Never Let Me Go

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2:31

Never Let Me Go

R

2010

1h 44m

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

186 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.

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Critics Consensus

With Never Let Me Go, Mark Romanek has delivered a graceful adaptation that captures the spirit of the Ishiguro novel -- which will be precisely the problem for some viewers.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/30/2018

Perhaps such passive solemnity is true to the book, but on screen, along with the sad tinkling piano and the sad violins that just won't quit, the overall effect is so enervating that you simply don't feel a damned thing.

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Kaleem Aftab

Independent (UK)

05/15/2018

The lack of dramatic tension means it's difficult to emotionally connect with the central characters and their dilemma.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/08/2017

C+

The script could have done better to translate the concept. It works as a big picture concept, but doesn't get the treatment it deserves here.

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Stephen A. Russell

Orion's Shoulder (Substack)

03/06/2025

The psychological damage the reality of cloning unleashes in this acting tour de force of inexorable fate is as yuck-making as it’s possible to be.

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

05/07/2024

4/5

Ishiguro's gentle science fiction concept is rendered with melancholy subtlety by Romanek.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/03/2023

3.5/4

This disturbing narrative about believable characters in their fatalistic world offers an affecting drama that stays with the viewer long after the film has ended.

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keven Q

@kevenquinlan Mar 4

This movie was awful. It was made proper, it's the MATERIAL that was shite. I'm sorry but humans have a root motivation TO SURVIVE AT ALL COSTS. This movie so eschews that basic tenet as to be impossible to believe on ANY level. There is NO WAY everyone would just be resigned to their fate, especially when you have people who are in love or have feelings for each other- that makes it even MORE impossible. You can make unbelievable sci-fi, a dystopian classic, murder/horror, etc... but you CAN'T make people do things people wouldn't do. You only see that in Absurdist movies and besides those sucking, the people that DO like them can tolerate that you won't see any real interaction in it. It's impossible to feel or connect with any character that Doesn't act like most humans act, even if it's outrageously. The more IP watched this movie= the more I HATED IT. It's author should've never been published, is that where books are no-a-days? Pfft.

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Demetris A

@RT47166951 Dec 27

Weird and macabre but I’ve seen worse. In The 74 Emanuel movie they were feasting on live monkey’s brains. All it is is shock and awe!

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Linus H

@linus1335f Dec 24

Not bad but the book is just better in every way, go read it instead. And no, I actually watched the movie first, then read the book. The book is just so much better, truly one of the best Ive ever read.

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Dave O

@Dave_ Dec 19

The way the movie is made is a little dull and has a wierd feel to it. It’s an interesting idea and it should be more gripping, but you don’t have any connection to the characters. They focus so heavily on the love triangle thing that you forget that they’re even clones made for live organ trafficking: which is kind of an important point to the movie. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone but it wasn’t terrible.

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Jonny M.

@jonnycqua Nov 1

I mean… I’m depressed, so I absolutely loved it. 🙃🙂

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Paul S

@RT91988760 Oct 26

This movie is if The Island was a romantic drama. I found it to be really boring for the most part, but the concept of the movie was very intriguing. It's supposed to be sci-fi, but the science fiction element is very minimal throughout the entire movie. It was an incredibly well-acted movie, and the cast's performances are enough to stir emotions in anyone, but the story failed to captivate me. I definitely recommend it for romance and drama fans, but if you're a lover of sc-fi as I am, you'll find it pretty boring.

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Mark Romanek

Director

Carey Mulligan

Kathy

Andrew Garfield

Tommy

Keira Knightley

Ruth

Izzy Meikle-Small

Young Kathy

Ella Purnell

Young Ruth

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Critics Consensus: Easy A and The Town Are Certified Fresh

Never Let Me Go: Trailer 1

2:31

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Synopsis

Friends Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) grow up together at a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave the school and the horrible truth of their true purpose is revealed to them, they must simultaneously confront deep-seated feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to tear their friendship asunder.

Director: Mark Romanek
Producer: Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: Alex Garland
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: DNA Films, Film 4, Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Sexuality|Nudity)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 26, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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