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Porridge

Name: Porridge
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: 1979-08-12
Cast: Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde, Peter Vaughan

1979 | 93 min | Comedy, Crime

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for crime fans and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Kind Hearts and Coronets, start here.
The mood: Light and funny.
The pace: Breezy, at 1 hr 33 min.
What might put you off: Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
Made in 1979: an older pace and style.

Times are hard for habitual guest of Her Majesty Norman Stanley Fletcher. The new prison officer, Beale, makes MacKay look soft and what's more, an escape plan is hatching from the cell of prison godfather Grouty and Fletcher wants no part of it.

How it earned its rating

CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 27K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Dick Clement

Ronnie BarkerNorman Stanley Fletcher
Richard BeckinsaleLennie Godber
Fulton MackayMr. Mackay
Brian WildeMr. Barrowclough
Peter VaughanGrouty
Julian HollowayMr. Bainbridge
Geoffrey BayldonGovernor Treadaway
Christopher GodwinMr. Beal
Barrie RutterOakes
Daniel PeacockRudge