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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Play trailer Poster for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel PG-13 Released May 18, 2012 2h 4m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 164 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Some British retirees (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy) decide to outsource their retirement to exotic -- and less expensive -- India. Lured by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and imagining a life of leisure in lush surroundings, they arrive and find that the Marigold is actually a shell of its former self. Though their new home is not quite what they had imagined, the retirees find that life and love can begin again when they let go of their pasts.
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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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Critics Consensus

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel isn't groundbreaking storytelling, but it's a sweet story about the senior set featuring a top-notch cast of veteran actors.

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Critics Reviews

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Scott Foundas Film Comment Magazine It's a movie about finding purpose in life, late in life, that makes its point by first subjecting its characters to the most reductive grumpy-old-men/women shenanigans. Jun 20, 2013 Full Review Leslie Felperin Variety Underneath all larkiness, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" makes interesting points about the challenges facing elderly people trying to cope in an adverse economic climate, and the globalization of service industries. Jan 22, 2013 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel represents genteel filmmaking at its finest. Rated: 2.5/5 May 11, 2012 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel puts a smile on your face that refuses to fade, in large part because it allows us to enjoy a feel-good movie without feeling an ounce of shame afterward. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 20, 2022 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Feels like there is a really good movie hidden away in the layers of the film struggling to get out. Rated: 2.5/5 Jan 31, 2021 Full Review PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro There are one or two nice moments, but the unmistakable whiff of mediocrity does sully even the gentle, crowd-pleasing pursuits of this film. Rated: 2/5 Aug 21, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jemma J This was a great feel good movie. I've not watched anything for at least 3 years that's grabbed my attention. First time in so long I'd watched a movie without picking my phone up. I watched it and felt I needed more and then the next evening the sequel was on the same channel. Brilliant. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/17/23 Full Review Mateusz C I think i can say its a romantic comedy.. and congratulations cuz it's actually great Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/14/23 Full Review Blob d The performances of its prestigious cast prevents The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel from feeling like a complete hackneyed experience that glosses over the core of senior life. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/19/23 Full Review Jace E The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a pleasant film experience. While there wasn't anything groundbreaking or overly exciting, it was a quaint story. I thought that the cast was fantastic, and the acting was well done. While there were slow moments, underdeveloped storylines, and awkward moments throughout the film, I still left ready to turn on the sequel. With a soft tone and beautiful story at its core, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a film I'm glad that I checked off my watchlist. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/17/23 Full Review Johann D. M This comedy-drama directed by John Madden follows a group of British pensioners moving to a retirement hotel in Jaipur, India, less luxurious than advertised, but charming in its own way, and run by a young and inept manager. Seeing a bunch of British top-notch senior actors being the leads in a sort of romantic comedy is quite groundbreaking and also refreshing. It is quite enjoyable from beginning to end, and the cast takes advantage of the location for incredible adventures. Each character has their turn in the spotlight and have believable and convincing arcs, even though it could have easily been a series due to the amount of crammed storylines. The ending is inspiring and optimistic, though a bit predictable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/26/23 Full Review Ram L The movie has only a tiny sprinkling of the stereotypes you might expect: Crowded vegetable markets and elephants on Indian streets—and English folks who complain about the people being dark. That bit apart, the movie is continually entertaining, funny, poignant, and wise at the same time—all with no actual, moving-forward storyline, which is amazing to say the least. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Dev Patel as Sonny in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." A scene from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." Maggie Smith as Muriel in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." Penelope Wilton as Jean in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." (L-R) Cecile Imrie as Madge, Diana Hardcastle as Carol and Ronald Pickup as Norm in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." Tom Wilkinson as Graham in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." Judi Dench as Evelyn in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." (L-R) Judi Dench as Evelyn, Tom Wilkinson as Graham and Bill Nighy as Douglas in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." (L-R) Judi Dench as Evelyn and Celia Imrie as Madge in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." Tena Desae as Sunaina and Dev Patel as Sonny in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Some British retirees (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy) decide to outsource their retirement to exotic -- and less expensive -- India. Lured by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and imagining a life of leisure in lush surroundings, they arrive and find that the Marigold is actually a shell of its former self. Though their new home is not quite what they had imagined, the retirees find that life and love can begin again when they let go of their pasts.
Director
John Madden
Producer
Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin
Screenwriter
Ol Parker
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Production Co
Blueprint Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 18, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$46.4M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital
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