This Is England

Name: This Is England
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: July 27, 2007
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Jo Hartley, Stephen Graham, Thomas Turgoose

2007

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 23 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

See All

7.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

This Is England

Now Playing: This Is England

Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: July 27, 2007 | Unrated

Starring: Jo Hartley, Stephen Graham, Thomas Turgoose

Summary: It's 1983, 12-year-old Shaun is an isolated lad growing up in a grim coastal town, whose father has died fighting in the Falklands war. He finds fresh males role models when those in the local skinhead scene take him in. Here he meets Combo, an older, racist skinhead who has recently got out of prison. As Combo's gang harass the localIt's 1983, 12-year-old Shaun is an isolated lad growing up in a grim coastal town, whose father has died fighting in the Falklands war. He finds fresh males role models when those in the local skinhead scene take him in. Here he meets Combo, an older, racist skinhead who has recently got out of prison. As Combo's gang harass the local ethnic minorities, the course is set for a rite of passage that will hurl Shaun from innocence to experience. (IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Shane Meadows

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 101 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Andrew O'Hehir

One of the year's best movies...It's one of the simplest and best re-creations of downscale urban England during the gritty post-punk years ever put on screen, and it's both upsetting and very funny. Read full review

100

Ty Burr

As its title implies, This Is England isn't a hyperstylized head-trip a la "Trainspotting" but a straightforward calling to account. Read full review

Noel Murray

Taut, tense, and self-consciously stylish. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The movie is taut, tense, relentless. It shows why Shaun feels he needs to belong to a gang, what he gets out of it and how it goes wrong. Read full review

Shawn Levy

It's a remarkably sure-handed film, taking us with Shaun on a journey through alienation, anger, trepidation, ebullience and fear. Read full review

Marrit Ingman

Somewhere between the pop jouissance of Guy Ritchie and the social realism of Ken Loach, this ballsy drama freeze-frames bleak Thatcherite Yorkshire and exposes its racist underbelly. Read full review

Nathan Lee

Facile pop psychology is the real tragedy here, a double disappointment given the film's smart take on pop culture. Read full review

SEE ALL 23 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

OllieL.

Jul 6, 2008

Totally amazing and influential.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

Josh

May 7, 2008

Great Movie. Probably one of my most favorite movies and I watch a lot of movies. The script is well-written, the acting, especially that of thomas turgoose, is phenomenal. The film is directed beautifully portraying remarkable poignancy and a great story.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

suity_sahar

Feb 9, 2012

Brilliant. Almost every scene is perfection. Contains intense scenes that slowly creep up on you. Right up there with Trainspotting I have to admit. Now i want to see the series that came after.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DavidM.

Nov 5, 2007

I agree that the scenes of the boy kissing the older girl was slightly odd. She wasn't 18 though but rather fifteen. Also, being a skinhead doesn't make you a racist so it is not unusual for them to have a black friend at all. Anyone who does a bit of research will know that the I agree that the scenes of the boy kissing the older girl was slightly odd. She wasn't 18 though but rather fifteen. Also, being a skinhead doesn't make you a racist so it is not unusual for them to have a black friend at all. Anyone who does a bit of research will know that the history of skinhead culture is very blurred and has its roots in west indian culture. There are and always have been both racist and anti racist skinheads and for me this film illustrates this well. More importantly though I think it is beautifully shot film that is full of fantastic acting.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

iCronic

Jul 12, 2014

This just flashed me, when i saw it. Genius amateur actors, so realistic, so raw

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnM.

Dec 16, 2007

Vastly overrated by the critics. It's patronising use of references to the 80's seems to be dreamed up by a 14 year old, why does everyone have to be a Skinhead, a boy George look-a-like, or a member of the Specials? Would've been better set it in the current day as the story Vastly overrated by the critics. It's patronising use of references to the 80's seems to be dreamed up by a 14 year old, why does everyone have to be a Skinhead, a boy George look-a-like, or a member of the Specials? Would've been better set it in the current day as the story is still relevant if not more so. The script is not well thought out and the improvised acting really starts to grate on you when everyone repeats the lines five times over like a school dramatics rehearsal. The only good thing about the film is Thomas Turgoose… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

TerryC.

Nov 25, 2007

This is England. Yes we know that, and you had to make a movie about that.

0 of 4 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 46 REVIEWS

10	#10 Best Movie of 2007
99	#99 Most Discussed Movie of 2007