The Personal History of David Copperfield

Play trailer

2:03

The Personal History of David Copperfield

PG

Released Aug 28, 2020

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

249 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

The life of David Copperfield is chronicled from his youth into adulthood.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

The Personal History of David Copperfield puts a fresh, funny, and utterly charming spin on Dickens' classic, proving some stories truly are timeless.

Read Critics Reviews

James Parker

The Atlantic

[A] mad, loving, and brilliantly cinematic extrapolation of the novel...

Feb 5, 2021

Full Review

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

It is Dev Patel who carries this ensemble with great flair, looking every inch the boy who has fallen upon hard times and longs to be recognised as the gentleman he is.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 16, 2020

Full Review

Jake Coyle

Associated Press

An exuberantly optimistic film celebrating the life force of art and eccentricity. Who couldn't use a little of that right now.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 30, 2020

Full Review

Emma Simmonds

Radio Times

Iannucci's work is often steeped in cynicism but here his affection for the material is overwhelmingly evident; by adapting a beloved author, the director has finally found his heart.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 30, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

If In the Loop and The Death of Stalin showcased humanity at its most selfish or incompetent, then The Personal History of David Copperfield depicts humanity at its most empathetic and merry.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

Serena Seghedoni

Loud and Clear Reviews

The Personal History of David Copperfield is a wonderfully absurd adaptation of Dickens' classic tale that sometimes fails to hit the mark but still does the novel justice.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 29, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Pauline M

Lively, colourful, touching, beautiful & full of the language of Dickens

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

Full Review

Harold T

🇬🇧 Review in English "The Personal History of David Copperfield": in one word, boring. Despite a promising cast and colorful visuals, the film lacks pacing and emotional depth. The storytelling feels fragmented and rushed, making it hard to connect with the plot or characters. A missed opportunity for such a rich classic. 🇮🇹 Recensione in italiano "La vita straordinaria di David Copperfield": in una parola, noioso. Nonostante il cast promettente e l’estetica vivace, il film manca di ritmo e profondità emotiva. La narrazione appare frammentata e affrettata, rendendo difficile appassionarsi alla storia o ai personaggi. Un’occasione sprecata per un classico così ricco.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

Full Review

Kaz M

A lovely, fun retelling of Dickens story- well acted, great scenery: just a pleasant entertaining movie where good triumphs and the bad guys get theirs.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

Full Review

Rosana B

Linda representação do fantástico mundo de Copperfield, se difere um pouco da obra original, mas a essência permanece, uma vez que o livro é quase uma autobiografia, como o Sr. Micawber preso por dívidas como seu pai, e ele menino trabalhando na fábrica... O filme é longo e se torna um pouco cansativo, como viajar para um lugar distante e chegamos descadeirados, mas a caracterização, figurinos, belíssimos, cheio de cores, as falas cheia de poesia, encanta e diverte...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

Full Review

Glen D

A joy to watch from beginning to end. I am sure Dickens would be delighted with this adaptation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

Full Review

Kyle M

A perfect movie. It is hilarious! Dramatic! Enjoyable. An absolute treat from beginning to end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Armando Iannucci

Director

Dev Patel

David Copperfield

Tilda Swinton

Betsey Trotwood

Hugh Laurie

Mr. Dick

Peter Capaldi

Mr. Micawber

Ben Whishaw

Uriah Heep

The Personal History of David Copperfield: Movie Clip

1:31

View more videos

Menashe

95%

65%

Menashe

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Menashe

Turtle Diary

82%

76%

Turtle Diary

Watchlist

102 Not Out

50%

79%

102 Not Out

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 102 Not Out

Ladies in Black

88%

75%

Ladies in Black

Watchlist

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

94%

93%

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

All Upcoming Walt Disney Pictures Movies: Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, And Searchlight Pictures

2022 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month TV & Streaming Calendar

Best-Reviewed Movies & TV 2020

The Personal History of David Copperfield: Featurette - A Cast of Characters

2:18

The Personal History of David Copperfield: Featurette - First Look

1:52

The Personal History of David Copperfield: Trailer 1

2:03

The Personal History of David Copperfield: International Trailer 1

1:45

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The life of David Copperfield is chronicled from his youth into adulthood.

Director: Armando Iannucci
Producer: Armando Iannucci, Kevin Loader
Screenwriter: Armando Iannucci, Simon Blackwell
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Film 4, Wishmore, FilmNation Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Material|Brief Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 2020, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.9M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now