Overview
An eccentric lottery winner's dream of hosting his favorite musicians comes to life on a remote island.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- eccentric
- wistful
- lazy sunday
- comfort viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a sublime, touching, and highly appealing comedy that blends odd-couple friendship, musical performance, and nostalgia.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Charles finances a private concert specifically to reunite the disbanded folk duo Herb and Nell.
Charles attempts to bring his favorite musicians together again, while the story questions whether cherished memories can be recovered.
The central reunion unfolds in Charles’s large home on a remote Welsh island, away from the mainland and public scrutiny.
The folk duo’s songs preserve Charles’s memories and become the vehicle for confronting Herb and Nell’s personal past.
Films like The Ballad of Wallis Island, and why
The Holdovers
warm odd-couple comedy built around lonely outsiders, eccentric behavior, and unexpected friendship
Once
music-centered drama-comedy combining nostalgia, reconciliation, and emotionally resonant performances
Pride
gentle british ensemble comedy with eccentric characters, wistful humor, and communal healing
Begin Again
bittersweet reunion story where music reconnects estranged people and revives buried memories
Movie Details
- Director
- James Griffiths
- Release Date
- 2025-03-28
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (225)
Cast
- Tom Basden
- Tim Key
- Carey Mulligan
- Sian Clifford
- Akemnji Ndifornyen
- Steve Marsh
- Luka Downie
- Kerrie Thomason
- Arron Long
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Ballad of Wallis Island about?
- A lonely Welsh lottery winner stages an extravagant private concert to reunite his favorite folk duo, discovering that cherished memories cannot be summoned without confronting the people behind them.
- What is The Ballad of Wallis Island like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ballad of Wallis Island as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Ballad of Wallis Island violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Ballad of Wallis Island.
- What did critics think of The Ballad of Wallis Island?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a sublime, touching, and highly appealing comedy that blends odd-couple friendship, musical performance, and nostalgia.
- Which films are like The Ballad of Wallis Island?
- Films with a similar feel include The Holdovers, Once, Pride, and Begin Again.
- How long is The Ballad of Wallis Island?
- The Ballad of Wallis Island runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ballad of Wallis Island?
- In United States, The Ballad of Wallis Island streams on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus.
