Dir. Georgia Oakley · 2026 · 132 min · U · in UK cinemas
Austen's novel begins with a death and a will. When Mr Dashwood dies, the family house passes to a son from his first marriage, and his widow and three daughters are left with a small income and a cottage on someone else's land. Elinor, the eldest, keeps her feelings under a lid. Marianne, the middle sister, lets hers out in the open. Oakley's adaptation, written by Diana Reid, sets those two temperaments side by side, with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor and Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne. Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, Herbert Nordrum, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw complete the cast.
The reviews I drew on agree on one thing: this is an Austen made of weather, mud and held breath rather than of drawing-room sparkle. Derek Smith at Slant calls the film's strength its intimacy, and writes that it succeeds in giving the sisters' inner lives new air. TheWrap's William Bibbiani goes further and finds it enchanting and beautiful, with a melancholy undertone that makes the story's contrivances feel inevitable rather than cute.
What makes the film a fresh, if not altogether revelatory, take on the material is the intimacy and sincerity with which it presents Elinor and Marianne's parallel journeys.Derek Smith, Slant Magazine
The two leads carry the praise. Critics single out Edgar-Jones for restraint, and Creed-Miles as the sister who cannot hide anything. Production notes point to Dorset, Knebworth and Devon as locations, Arnaud Potier behind the camera and Roger Goula composing the score, which fits a film that critics describe as naturalistic and tactile.
Here the critics split, and the split is about tone. Jessica Lowe at Dork finds the film touching but too sombre, with humour and pleasure diminished, some supporting roles underdeveloped, and a quietness that suits Edgar-Jones and MacKay better than it serves the whole story. Slant notes the same trade-off: less of the novel's wit and cheekiness than other adaptations. If your Austen is first of all a comedy of manners, the reviews suggest this one will feel dry. Aggregators put it in generally favourable territory, around three-quarters positive.
Tick what applies to you. The meter below is a rough guide, built from the reviews' own reservations and praise, not a prediction.
Pick any that fit.
The film opened in UK cinemas on 25 September 2026, and a US release is scheduled for 16 October 2026. Release dates and availability vary by country, so check your local listings.