The Personal History of David Copperfield

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The Personal History of David Copperfield

PG

2020

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

92%

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249 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

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

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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.

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James Parker

The Atlantic

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

Feb 5, 2021

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Pauline M

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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