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The Lady in the Van

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for The Lady in the Van PG-13 2016 1h 44m Biography Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 151 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1973 London, playwright Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings) develops an unlikely friendship with Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), a homeless woman who lives in a van in his driveway for the next 15 years.
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The Lady in the Van

The Lady in the Van

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Critics Consensus

Led by a marvelous performance from Maggie Smith, Lady in the Van wrings poignant, often hilarious insight from its fact-based source material.

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Critics Reviews

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Roxana Hadadi Chesapeake Family Magazine Aug 2, 2016
2.5/5
The Lady in the Van follows a fairly typical old-people-are-more-than-they-seem storyline ... The bizarreness of this true story is underplayed. Go to Full Review Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald Mar 4, 2016
3/5
She's not easy to love and the film is slow-going and a little laboured in its attempts to shape her idiosyncrasies into a plot, but the gradual revelation of the reasons for her decline give Smith plenty of opportunities to soften her grouchiness. Go to Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald Mar 4, 2016
4/5
Bennett offers Maggie Smith a chance to renovate her own recent persona with a woman who's heroically alive. Smith takes it with both hands, giving us more of the loneliness and despair of old age than the glib comedy. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Sep 28, 2024
4/5
...for the late, great Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van was arguably the best of some twenty years of cameos and curtain calls…she makes a complex figure of Mary Shepherd, who parked her van in Alan Bennett’s driveway and remained there for 15 years... Go to Full Review JD Duran InSession Film Aug 2, 2024
B+
The Lady in the Van succeeds at exactly what it’s trying to attempt. It’s a feel-good story about a captivating individual who just shows up on your doorstep one day. Go to Full Review Hosea Rupprecht Pauline Media Studies Sep 13, 2021
The Lady in the Van shows us that respect and kindness is always the right way to go. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dean S. @DeanDFW Dec 31, 2025 Maggie Smith not breaking the predictable mold she is known for. See more David F @RT34372367 Dec 23, 2024 The Lady In The Van tells a small, personal story that serves as a microcosm of British society, capturing its prejudices, pettifoggery, cruelties, and injustices. The film is engaging from start to finish, with dialogue that sparkles and a keen sense of humor that elevates the entire experience. The characterizations are well-observed, and the absurdity of some situations provides a refreshing touch. This film works because it doesn't try too hard, instead finding success in its subtlety and nuance. The combination of great writing and strong performances makes this a wonderful and very watchable film. See more G.D. 0 @Daniel-jgm1 Nov 14, 2024 Almost unwatchable. So poorly written I had mood changes. It is supposed to be about dignity, but it feels like a parody. And the end is terrible, all the sympathy is gone for that criminal. It is just english crap.... See more Tara K @RT69082953 Sep 28, 2024 For fans of Maggie’s work, this film is the cherry on the top! A+ See more Gerry M @GermWald Jun 20, 2024 Not in the least bit interested. Voyeurism of the homeless? abhorrent! See more phillip j @RT65187272 Mar 30, 2022 Major miss. Not even an engaging concept. See more Read all reviews
The Lady in the Van

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Cast & Crew

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Nicholas Hytner

Director

Maggie Smith

Miss Shepherd

Alex Jennings

Alan Bennett

Roger Allam

Rufus

Deborah Findlay

Pauline

Frances de la Tour

Ursula Vaughan Williams

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The Lady in the Van

The Lady in the Van: Trailer 1 The Lady in the Van: Trailer 1 1:58 Now Playing View more videos
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The Lady in the Van

(L-R) Deborah Findlay as Pauline, Roger Allam as Rufus and Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd in "The Lady in the Van." Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd in "The Lady in the Van." Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett in "The Lady in the Van." (L-R) Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett and Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd in "The Lady in the Van." Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd in "The Lady in the Van." Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd in "The Lady in the Van." (L-R) Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd and Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett in "The Lady in the Van." (L-R) Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd and Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett in "The Lady in the Van." Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd in "The Lady in the Van." (L-R) Maggie Smith as Miss. Shepherd and Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett in "The Lady in the Van." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1973 London, playwright Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings) develops an unlikely friendship with Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), a homeless woman who lives in a van in his driveway for the next 15 years.
Director
Nicholas Hytner
Producer
Nicholas Hytner, Damian Jones, Kevin Loader
Screenwriter
Alan Bennett
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Dream Cars, BBC Films
Rating
PG-13 (A Brief Unsettling Image)
Genre
Biography, Drama, Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 19, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$10.0M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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