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Weekend

Weekend

A (sort of) love story between two guys over a cold weekend in October.

201197 minNot RatedMidcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Director
Andrew Haigh
Starring
Tom Cullen, Chris New, Laura Freeman, Loreto Murray

After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Weekend?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Weekend streaming on AMC+ via Prime Video, Pluto TV (free) and The Criterion Channel.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Weekend?

Weekend earns 12 badges, led by Universally Loved and Top 5% in Drama.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Weekend worth watching?

Weekend's Midcredits score is the 94th percentile of all films, from 89K ratings across 6 sources. 81% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

94th percentile

Better received than 94% of films

95th percentile among Drama95th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)94th
Approval (how many liked it)91st

77 /100

94th percentile of all films

96th percentile among Drama94th percentile among 2010s

Critics 81 · Audience 77

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

81% liked it

91st percentile of all films

92nd percentile among Drama92nd percentile among 2010s
81% rated it 7–1019% rated it 1–6

Critics 95% · Audience 86%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 19 wins / 17 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

90th percentile

89K ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Drama91st percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

Box office

Budget£120K

In British pound, not converted to dollars.

Opening weekend$27K
Domestic gross$485K
Worldwide gross$1.2M

62nd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree Weekend is a low-key, dialogue-driven, realistic slice-of-life romance about two men who meet and connect over a single weekend.

Fans praised

  • authentic, naturalistic acting and palpable chemistry between leads
  • unflinchingly honest, unsentimental portrayal of falling in love
  • sharp, natural dialogue that feels unscripted and true to life

Detractors panned

  • dull, glacially paced with minimal plot and no dramatic tension
  • heavy, repetitive drug use feels gratuitous and undermines credibility
  • self-absorbed, clichéd conversations about gay identity offer nothing new

What stands out

ActingDivisive92

naturalistic, deeply convincing performances with extraordinary chemistry

DialogueDivisive88

witty, natural, feels improvised; detractors call it mumbly and self-indulgent

Emotional impactDivisive85

deeply moving and bittersweet; detractors feel unmoved

CharactersDivisive82

complex, relatable, but one detractor finds them unlikable and shallow

OriginalityDivisive75

refreshingly honest take on gay romance; detractors see tired clichés

EndingDivisive70

satisfyingly realistic and poignant farewell; detractors find it anticlimactic

Plot and storyDivisive55

minimalist, simple two-day romance; detractors find it nonexistent or pointless

PacingDivisive50

slow, contemplative; detractors find it glacial and boring

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 10 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 28 points higher than critics.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Weekend like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
RomanticMelancholicHopeful
Heaviest: late
Register
Tender · 13% of filmsWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its characters and their emotional connection with unflinching sincerity and naturalism.
The rideThe mood is mostly intimate and tender with an undercurrent of sadness, culminating in the emotional weight of the parting.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly over a weekend with a clear beginning (meeting), middle (deepening bond), and end (parting).

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film stays with you as a tender, fleeting connection that is beautiful but ends in separation, leaving a sweet ache.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).RebirthHealing
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

13% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA weekend encounter between two men sparks a profound emotional awakening, reshaping how each sees himself and his capacity for intimacy.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsComing of age · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeA brief but intense romantic connection challenges both men to be honest about who they are and what they want from life.
StanceThe film affirms the value of an authentic connection and the courage it takes to be vulnerable, celebrating romantic love as transformative.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
AmbientElectronicFolkSupportive music · hybrid
Settinga weekend in Nottingham, UK, moving between bars, a bedroom, and Russell's small flat
MusicThe soundtrack uses low-key electronic and folk tracks to underscore the intimate, reflective mood.

Content guide

Is Weekend okay for kids?

Not Rated

Weekend is not rated. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (5/100), sexual content at intense (70/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (74/100) and frightening material at minimal (3/100). Overall it is heavier than 62% of unrated films.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • UK18
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland18
  • Brazil14
  • Spain16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 65% of all filmsHeavier than 62% of unrated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for an unrated film
heavier than 3%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an unrated film
heavier than 85%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an unrated film
heavier than 77%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an unrated film
heavier than 93%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for an unrated film
heavier than 1%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is drug and alcohol content, sexual content, and language. Everything else sits at or below what unrated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Weekend have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Weekend?

Cast

7 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Tom Cullen
as Russell
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Chris New
as Glen
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Laura Freeman
as Jill
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Loreto Murray
as Cathy
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jonathan Wright
as Johnny
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Sarah Churm
as Helen
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jermaine Liburd
as Damien
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Joe Doherty
as Justin
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kieran Hardcastle
as Sam
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Mark Devenport
as Straight Man in Bar
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Weekend?

Movies like Weekend include 45 Years (2015), God's Own Country (2017) and All of Us Strangers (2023). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Andrew Haigh, and several are whirlwind romances.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its subject: romantic love. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Weekend?

4.7K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: whirlwind romance. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.