Tea With the Dames (Nothing Like a Dame) (2018)
88%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Tea with the Dames proves there’s plenty of entertainment value to be found in rounding up a quartet of screen legends for a chat — and is likely to leave audiences wishing these stars would keep brewing up pots for an ongoing series
If you’re in need of a good laugh and some heartwarming stories, Tea with the Dames is the perfect pick-me-up. Watching these four legendary dames – Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith – chat and reminisce is like being invited to a cozy afternoon tea with your favorite grandmothers. Sure, there’s no real structure to the film, but who needs structure when you have these witty and charming ladies? So grab a cuppa and settle in for a delightful and deliciously crustless-finger-sandwich of a movie.
Production Company(ies)
R. P. Productions, Heritage Films, Studio Babelsberg
Distributor
Sundance Selects
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2018
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 23m
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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): Sep 21, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2018
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins, Joan Plowright, directed by Roger Michell, written by N/A, documentary, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Andrea Gronvall, Roxana Hadadi, Kenneth Turan, Glen Weldon, Steve Davis, Anne T Donahue, Richard Crouse, Dennis Harvey, Matthew St Clair, Steven Prokopy, Pat Mullen, produced by Sally Angel, Karen Steyn, MPAA rating, British cinema, British stage, tea, conversation, legends, life, love, art, entertainment, quartet, chat, candid, insightful, unpredictable, acting legends, great friends, reminisce, ruminate, hour and a half, tableside seat, memories, feelings, people, careers, prestigious, talents, overlooked, underestimated
Worldwide gross: $3,188,434
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,752,065
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,255
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 409,167
US/Canada gross: $889,343
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,046,556
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,182
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,777
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $17,389
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,561
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Maggie Smith – Self
Eileen Atkins – Self
Joan Plowright – Self
Roger Michell – Director
Sally Angel – Producer
Director(s)
Roger Michell
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Sally Angel, Karen Steyn
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (88) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (86) | Rotten (2)
[A] cozy nonfiction film.
March 5, 2020
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Do you need a life pick-me-up? The dames are here for you.
December 26, 2018
Roxana Hadadi
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
Candid, insightful and unpredictable, Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Plowright and Dame Maggie Smith are not only acting legends but also great friends. And a treat to hang out with.
December 26, 2018
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
A delightful, delicate, delicious crustless-finger-sandwich of a film…
December 26, 2018
Glen Weldon
NPR
TOP CRITIC
Tea With the Dames peters out as a conversation, given there’s no real beginning, middle or end to the film. It’s a privilege, however, to have been given a tableside seat to listen to this foursome reminisce and ruminate for an hour and a half.
December 13, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
We’re offered the precious illusion that we’re close enough with four pillars of English theatre that they’re chatting to us about their memories and feelings; that we get to see them as people and as friends.
November 30, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Anne T. Donahue
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
The conversation sparkles but don’t come looking for a timeline of their careers. Look instead for insight into lives lived on stage.
February 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Tea is strictly lightweight, an opportunity to hang out with a few grande dames rather than any serious appreciation of their remarkable talents. It’s a PBS Pledge Week kinda tribute, pleasing but weightless.
October 21, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
It’s enjoyable watching them engage in witty banter but it’s also fascinating seeing them talk about their prestigious careers. Have a sip of tea and enjoy!
October 5, 2020
Matthew St. Clair
Cinema Sentries
I’m sure I will see better, more elaborately structured and edited documentaries this year than director Roger Michell’s Tea with the Dames, but I doubt any will fill me with as much pure, elated joy.
June 23, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
As splendid as whisky in a teacup.
May 24, 2019
Pat Mullen
POV Magazine
The film also makes points – sometimes subtle, sometimes very frank – about the ways in which women, especially older women, are overlooked and underestimated.
May 11, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Alison Gillmor
Winnipeg Free Press…
Plot
“Nothing Like a Dame” is a documentary featuring British acting legends Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, and Joan Plowright as they chat about their lives, loves, and art.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features screen legends Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, and Joan Plowright spilling the tea on life, love, and art.
Roger-Michell.jpg
