Withnail & I (1987)
Kernel Score: 82% · 610 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Released: 1987-06-19
Runtime: 108 minutes
Where to watch Withnail & I
- Stream: The Criterion Channel, HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty, they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.
Withnail & I parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Withnail & I is an R-rated dark comedy about two out-of-work actors drifting through drink and drugs in 1960s Britain.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Includes a strangulation reference and dark comedic tension but little graphic violence.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Strong — Heavy alcohol consumption and drug use (including cannabis) are central to the film, with an alcoholic protagonist.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Withnail & I
If you liked Withnail & I, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Trainspotting (1996) — 88%
- Paddleton (2019) — 77%
- Friday (1995) — 80%
- The Gentlemen (2020) — 86%
- God's Own Country (2017) — 86%
- The Quiet Man (1952) — 80%
- Superbad (2007) — 87%
- Get Carter (1971) — 77%
Director
Bruce Robinson
Cast
- Richard E. Grant as Withnail
- Paul McGann as ...& I
- Richard Griffiths as Monty
- Ralph Brown as Danny
- Michael Elphick as Jake
- Daragh O'Malley as Irishman
- Michael Wardle as Isaac Parkin
- Una Brandon-Jones as Mrs. Parkin
- Noel Johnson as General
- Irene Sutcliffe as Waitress
Withnail & I FAQ
Is Withnail & I good?
Withnail & I has an 82% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 610 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Withnail & I?
In the US you can stream Withnail & I on The Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Withnail & I OK for kids?
Withnail & I is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Withnail & I is an R-rated dark comedy about two out-of-work actors drifting through drink and drugs in 1960s Britain.
What movies are like Withnail & I?
If you liked Withnail & I, try Trainspotting, Paddleton, Friday and The Gentlemen.