The Ballad of Wallis Island

Play trailer

1:03

The Ballad of Wallis Island

PG-13

Released Mar 28

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

114 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

100+ Verified Ratings

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Ballad of Wallis Island hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise.

Read Critics Reviews

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

There are songs sung sweetly, insults hurled then retracted, and a balm of kindness in every frame that emerges from somewhere between Basden’s hangdog sensitivities and Key’s cherubic wit.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 4, 2025

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

What you also don’t anticipate is how poignant it all gets — a melancholy farce with an oddly pure soul.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 4, 2025

Full Review

Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

Key and Basden avoid turning their film into a nostalgic pat on the back for smug millennials convinced they lived through artistically superior times -- the sense of loss here is strictly personal.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 3, 2025

Full Review

Chuck Bowen

Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)

A lovely surprise, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is a romantically tinged comedy of regret that comforts you without making you feel as if you’ve been had.

Jun 17, 2025

Full Review

Simon Foster

Screen-Space

From it’s opening salvo of tweeness...to large dollops of illogicality...THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND is way off-Key.

Rated: 1.5/5

Jun 14, 2025

Full Review

Matt Pais

MattPais.com

The first time in a long time that a movie featuring characters growing fond of someone who does nothing to earn it doesn’t star Adam Sandler.

Rated: D-

Jun 13, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

nicole j

Very well made movie and super funny too.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Paul C

Really cute show. A little slow at times but a really neat ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

Full Review

Jeff

Best movie of the year,incredible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/27/25

Full Review

Brandon

Slow, boring, not enough music, no climax.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

JEH

a thoughtful take on real life and relationships

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

Rebecca D

I didn't go into this movie with a lot of expectations, mostly because I didn't know much about it, but now I'm a fan. It's adorable and fun and we need more movies like it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

James Griffiths

Director

Tom Basden

Herb McGwyer

Tim Key

Charles Heath

Carey Mulligan

Nell Mortimer

Akemnji Ndifernyan

Michael

Sian Clifford

Amanda

The Ballad of Wallis Island: Exclusive Movie Clip - Anecdotes

1:32

The Ballad of Wallis Island: Movie Clip - There Goes the Sun

0:37

The Ballad of Wallis Island: Movie Clip - Anecdotes

0:39

View more videos

A Real Pain

96%

82%

A Real Pain

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Real Pain

Paddleton

89%

87%

Paddleton

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Paddleton

Crumb Catcher

87%

83%

Crumb Catcher

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Crumb Catcher

Afire

91%

73%

Afire

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Afire

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Comedian and Author Tim Key Talks Carey Mulligan & ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island

9:47

The Ballad of Wallis Island: Trailer 2

1:03

The Ballad of Wallis Island: Trailer 1

2:30

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.

Director: James Griffiths
Producer: Rupert Majendie
Screenwriter: Tom Basden, Tim Key
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Baby Cow Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language and Smoking)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 6, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 40m

Most Popular at Home Now