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The Old Oak

Play trailer 2:15 Poster for The Old Oak 2024 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 97 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The Old Oak is the last pub standing in a once thriving mining village in northern England, a gathering space for a community that has fallen on hard times. There is growing anger, resentment, and a lack of hope among the residents, but the pub and its proprietor TJ are a fond presence to their customers. When a group of Syrian refugees move into the floundering village, a decisive rift fueled by prejudices develops between the community and its newest inhabitants. The formation of an unexpected friendship between TJ and a young Syrian woman named Yara opens up new possibilities for the divided village in this deeply moving drama about loss, fear, and the difficulty of finding hope. The release of The Old Oak reunites legendary British director Ken Loach with Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber following our 2020 release of his film Sorry We Missed You. Loach, who is 87 years old, has announced that The Old Oak will be his final film.
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The Old Oak

The Old Oak

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Critics Consensus

Imbued with the fiercely humanistic spirit that has defined Ken Loach's filmography, The Old Oak serves as a fitting -- albeit somewhat sentimental -- finale to a remarkable career.

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Critics Reviews

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Christina Newland iNews.co.uk Sep 18, 2024
3/5
Loach and his screenwriter Paul Lavery are sometimes painfully on-the-nose, borderline parodic, in their contrived kitchen sink sensibilities. Go to Full Review Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) Jun 14, 2024
3.5/4
The final scene of “The Old Oak” reduced me, once again and for the final time, to tears. Go to Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post May 3, 2024
3/4
It is unmistakably a Loach film: taciturn yet forthright, examining life in the cracks of a fractured society with deep compassion, plain-spoken anger and, perhaps more so than in the previous two films, a shot of hope. Go to Full Review Rita Di Santo Morning Star (UK) 4 days ago
5/5
a visceral, emotional, and intellectual experience Go to Full Review Dave Giannini Geek Vibes Nation Jul 19, 2025
9/10
The Old Oak never makes the mistake of allowing its characters to play the hero in a Hollywood way. Ebla Mari, in her film debut, handles a great deal of dialogue and emotional work with aplomb. Go to Full Review Maxance Vincent FilmSpeak.net Jul 14, 2025
B+
As far as a final film goes, whereas Loach’s previous movies were far bleaker and angrier, ending his lengthy career on such a positive, uplifting note seems alright. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deborah May 15, 2024 Fabulous, tear-jerky, heart-warming See more Roy J Apr 17, 2024 This is what the art of filmmaking is all about. To empathize with characters you've never encountered before. I hope Ken Loach doesn't retire because he's still got it! See more Jim P @RT08384096 Oct 16, 2026 This should be compulsory viewing at every school. How to treat immigrants with respect, and how to bring communities together. Heart warming. See more Judith K @ziqiongmom Jul 3, 2026 Ken Loach, the director of this movie, has said this will be his last film. That's understandable, since he was about 86 when this was made. However, this film is striking, impactful, and hopeful. I was inspired by seeing it. It shows that hope, thoughtfulness, courage, and perseverance can accomplish good things even in very difficult times. I really appreciate this message, delivered by excellent actors who were inspired by an excellent script and an outstanding director. See more Malcolm N @RT95303983 Jun 11, 2026 Beautifully filmed and directed BUT This is Establishment political propaganda at its very worse. It fails to portray reality and misrepresents the actual criminal, social, economic, religious and cultural damage that immigrants impose on the indigenous people of this country. It concentrates s mostly on female immigrants to raise emotional sympathy. But at the same time shows mostly English male opponents to immigration (who have suffered greatly due to deliberate Establishment punishment) in a very derogatory manner. This is therefore good art and talent used for Establishment brainwashing propaganda purposes. And is a dangerous representation of reality. Probably well intended by Roach but as we know by facts to be untrue. See more Dandelion R @dandelionMR123 Mar 25, 2026 A modern-day Tarzan for the woke liberal classes. Loach trades his former realism for a patronising missionary fantasy. He sends a saintly, upper middle-class, cultured Syrian refugee to civilise a village of backward working-class Northerners. So disappointing. See more Read all reviews
The Old Oak

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Cast & Crew

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Ken Loach

Director

Dave Turner

TJ Ballantyne

Debbie Honeywood

Tania

Reuben Bainbridge

Actor

Rob Kirtley

Actor

Andy Dawson

Actor

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The Old Oak

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The Old Oak

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Movie Info

Synopsis The Old Oak is the last pub standing in a once thriving mining village in northern England, a gathering space for a community that has fallen on hard times. There is growing anger, resentment, and a lack of hope among the residents, but the pub and its proprietor TJ are a fond presence to their customers. When a group of Syrian refugees move into the floundering village, a decisive rift fueled by prejudices develops between the community and its newest inhabitants. The formation of an unexpected friendship between TJ and a young Syrian woman named Yara opens up new possibilities for the divided village in this deeply moving drama about loss, fear, and the difficulty of finding hope. The release of The Old Oak reunites legendary British director Ken Loach with Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber following our 2020 release of his film Sorry We Missed You. Loach, who is 87 years old, has announced that The Old Oak will be his final film.
Director
Ken Loach
Producer
Rebecca O'Brien, Pascal Caucheteux
Screenwriter
Paul Laverty, Paul Laverty
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Production Co
BBC Film, Les Films du Fleuve, Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions, StudioCanal UK
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 4, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$229.7K
Runtime
1h 53m
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