Philomena (2013)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Oscars
33 wins & 86 nominations total
Based on a powerful true story and led by note-perfect performances from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Philomena offers a profoundly affecting drama for adult filmgoers of all ages.
Philomena is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and question your beliefs all at once. Despite its heavy themes, the film manages to balance drama and comedy in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. Judi Dench delivers a powerful performance that will leave you in awe, while Steve Coogan’s portrayal of a cynical journalist adds a touch of humor to the mix. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Overall, Philomena is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good story with heart and soul.
Production Company(ies)
Romaine Film Corporation,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 on appeal for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual references
Year of Release
2013
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 37m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2014
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Michelle Fairley, Barbara Jefford, Anna Maxwell Martin, Mare Winningham, directed by Stephen Frears, written by Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Anna Smith, Monica Castillo, David Stratton, Kate Erbland, Liam Lacey, Richard Crouse, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Chris McCoy, Debbie Lynn Elias, Nicholas Bell, PG-13, Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward, Weinstein Co., Dolby Digital, Philomena Lee, Martin Sixsmith, Sally Mitchell, Sister Hildegarde, Jane, Mary
Worldwide gross: $100,129,872
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $127,199,786
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 907
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,871,296
US/Canada gross: $37,709,979
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,904,798
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,092
US/Canada opening weekend: $128,435
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $163,157
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,745
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $15,244,176
Production budget ranking: 1,506
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,208,989
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $103,746,620
ROI to date (est.): 442%
ROI ranking: 295
Steve Coogan – Martin Sixsmith
Michelle Fairley – Sally Mitchell
Barbara Jefford – Sister Hildegarde
Anna Maxwell Martin – Jane
Mare Winningham – Mary
Director(s)
Stephen Frears
Writer(s)
Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope
Producer(s)
Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward
Film Festivals
Cannes, Venice, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
33 wins & 86 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (200) | Top Critics (68) | Fresh (181) | Rotten (19)
It is quiet, restrained, unfussy, and has, at its heart, an injustice so grave it will make your blood boil. You will also cry.
September 5, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Despite its weighty themes, Stephen Frears’ film is almost as much a comedy as a drama.
September 6, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Anna Smith
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
The movie is a bit of a puzzle coming from atheist co-writer Steve Coogan and the script grapples with these big questions of religion, class, and justice in a way that’s far beyond the typical teary human-interest story.
May 10, 2016
Monica Castillo
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
One of the best purely British films of the year.
December 23, 2013 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
[The final act is] a great half hour or so of film — funny, charming, sad, satisfying — but the rest of Philomena isn’t so up to snuff.
December 22, 2013 | Rating: B-
Kate Erbland
Film School Rejects
TOP CRITIC
What at first seems formulaic comedy gains a deeper resonance as we see how they represent two responses to cruelty and injustice — first outrage, and with time, eventually, forgiveness.
December 22, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Transcends its roots as a class study, becoming instead a poignant and funny story of forgiveness and the true nature of love.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
It’s a brooding mystery that focuses more on studying characters than unearthing clues.
December 4, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It features a deeply felt and gripping performance from Judi Dench.
September 20, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Besides Dench’s fierce eyes, the most interesting part of Philomena is watching the picture of the lost son unfold as the buddy-cop pairing of Dench and Coogan ferret out his life story.
January 8, 2020
Chris McCoy
Memphis Flyer
[A] story that took a lifetime, will now touch your heart for a lifetime.
January 7, 2020
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It’s intelligently written and genuinely performed, even if the film is rather visually banal.
August 29, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com…
Plot
When former journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is dismissed from the Labour Party in disgrace, he is at a loss as to what do. That changes when a young Irish woman approaches him about a story of her mother, Philomena Lee (Dame Judi Dench), who had her son taken away when she was a teenage inmate of a Catholic convent. Martin arranges a magazine assignment about her search for him that eventually leads to America. Along the way, Martin and Philomena discover as much about each other as about her son’s fate. Furthermore, both find their basic beliefs challenged.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Judi Dench delivers a “fierce” and “gripping” performance in Philomena, according to one critic review.
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