The Remains of the Day

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The Remains of the Day

PG

1993

2h 15m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

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48 Reviews

89%

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10,000+ Ratings

During the 1930s, James Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) serves as a proper English butler to the doltish Lord Darlington (James Fox). Stevens is so dedicated that he forgoes visiting his father on his deathbed in order to serve, and overlooks Darlington's Nazi sympathies and growing anti-Semitism. Twenty years after his employer's death, Stevens tries to reconnect with Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), Darlington's head housekeeper, and begins to regret his loyalty to his former master.

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Critics Consensus

Smart, elegant, and blessed with impeccable performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, The Remains of the Day is a Merchant-Ivory classic.

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Chris Bennion

The Times (UK)

Anthony Hopkins is magnificent as Stevens, with his blinkered code of honour, and Emma Thompson his match as the housekeeper.

Sep 8, 2023

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David Hunter

The Hollywood Reporter

Beautiful to look at and deeply moving in many scenes.

Nov 5, 2019

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The actors keep this interesting, but as a story it drifts and rambles.

Feb 11, 2008

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Adrian Turner

Radio Times

This impeccable adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize-winning novel stars Anthony Hopkins as the emotionally repressed butler and Emma Thompson as the housekeeper he possibly loves.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 30, 2024

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a slow-moving yet increasingly absorbing drama...

Rated: 4/4

Feb 4, 2024

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Sublime filmmaking and performances turn Stevens’ every minute choice into a pillar of profound tragedy, giving us a maddeningly heartwrenching life lesson for the ages.

Aug 25, 2023

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Geri H.

Superb movie. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson have wonderful interactions throughout but are bound by the codes of proper boundaries imposed on them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

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Carol P.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie . Analyzing the characters is very interesting. Rather sad ending

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/25

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Meri S.

Well acted and great cast. If you like Downton Abby, this movie would be one you’d like.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/18/25

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Emma S

Amazing work by Hopkins and Thompson. He epitomises the repressed English so much, pretending not to hear what is clearly going on around him whilst the upper class he serves allows WW1 to happen. Thompson's character does well to balance him out, though I think she should have shouted and screamed at him to open up. The ending was too quick and I could see the metaphor they were trying to communicate but it didn't land as it should have, in my opinion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

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Judi L

Unless you read the book (which is brilliant), the movie barely makes sense. It’s great to look at and Hopkins nails it but loved seeing Hugh Grant in this early role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

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Tim M

The Remains of the Day is an exquisitely crafted deconstruction of the relationship between the aristocracy and working class, given breath of life by tender performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

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James Ivory

Director

Anthony Hopkins

Stevens

Emma Thompson

Miss Kenton

James Fox

Lord Darlington

Christopher Reeve

Lewis

Peter Vaughan

Father

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - Goodbye

1:52

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - I'll See To It, Mister Stevens

2:13

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - Guilty Smile

2:11

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - Room of Amateurs

2:07

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - My Warmest Congratulations

2:05

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - The Rules of the Manor

2:08

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - No Longer Needed

1:47

The Remains of the Day: Official Clip - A Racy Book

2:13

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Synopsis

During the 1930s, James Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) serves as a proper English butler to the doltish Lord Darlington (James Fox). Stevens is so dedicated that he forgoes visiting his father on his deathbed in order to serve, and overlooks Darlington's Nazi sympathies and growing anti-Semitism. Twenty years after his employer's death, Stevens tries to reconnect with Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), Darlington's head housekeeper, and begins to regret his loyalty to his former master.

Director: James Ivory
Producer: John Calley, Ismail Merchant, Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Kazuo Ishiguro
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Merchant Ivory Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.0M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround

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