The Last Bus

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The Last Bus

Released Feb 18, 2022

1h 26m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

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28 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

John O'Groats, Scotland: An elderly man, Tom (Timothy Spall), whose wife has just passed away uses only local buses on a nostalgic trip to carry her ashes all the way across the UK to Land's End, where they originally met, using his free bus pass. Unbeknownst to Tom, his journey begins to capture the imagination of the local people that he comes across and, ultimately, becomes a nationwide story.

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Critics Consensus

Not even typically brilliant work from Timothy Spall is enough to keep The Last Bus from sputtering into disappointment.

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Tomris Laffly

Variety

For a tender movie that follows an old man on a long and demanding multi-bus excursion to honor his late wife’s wishes, the placid affair has curiously little emotional range, and an even narrower sense of stakes.

Feb 18, 2022

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

[A] plodding road-trip movie...

Rated: 2/5

Aug 29, 2021

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

It's just depressingly crude and underworked.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 27, 2021

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“The Last Bus” is several things, but above all it’s a moving meditation on life, love, and the commitments we make to those closest to us. It’s also a beautiful reminder of the blessing of memories.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 16, 2022

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Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Adding a modern social-media twist to the episodic odyssey only exacerbates the sappiness Spall cant entirely mitigate.

Rated: C

Apr 23, 2022

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Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

Spall does what he can -- but The Last Bus only sputters to life and credibility in a few flashback sequences.

Rated: 1.5/5

Apr 14, 2022

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David J

Really enjoyed. I can't help feeling like something was missing (though I can't quite put my finger on what it is that's missing either!) so I wouldn't quite go as high as 5 stars but it was a thoughtful look at a man who has lived a lot of life and experiences some of the different sides of humanity, on his extraordinarily long journey. It's a really masterful performance by Spall, too. Well worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

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Alain E

I wanted to like this but too much cheap sentimentality and way too many flashbacks make it impossible to watch. Nine minutes was my limit.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/10/25

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David H

Mawkish and simplistic script undermines a good premise. Spall does his best and that just about makes it worth it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

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Darcy B

The Last Bus is a deeply touching journey of love, loss, and resilience. At its core, it’s about one man’s devotion to honoring his late wife’s final wish — a journey that’s both physically and emotionally challenging. The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities older people face, but these moments are beautifully balanced by unexpected acts of kindness from strangers; giving it a bittersweet warmth. With skillful direction, it feels as if we’re right there beside him, sharing each setback and every heartwarming encounter. It’s a story that lingers — a quiet, brilliant tribute to love that transcends loss.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

Full Review

Lynn K

This film had so much potential and had expected a feel good end. However, apart from some initial, uplifting views and a great performance from Timothy Spall this emphasised the worst of humanity and was actually quite depressing. We kept waiting for it to lighten up and there to be one or two more helpful people en route.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/20/24

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Mandy P

possibly the most depressing film I've ever watched.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

Full Review

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Gillies MacKinnon

Director

Timothy Spall

Tom

Phyllis Logan

Mary

Grace Calder

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The Last Bus: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

John O'Groats, Scotland: An elderly man, Tom (Timothy Spall), whose wife has just passed away uses only local buses on a nostalgic trip to carry her ashes all the way across the UK to Land's End, where they originally met, using his free bus pass. Unbeknownst to Tom, his journey begins to capture the imagination of the local people that he comes across and, ultimately, becomes a nationwide story.

Director: Gillies MacKinnon
Producer: Roy Boulter, Sol Papadopoulos
Screenwriter: Joe Ainsworth
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Kreo Films FZ, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, Hurricane Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2022, Limited
Runtime: 1h 26m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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