The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

PG-13

Released May 18, 2012

2h 4m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

164 Reviews

78%

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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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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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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

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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

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel represents genteel filmmaking at its finest.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 11, 2012

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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

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Jennifer G

This is one of my favourite movies probably not for everyone but I thoroughly enjoy and have watched it many times 😁

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

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Madam D

3.25 stars with great acting despite a pretty silly set of subplots.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

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Rosana B

Definitivamente delicioso, me arrancou risadas sinceras, como não amar as situações inoportunas e absurdas, como eu amaria conhecer essa Índia tumultuada, empoeira e alegre, como disse a narradora "mas nada pode preparar os inexperientes quanto a confusão de barulhos, cores, aos calor, ao alvoroço, e a eterna multidão em massa"... Um emaranhado de histórias da terceira idade, fantástico… Um banho de cultura, chorei horrores com o drama dos personagens, eu amo isso...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

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Marit Risto F

I love it, and keep re-watching it. But there's so much talking about passion, and nothing to be felt...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

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Audience Member

Didn't really care for this. I thought it had a few good moments, but the stories really weren't that interesting and I didn't care for it unfortunately.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/09/24

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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

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John Madden

Director

Judi Dench

Evelyn Greenslade

Maggie Smith

Muriel Donnelly

Bill Nighy

Douglas Ainslie

Penelope Wilton

Jean Ainslie

Tom Wilkinson

Graham Dashwood

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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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