Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Kernel Score: 82% · 3,444 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Comedy, Drama, History
Released: 2013-11-29
Runtime: 126 minutes
Is Saving Mr. Banks worth watching?
Worth watching. The story of how Walt Disney won over Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers. Emma Thompson is superb as the prickly writer, and the film has charm and real feeling. It softens the facts, but it's a good watch.
Watch it if you
- like behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories
- enjoy Emma Thompson
- want a warm, well-acted drama
Skip it if you
- want a strict historical account
- dislike sentimental stories
Best for: Cozy night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Saving Mr. Banks
- Stream: Disney+
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Author P.L. Travers looks back on her childhood while reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.
Saving Mr. Banks parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Saving Mr. Banks is a Disney biographical drama exploring author P.L. Travers' difficult childhood, including her father's alcoholism, while she works with Walt Disney on Mary Poppins.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Depicts a father's alcoholism and its impact on the family as a central childhood memory.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Saving Mr. Banks
If you liked Saving Mr. Banks, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Ed Wood (1994) — 86%: Fond, funny look at a filmmaker's passion.
- Green Book (2018) — 90%: Warm, crowd-pleasing true story of unlikely friends.
- One Day (2011) — 83%: Romantic drama that follows two writers over years.
- The Wife (2017) — 80%: Drama about an author and a marriage.
- Shattered Glass (2003) — 78%: True story about writers and truth.
- My Girl (1991) — 83%: Nostalgic tale of friendship and loss.
Director
Cast
- Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers
- Tom Hanks as Walt Disney
- Colin Farrell as Travers Robert Goff
- Paul Giamatti as Ralph
- Ruth Wilson as Margaret Goff
- Jason Schwartzman as Richard Sherman
- Bradley Whitford as Don DaGradi
- Annie Rose Buckley as Ginty
- B. J. Novak as Robert Sherman
- Kathy Baker as Tommie
Saving Mr. Banks FAQ
Is Saving Mr. Banks worth watching?
Worth watching. The story of how Walt Disney won over Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers. Emma Thompson is superb as the prickly writer, and the film has charm and real feeling. It softens the facts, but it's a good watch.
Where can I watch Saving Mr. Banks?
In the US you can stream Saving Mr. Banks on Disney+ and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Saving Mr. Banks OK for kids?
Saving Mr. Banks is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Saving Mr. Banks is a Disney biographical drama exploring author P.L. Travers' difficult childhood, including her father's alcoholism, while she works with Walt Disney on Mary Poppins.
What movies are like Saving Mr. Banks?
If you liked Saving Mr. Banks, try Ed Wood, Green Book, One Day and The Wife.