Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- wistful
- romantic
- melancholic
- quiet evening
- literary film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found a well-performed, period-authentic biopic whose conventional storytelling and literalized Middle-earth parallels underserve Tolkien's imaginative legacy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tolkien's wartime visions and formative experiences are presented as inspirations for Middle-earth imagery.
Tolkien's school friendships are threatened by the outbreak of World War I.
The film follows Tolkien from orphaned student to emerging writer through friendships, love, scholarship, and war.
The story moves through early twentieth-century Birmingham, school life, Oxford scholarship, and the First World War.
Films like Tolkien, and why
Finding Neverland
coming-of-age biographical drama about a celebrated writer shaped by friendship, romance, and wartime experience
Becoming Jane
period literary biopic centered on artistic formation, mentorship, and emotionally formative relationships
Atonement
war-shadowed coming-of-age drama connecting male friendship and creative identity
The Hours
literary biographical drama about a writer whose relationships and historical surroundings inform his work
Movie Details
- Director
- Dome Karukoski
- Release Date
- 2019-05-03
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1587)
Cast
- Nicholas Hoult
- Lily Collins
- Colm Meaney
- Derek Jacobi
- Harry Gilby
- Mimi Keene
- Anthony Boyle
- Adam Bregman
- Patrick Gibson
- Albie Marber
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- 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 Tolkien about?
- An orphaned young scholar finds love, friendship, and the imaginative resources to become a legendary author amid the upheaval of World War I.
- What is Tolkien like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tolkien as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Tolkien violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Tolkien as moderate.
- What did critics think of Tolkien?
- Critics broadly found a well-performed, period-authentic biopic whose conventional storytelling and literalized Middle-earth parallels underserve Tolkien's imaginative legacy.
- Which films are like Tolkien?
- Films with a similar feel include Finding Neverland, Becoming Jane, Atonement, and The Hours.
- How long is Tolkien?
- Tolkien runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tolkien?
- In United States, Tolkien streams on fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow.
