The Duke

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2:19

The Duke

R

2022

1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

148 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery's history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly -- he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge -- Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage -- how and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.

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Critics Consensus

A sweet swan song for director Roger Michell, The Duke offers a well-acted and engaging dramatization of an entertainingly improbable true story.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

May 5, 2022

The Duke may superficially seem like old hat, but in its comfortable ways there’s still a strong message.

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Rex Reed

Observer

May 4, 2022

3/4

A charming, understated and completely enjoyable frolic about how ordinary people can do extraordinary things that seems doubly startling because, while seeming implausible, it also happens to be absolutely true.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Apr 29, 2022

3/4

It’s a daft, lovely story, and it opens up like a flower – the final half hour is deeply and unexpectedly moving.

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Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Jan 17, 2025

4/5

A reminder of the Notting Hill director’s formidable talent, and stands alongside his best work, combining humour, sharp and acerbic social observation, and a big emotional kick.

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Zach Youngs

InSession Film

Jul 3, 2024

B

The Duke is a joyful caper that makes you think about how much more we could all be doing to impact the lives of others around us if we just stuck our noses out a little bit.

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Dec 8, 2023

Thanks to [Broadbent's] performance — and the note-perfect direction of the late, great Roger Michell — a quirky footnote of history becomes a sweet, unexpectedly moving story about solidarity and the power of the underdog.

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Jeffrey R

Jun 13, 2022

Heartwarming true story, loved it!

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Jane2lCB

Jun 12, 2022

Shows the humanity of a working class family in Great Britain in early 1960s. Each member has issue(s) to cope with and each doesn't necessarily conform to what was the accepted norms of the time. But love does weave through the tale and unity returns in the end.

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Mary03

Jun 12, 2022

Such a cute story! We loved it! It was well acted, the scenery was authentic. Helen Mirren brought clout to the movie. It was just the type of movie we need right now..Honest, sweet and uplifting. My husband felt the same.

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Diana

Jun 9, 2022

We had to make up the dialog as it went along since it was almost unintelligible. However the movie was incredibly sweet and well worth seeing.

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Moises

Jun 1, 2022

This brick is calling all bricks to assemble and view this wonderful story. :)

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Eve

May 31, 2022

Lovely story. Starts off slow but builds to a satisfying conclusion.

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Roger Michell

Director

Jim Broadbent

Kempton Bunton

Helen Mirren

Lilya Frances

Fionn Whitehead

Jackie Bunton

Aimée Kelly

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The Duke: Featurette - Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren

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Synopsis

In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery's history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly -- he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge -- Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage -- how and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.

Director: Roger Michell
Producer: Nicky Bentham
Screenwriter: Richard Bean, Clive Coleman
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Neon Films, Screen Yorkshire, Ingenious Media, Pathé Films, Great Bison Productions
Rating: R (Language and Brief Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 22, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 26, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.5M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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