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Poster for Starter for 10

Starter for 10

Seen it?

2006 | 96 min | Drama, Comedy, Romance

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Saltburn or The Apartment, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Funny with heart, romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 36 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In 1985, against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Brian Jackson enrolls in the University of Bristol, a scholarship boy from seaside Essex with a love of knowledge for its own sake and a childhood spent watching University Challenge, a college quiz show. At Bristol he tries out for the Challenge team and falls under the spell of Alice, a lovely blond with an extensive sexual past.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.4 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 85K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Tom Vaughan

  • James McAvoyBrian Jackson
  • Alice EveAlice Harbinson
  • Rebecca HallRebecca Epstein
  • Catherine TateJulie Jackson
  • Dominic CooperSpencer
  • Benedict CumberbatchPatrick Watts
  • James CordenTone
  • Mark GatissBamber Gascoigne
  • Guy HenryDr. Morrison
  • John HenshawDes