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IMDbPro

The Personal History of David Copperfield

  • 20192019
  • PGPG
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,518
612
Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
From birth to infancy, from adolescence to adulthood, the good-hearted David Copperfield (Dev Patel) is surrounded by kindness, wickedness, poverty and wealth, as he meets an array of remarkable characters in Victorian England. As David sets out to be a writer, in his quest for family, friendship, romance and status, the story of his life is the most seductive tale of all.
Play trailer2:04
12 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDrama

A modern take on Charles Dickens's classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.A modern take on Charles Dickens's classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.A modern take on Charles Dickens's classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,518
612
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Armando Iannucci
    • Writers
      • Armando Iannucci(screenplay)
      • Simon Blackwell(screenplay)
      • Charles Dickens(based on the novel by)
    • Stars
      • Dev Patel
      • Hugh Laurie
      • Tilda Swinton
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Armando Iannucci
    • Writers
      • Armando Iannucci(screenplay)
      • Simon Blackwell(screenplay)
      • Charles Dickens(based on the novel by)
    • Stars
      • Dev Patel
      • Hugh Laurie
      • Tilda Swinton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 334User reviews
    • 179Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 17 wins & 32 nominations total

    Videos12

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:04
    Official Trailer
    International Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:29
    International Trailer #2
    International Trailer
    Trailer 1:46
    International Trailer
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    Trailer 2:09
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    Trailer 1:46
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    Dev Patel on the Roles That Changed His Life
    Clip 1:44
    Dev Patel on the Roles That Changed His Life
    How Dev Patel & 'The Green Knight' Change the Face of British Literary Heroes
    Clip 2:36
    How Dev Patel & 'The Green Knight' Change the Face of British Literary Heroes
    Why Dev Patel Was Always the First Choice for 'David Copperfield'
    Clip 8:55
    Why Dev Patel Was Always the First Choice for 'David Copperfield'
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    Clip 1:27
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    Clip 1:32
    The Personal History of David Copperfield
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of Feb. 17, 2020
    Video 1:03
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of Feb. 17, 2020
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of Oct. 7, 2019
    Video 0:45
    The Trailer Trailer for the Week of Oct. 7, 2019

    Photos190

    Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Dev Patel, and Rosalind Eleazar in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Armando Iannucci and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Armando Iannucci, Tilda Swinton, and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Tilda Swinton and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Dev Patel and Morfydd Clark in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Hugh Laurie and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Hugh Laurie and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Hugh Laurie and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Tilda Swinton and Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
    Dev Patel at an event for The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dev Patel
    Dev Patel
    • David Copperfield
    Hugh Laurie
    Hugh Laurie
    • Mr Dick
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Betsey Trotwood
    Peter Capaldi
    Peter Capaldi
    • Mr Micawber
    Fisayo Akinade
    Fisayo Akinade
    • Markham
    Nikki Amuka-Bird
    Nikki Amuka-Bird
    • Mrs. Steerforth
    Albie Atkinson
    • Mealy Potatoes
    Aneurin Barnard
    Aneurin Barnard
    • Steerforth
    Tuwaine Barrett
    • Referee Boy
    Nigel Betts
    Nigel Betts
    • Creditor
    Ruby Bentall
    Ruby Bentall
    • Janet
    Darren Boyd
    Darren Boyd
    • Murdstone
    Gwendoline Christie
    Gwendoline Christie
    • Jane Murdstone
    Morfydd Clark
    Morfydd Clark
    • Clara Copperfield…
    Daisy May Cooper
    Daisy May Cooper
    • Peggotty
    Matthew Cottle
    Matthew Cottle
    • Mr Spenlow
    Faisal Dacosta
    Faisal Dacosta
    • Mick Walker
    Glen Davies
    • Coalman
    • Director
      • Armando Iannucci
    • Writers
      • Armando Iannucci(screenplay)
      • Simon Blackwell(screenplay)
      • Charles Dickens(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Morfydd Clark plays two characters in the film - Clara Copperfield (David's mother) and Dora Spenlow - the protagonist's love.
    • Goofs
      When David is on the cart going to Yarmouth, fading jet contrails are clearly visible in the sky.
    • Quotes

      [last lines, to his younger self]

      David Copperfield: Don't worry. You'll make it through. And you'll have quite the ride on the way.

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits are supposed to be listed in alphabetical order, however, Paul Whitehouse is billed above Ben Whishaw whereas they should be the other way around.
    • Connections
      Featured in Amanda the Jedi Show: 'Faster than your First Time' Reviews (Joker, Jojo Rabbit, Lucy in the Sky and everything else) (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Auld Lang Syne
      Traditional

    User reviews334

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    The Problem with Rewriting History
    IN BRIEF: Overrated period comedy that looks right but is all wrong.

    JIM'S REVIEW: (MILDLY RECOMMENDED) Well, I did like the costumes. And the production design, a mishmash of vibrant colors and patterns, was also a delight. (Kudos to Suzie Harman and Robert Worley's unlikely period wardrobe and Cristina Casali's stylish sets) But the film, The Personal History of David Copperfield, was all useless energy and pure nonsense. The film tries to impress with its quirkiness, lavish settings, and hyperactive performances. Figures whose names might seem familiar... Uriah Heep, Mr. Micawber, Betsey Trotwood, Mr. Dick...are strange hybrids of Charles Dicken's more famous characters from his novel. Here, they are thrown together to chronicle the story of the fictional David Copperfield's life. Like a Dicken's novel, characters intersect our hero's coming-of-age journey and add to the pomp although the circumstances are dubious. Unlike a Dicken's novel, in this odd film adaptation, they are shallow, silly, and overstay their welcome.

    The film is unevenly directed by Armando Iannucci, who also wrote the screenplay with Simon Blackwell. His movie takes on a surreal quality which impresses in its visual splendor. (Many times while watching this film, I was reminded of Terry Gilliam's dud, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and we know how that one went.) But script-wise, it's a mess. The plot is contrived, a CliffNotes summary of the book which misses Dicken's clever prose. In this re-imagined film version, everyone plays their roles like live action cartoons without any restraint or comic timing. They become wind-up dolls dressed to the Victorian nines gone amok.

    A good cast belabors the comedy. And Mr. Iannucci does assemble many of England's best actors for his movie such as Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw, Tilda Swinton, and Hugh Laurie; only the latter two performers hit their marks most of the time with their outlandish interpretations. He waste their time and talents. As the title character, Dev Petel is completely engaging, but he and the integrated ensemble deserve better material. While the casting may be color-blind, the overall vision lacks focus too. The concept of creating Victorian England with a contemporary attitude is intriguing, but never quite gels.

    Critics worldwide have raved about this film. And I waited nearly a year with high hopes, only to be disappointed by the end results. The film looks authentic and, production-wise, has many admirable traits, but it is all surface treatment and sleight-of-hand trickery. A earnest effort, I would agree, but the reality is that The Personal History of David Copperfield is epic, as in failure. It's a farce without any laughs that exhausts rather than thrills. Be careful what you wish for. (GRADE: C)
    helpful•30
    14
    • jadepietro
    • May 16, 2021

    FAQ1

    • How do I see this movie? Where is it available?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 28, 2020 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Історія Девіда Копперфілда
    • Filming locations
      • King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • FilmNation Entertainment
      • Film 4
      • Wishmore
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,600,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,876,298
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $475,800
      • Aug 30, 2020
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,399,270
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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