Sarah Ward
Concrete Playground
A convivial take on Dickens, adding life, color and exhilaration to a literary classic that deserves such treatment.
March 30, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
Brings the classic novel to life with energetic editing and colorblind casting.
February 8, 2021
Dan Schindel
Hyperallergic…
Plot
A fresh and distinctive take on Charles Dickens’ semi-autobiographical masterpiece, The Personal History of David Copperfield, set in the 1840s, chronicles the life of its iconic title character as he navigates a chaotic world to find his elusive place within it. From his unhappy childhood to the discovery of his gift as a storyteller and writer, David’s journey is by turns hilarious and tragic, but always full of life, color and humanity.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The standout characters in The Personal History of David Copperfield “pop,” according to one audience review.
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