Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- breezy
- witty
- date night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly found the remake likable in places but substantially weaker than the 1981 original, with uneven humor and a divisive central performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Arthur’s billionaire inheritance determines whether he must marry Susan and functions as the central pressure on his romantic and personal choices.
Arthur is introduced as an alcoholic playboy whose drunken behavior repeatedly undermines work, responsibility, and social judgment.
The film places Arthur’s reckless antics, chauffeur-assisted lifestyle, and marriage ultimatum within an affluent New York environment.
Arthur must decide between marrying Susan to preserve his fortune and pursuing Naomi, whom he genuinely believes is right for him.
Films like Arthur, and why
Arthur
Both are romantic comedies about wealthy, irresponsible playboys forced to confront adulthood, with comic class tension and romantic choice at the center.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Shares the romantic comedy framework of an affluent commitment-averse protagonist caught between social expectations and a more spontaneous love interest.
The Holiday
Comparable for its fish-out-of-water humor, wealthy social milieu, romantic conflict, and emphasis on personal maturation.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Shares broad farce, inheritance-driven stakes, upper-class settings, and a central character whose selfishness is softened by romantic feeling.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jason Winer
- Release Date
- 2011-04-08
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (825)
Cast
- Russell Brand
- Helen Mirren
- Greta Gerwig
- Jennifer Garner
- Geraldine James
- Luis Guzmán
- Nick Nolte
- Peter Van Wagner
- Christina Jacquelyn Calph
- John Hodgman
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Arthur about?
- A pampered alcoholic heir must choose between a fortune-preserving marriage and an unpredictable romance that might finally make him grow up.
- What is Arthur like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Arthur as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Arthur violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Arthur as mild.
- What did critics think of Arthur?
- Critics broadly found the remake likable in places but substantially weaker than the 1981 original, with uneven humor and a divisive central performance.
- Which films are like Arthur?
- Films with a similar feel include Arthur, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Holiday, and The Importance of Being Earnest.
- How long is Arthur?
- Arthur runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Arthur?
- In United States, Arthur is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
