Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Withnail and I

Play trailer Poster for Withnail and I R 1987 1h 42m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood (Paul McGann) and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty (Richard Griffiths), they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.
Watch on Max Stream Now

Where to Watch

Withnail and I

Withnail and I

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann prove irresistibly hilarious as two misanthropic slackers in Withnail and I, a biting examination of artists living on the fringes of prosperity and good taste.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (39) Critics Reviews
Joel Siegel Chicago Reader Withnail and I is more than passably diverting and surely preferable to mindless Hollywood summer movies. But it left me hungry to know much more about its characters and their era than the writer-director seems interested in providing. Rated: 2/4 May 9, 2022 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 5/5 Sep 11, 2007 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian It's much funnier, and sadder, watched stone-cold sober. Rated: 5/5 Sep 10, 2007 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins The entertainment value is reserved almost exclusively for viewers familiar with, and amused by, England in the late ’60s, as well as those who could see it contemporarily, where its unorthodox structuring was most original. Rated: 6/10 Nov 8, 2024 Full Review Romey Norton Film Focus Online Withnail and I is a 5 star film for me, what is it missing? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Unintentionally it’s teaching its audience so much about life, friendship, and the British, and gives a lesson in acting and writing. Rated: 5/5 Jul 22, 2024 Full Review Alex Denney NME (New Musical Express) A brilliantly funny, enduring classic with an unforgettable performance from Richard E Grant. Rated: 5/5 Apr 22, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Audience Member Not one single piece of dialogue is wasted. Every line is a quote. I first saw this film thirty years ago and it remains a masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/27/24 Full Review Paul G Having read how hilarious the film is I have wasted time in seeing it until now 2024 but after 65 minutes I have not laughed once. I find it so far a cringe and although Mcgann is good Grants performance is so ott and painful. Should have rented or missed completely but alas I wasted £6 buying something I will never ever ever watch again Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/07/24 Full Review No R Pretty brilliant casting and character development on the way through their urban & rural trials. Plus Richard Starkey, OBE ! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/24 Full Review Richard L Like a stream-of-consciousness art project. Entertaining, but not especially memorable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/05/24 Full Review Ryosuke N The last secne where Withnail plays the adaptation from Hamlet towards the animals was incredible and sad. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/24 Full Review David W A comedy masterpiece with a towering central performance from Grant who is ably supported by Paul McGann and a fine ensemble cast. It's humour is distinctly not for everyine but if you get it then you'll simply adore the bones of it. For me, it started a deep dive into Richard E. Grants body of work and my appreciation of what a wonderful actor he can be in the right roles. His movies may not all be great but he's nearly always great in them. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Withnail and I

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
How to Get Ahead in Advertising 63% 77% How to Get Ahead in Advertising Watchlist Rita, Sue and Bob Too! 80% 82% Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Watchlist A Private Function 90% 63% A Private Function Watchlist Good Morning, Vietnam 90% 82% Good Morning, Vietnam Watchlist Lost in America 95% 77% Lost in America Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News
Jason Clarke’s Five Favorite Films Dan Stevens’ Five Favorite Films Peter Dinklage’s Five Favorite Films
View All Withnail and I photos

Withnail and I

Withnail and I (1987) Withnail and I (1987) Withnail and I (1987) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood (Paul McGann) and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty (Richard Griffiths), they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.
Director
Bruce Robinson
Producer
Paul M. Heller
Screenwriter
Bruce Robinson
Production Co
Cineplex-Odeon Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 15, 2020
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Most Popular at Home Now