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Trailer

The Personal History of David Copperfield

2019Movie1 h 59 minPG

Comedy
72
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Letterboxd3.4/5Metacritic775.1Rotten Tomatoes92%55%

A wholesome, hopeful comedy movie about history and growing up, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

From rags to riches... and back again.

A fresh and distinctive take on Charles Dickens’ semi-autobiographical masterpiece, The Personal History of David Copperfield, set in the 1840s, chronicles the life of its iconic title character as he navigates a chaotic world to find his elusive place within it. From his unhappy childhood to the discovery of his gift as a storyteller and writer, David’s journey is by turns hilarious and tragic, but always full of life, colour and humanity.

Feels like

  • Vibrant Dickensian Adaptation
  • Heartwarming Coming-of-Age
  • Witty and Charismatic Ensemble
  • Visually Lush Period Drama
  • Whimsical and Joyful Tone
  • Sharp Social Satire
  • Family-Friendly Classic Literature
  • Eccentric Character Studies
  • Optimistic Humanism

Cast

24 of 34

Crew

Directed by
Armando Iannucci
Written by
Charles Dickens, Armando Iannucci, Simon Blackwell
Produced by
Armando Iannucci, Kevin Loader
Music by
Christopher Willis

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 7, 2019 · 1 h 59 min · PG

Released
November 7, 2019
Runtime
1 h 59 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom, United States
Budget
$16 million
Box office
$12 million
Available in
58 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Adapted Out, Adaptational Alternate Ending, Wicked Stepmother +9

  • Adapted Out
  • Adaptational Alternate Ending
  • Wicked Stepmother
  • Impoverished Patrician
  • Percussive Therapy
  • I Have This Friend
  • Innocent Soprano
  • Colorblind Casting
  • Berserk Button
  • Black Vikings
  • Related Differently in the Adaptation
  • Running Gag

12 of 24 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Personal History of David Copperfield?"

Questions about The Personal History of David Copperfield

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Personal History of David Copperfield?

fuboTVYouTube TVFXNow

In the United States, The Personal History of David Copperfield streams on fuboTV, YouTube TV, and FXNow. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 23 other countries.

Is The Personal History of David Copperfield worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 72 (IMDb 6.4, Letterboxd 3.4 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 92%, and Metacritic 77). Critics rate it higher (85 out of 100) than audiences (60).

Is The Personal History of David Copperfield okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will The Personal History of David Copperfield make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (8 of 10) and situational comedy (7 of 10).

Is The Personal History of David Copperfield plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Personal History of David Copperfield a box office flop?

Budget$16 million
Box office$12 million

Yes: it cost about $16 million to make and earned $12 million worldwide, 74% of its budget.

What tropes does The Personal History of David Copperfield use?

Adapted OutAdaptational Alternate EndingWicked StepmotherImpoverished PatricianPercussive TherapyI Have This FriendInnocent SopranoColorblind CastingBerserk ButtonBlack VikingsRelated Differently in the AdaptationRunning Gagand 12 more

TV Tropes lists 24 tropes for it, including Adapted Out, Adaptational Alternate Ending, and Wicked Stepmother.