The Summer Book

Play trailer

1:45

The Summer Book

2025

1h 30m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

At her family's home on a Finnish island, young Sophia explores the natural world with her father and grandmother (Glenn Close). Adapted from Tove Jansson's beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Enlivened by a characteristically graceful performance by Glenn Close, The Summer Book is a poignant exploration of life's beginnings and endings.

Read Critics Reviews

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

The Times (UK)

20h

4/5

Surrender to its flow, though, and you’ll be rewarded. Like a welcome dip in a clear, cold lake, this cinematic “cool-cation” left me cleansed, revived and blissfully peaceful.

Go to Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

1d

I enjoyed it and I enjoyed it a lot because of Glenn Close's performance.

Go to Full Review

Jonathan Romney

Financial Times

1d

2/5

With its small set of characters and its restricted settings, the film remains somewhat claustrophobic and oppressively lyrical.

Go to Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

21h

3.5/5

Beautifully shot in Finland's picturesque archipelago, this gently lyrical film carries a wave of nostalgia as it primarily takes a child's eye view of a pivotal season.

Go to Full Review

Brian Viner

Daily Mail (UK)

1d

3/5

Admittedly, there's no narrative arc as such in The Summer Book, more of a narrative flat-line. But if you don't mind that, then Charlie McDowell's film is a touching study of family dynamics and how they are affected by death.

Go to Full Review

Fran Winston

Daily Express (UK)

1d

4/5

Although it deals with the heavy themes of bereavement and grief, it never feels weighted by its subject matter.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kalissa H

@kali_416 Jul 5

The 16 mm was cool and the scenery was beautiful. It’s a calm and peaceful movie, but I found myself ready for it to be over.

See more

Priscilla Z

@PriscillaSupreme Jun 9

Just one of those pics that is an engaging slice of life. beautiful scenery, gentle characters . Lovely and soothing. If you want actions or a jump scare or some unspeakable tragedy...look elsewhere. This is just like stepping into someone else's life for a few hours.

See more

Joan K

@RT74047805 Mar 7

If you’re looking for a very quiet, gentle Movie, you’ve found it. I loved it.

See more

Nik S

@RT07217747 Nov 27

I enjoyed the performances and cinematography. The story was captivating, but I dubbed it One Morning in Maine meets Ingmar Bergman.

See more

Marit Risto F

@MaritRisto Nov 9

I recommend TOVE, by Zaida Bergroth

See more

Vince Q.

@Vincedeq Oct 29

Glenn Close stars in this coming of age/sunset story that asks us to believe that she is a centerpiece 90-year-old Finnish grandmother. Despite the distracting accent and clumsy prosthetics, Close does her part in an attempt to rescue this aimless piece, but ultimately can’t divert this film from heading toward the dust bin of cinematic history. I’m reminded of the solid multi-generational rapport of an On Golden Pond or a Princess Bride, where dialogue is an ally to reveal the love and support we all hope to leave after our passing. I feel that this film would have been more successful, definitely more genuine, with a Finnish cast.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Charlie McDowell

Director

Glenn Close

Grandmother

Anders Danielsen Lie

Father

Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson

Eriksson

Pekka Strang

Mr. Malander

Sophia Heikkilä

Mrs. Malander

Aftersun

95%

82%

Aftersun

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Aftersun

A/way

%

100%

A/way

Watchlist

You Burn Me

%

%

You Burn Me

Watchlist

Remarkably Bright Creatures

85%

90%

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Remarkably Bright Creatures

Minari

98%

92%

Minari

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Minari

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Summer Book: Trailer 1

1:45

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

At her family's home on a Finnish island, young Sophia explores the natural world with her father and grandmother (Glenn Close). Adapted from Tove Jansson's beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old.

Director: Charlie McDowell
Producer: Aleksi Bardy, Kevin Loader, Charlie McDowell, Kath Mattock, Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Helen Vinogradov
Screenwriter: Tove Jansson, Robert Jones
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Helsinki Filmi Oy, Finnish Impact Film Fund, Case Study Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $53.9K
Runtime: 1h 30m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings