An Education

Play trailer

An Education

PG-13

Released Oct 9, 2009

1h 40m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

198 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Despite her sheltered upbringing, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is a teen with a bright future; she's smart, pretty, and has aspirations of attending Oxford University. When David (Peter Sarsgaard), a charming but much older suitor, motors into her life in a shiny automobile, Jenny gets a taste of adult life that she won't soon forget.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Though the latter part of the film may not appeal to all, An Education is a charming coming-of-age tale powered by the strength of relative newcomer Carey Mulligan's standout performance.

Read Critics Reviews

Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

Adapted by Nick Hornby from a memoir by Lynn Barber, this is an enjoyably bracing portrait of a romantic misadventure.

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This is a nostalgically elegant, comically restrained, cleverly scripted film which, in parts, is also extremely moving.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Kate Stables

Sight & Sound

One of the chief pleasures of Lone Scherfig's crisply confident and charmingly comic coming-of-age drama is in seeing a teenage girl kick against the pricks for a change.

Jul 6, 2018

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

Bigelow’s Hurt Locker got the glory. But Lone Scherfig’s An Education is the better film

Jun 5, 2024

Full Review

Michael Leader

Den of Geek

It is ever so slightly warped, capped off with a delightful, cheeky soundtrack...

Rated: 4/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Carey Mulligan’s breakthrough performance in An Education deserves the affection it’s getting and serves as the film’s easiest selling point.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 22, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Simon G

This is absolute garbage, stupid, crude, pointless and dumb. I am not often motivated to write a review but this film moved me. It is so primitive and silly that you kind of keep waiting for the real story to begin. Characters are crude and the story is grotesquely primitive and even at that it does not make sense. It is full of caricatures with no self-awareness. You just feel dumber for watching it. I wish I could unsee this garbage.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Faiz D

Outstanding performance by Carey Mulligan.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

Gertrude F

Heartwarming, then disturbing. An excellent exploration of a young girls desires, love, manipulation, and loss of ones self in the face of all this. Carey Mulligan is brilliant, along with the rest of the cast. I didn't know what to feel by the end of it. There's no sugarcoating or dramatising, which is why it works so well.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

David W

An Education features an exceptionally talented cast, a realistically disturbing premise, and a well-delivered storyline. Carey Mulligan delivers a breakthrough performance while Rosamund Pike is characteristically transcending in her supporting role. I would absolutely watch this again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Ronnie K

"An Education" is a great film to watch. There is not a single dull moment or scene throughout. However, the plot is quite predictable and the dialogue is enticing. Unfortunately, the ending feels cliché.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/24/23

Full Review

Keith W

A lovely, sensitive, coming of age film. Beautifully played by a young Carey Mulligan with a strong supporting cast. Full marks all round!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Lone Scherfig

Director

Peter Sarsgaard

David

Carey Mulligan

Jenny

Alfred Molina

Jack

Dominic Cooper

Danny

Rosamund Pike

Helen

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Masked and Anonymous

25%

45%

Masked and Anonymous

Watchlist

Phoebe in Wonderland

61%

70%

Phoebe in Wonderland

Watchlist

Not Easily Broken

31%

67%

Not Easily Broken

Watchlist

Dreamland

67%

65%

Dreamland

Watchlist

Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor

22%

66%

Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Sundance 2010: RT’s 10 Most Anticipated Movies

Critics Consensus: Retreat From Couples Retreat

Carey Mulligan – Fresh Talent on RT

View more photos

Synopsis

Despite her sheltered upbringing, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is a teen with a bright future; she's smart, pretty, and has aspirations of attending Oxford University. When David (Peter Sarsgaard), a charming but much older suitor, motors into her life in a shiny automobile, Jenny gets a taste of adult life that she won't soon forget.

Director: Lone Scherfig
Producer: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey
Screenwriter: Nick Hornby
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: BBC
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Mature Thematic Material|Smoking)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.6M
Runtime: 1h 40m

Most Popular at Home Now