Never Let Me Go

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2:31

Never Let Me Go

R

Released Sep 15, 2010

1h 44m

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

186 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.

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Critics Consensus

With Never Let Me Go, Mark Romanek has delivered a graceful adaptation that captures the spirit of the Ishiguro novel -- which will be precisely the problem for some viewers.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Perhaps such passive solemnity is true to the book, but on screen, along with the sad tinkling piano and the sad violins that just won't quit, the overall effect is so enervating that you simply don't feel a damned thing.

Aug 30, 2018

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Kaleem Aftab

Independent (UK)

The lack of dramatic tension means it's difficult to emotionally connect with the central characters and their dilemma.

May 15, 2018

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The script could have done better to translate the concept. It works as a big picture concept, but doesn't get the treatment it deserves here.

Rated: C+

Sep 8, 2017

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Stephen A. Russell

Orion's Shoulder (Substack)

The psychological damage the reality of cloning unleashes in this acting tour de force of inexorable fate is as yuck-making as it’s possible to be.

Mar 6, 2025

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

Ishiguro's gentle science fiction concept is rendered with melancholy subtlety by Romanek.

Rated: 4/5

May 7, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

This disturbing narrative about believable characters in their fatalistic world offers an affecting drama that stays with the viewer long after the film has ended.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 3, 2023

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Maible W

I’m sure that maybe the book was better but the movie in my opinion was genuinely horrible. I mean the thought of it makes you sad like when you kind of like think of the movie but while you’re watching it, you know it’s just kind of like unsettling and the scenes are like kind of so long and it makes like the movie wants you to feel something deep down but really it’s like just making you feel like OK now what the ending wasn’t so bad it was kind of sad. I’ll admit that, but it kinda needs to move with more energy and the movie didn’t really have that it’s a great topic Horrible directing though

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

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Shakur Y

Made an account to leave this review. Wish I could get my hour and 40 minutes back. Maybe the book was better, but the melancholy tone of the movie didn’t match the obscene horror that is normalizing live organ harvesting. The characters are interesting, but lack any real agency or interest in REALLY doing anything about the horror they exist within. Don’t watch this awful snuff film.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

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Petros T

Quite a unique film in the way that it pairs a romantic tale in a seemingly proper setting with a sci-fi plot that's disturbing, dystopian, particularly bleak and uneasy in its permeating surrender to apathy. The last moments in particular are the film's most moving, thus serving as a fitting epilogue, yet at the same time I can't shake off a sense of emotional manipulation, and the thought that plot-wise, there is no build-up to the reveals, they just land as if you're merely being informed.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

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Faiz D

It's a heartbreaking movie, but at the same time one of the most beautiful movies I've watched. Beautifully shot and features terrific lead performances, but the true driving force was Carey Mulligan. She was just fantastic. Quiet, beautiful, observant, and again proves that she is the real thing. Never Let Me Go is a beautiful portrayal of love and life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Brad S. R

A rather pointless feel-bad science fiction melodrama.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

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Shioka O

Very sad story though I somewhat couldn't find emotional attachment to the characters. I think it's because of the dull direction.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

Full Review

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Mark Romanek

Director

Carey Mulligan

Kathy

Andrew Garfield

Tommy

Keira Knightley

Ruth

Izzy Meikle-Small

Young Kathy

Ella Purnell

Young Ruth

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Never Let Me Go: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.

Director: Mark Romanek
Producer: Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films, Film 4, Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Sexuality|Nudity)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 26, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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