Overview
A poignant exploration of duty and unspoken love unfolds in a world of strict decorum.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- restrained
- wistful
- melancholic
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an elegant, intelligent Merchant Ivory adaptation distinguished by James Ivory's direction and exceptionally nuanced performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stevens treats service, dignity, and restraint as moral absolutes while avoiding direct acknowledgment of his feelings for Miss Kenton.
The country house's formal rituals conceal unequal relationships between Stevens, the household staff, Lord Darlington, and his political guests.
Stevens's drive to meet Miss Kenton in the late 1950s prompts recollections of his years at Darlington Hall before the Second World War.
The stately country house, formal service routines, and carefully composed rooms visually reinforce Stevens's commitment to decorum.
Films like The Remains of the Day, and why
A Room with a View
shared literary period drama, repressed romance, class hierarchy, and emotionally restrained performances
Howards End
shared Merchant Ivory elegance, forbidden or thwarted intimacy, social decorum, and historical atmosphere
Brief Encounter
shared understated romance, emotional repression, and devastating examination of missed personal possibilities
The English Patient
shared retrospective structure, historical moral compromise, and characters shaped by duty and regret
Movie Details
- Director
- James Ivory
- Release Date
- 1993-11-05
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (1553)
Cast
- Anthony Hopkins
- Emma Thompson
- James Fox
- Christopher Reeve
- Hugh Grant
- Peter Vaughan
- Ben Chaplin
- Paula Jacobs
- Patrick Godfrey
- Michael Lonsdale
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Remains of the Day about?
- A devoted English butler confronts the emotional and moral cost of making service, restraint, and loyalty the whole of his life.
- What is The Remains of the Day like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Remains of the Day as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Remains of the Day violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Remains of the Day.
- What did critics think of The Remains of the Day?
- Critics broadly regard it as an elegant, intelligent Merchant Ivory adaptation distinguished by James Ivory's direction and exceptionally nuanced performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.
- Which films are like The Remains of the Day?
- Films with a similar feel include A Room with a View, Howards End, Brief Encounter, and The English Patient.
- How long is The Remains of the Day?
- The Remains of the Day runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Remains of the Day?
- In United States, The Remains of the Day streams on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
