Starter for 10

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Starter for 10

PG-13

2007

1h 36m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Brian Jackson (James McAvoy), a working-class youth from Essex, gets a chance to prove himself when he is accepted to respected Bristol University. As Brian navigates his way through his first year there, he finds romance with two pretty students (Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall) and tries out for a popular TV program called "University Challenge."

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Critics Consensus

Starter For 10 is a spirited coming-of-age tale that remains charming and witty even as it veers into darker teritory. The unique setting of a quiz show makes the film wittier than your average romantic comedy.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

12/04/2007

Conventional, slight, but charming.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

09/22/2007

3/5

McAvoy carries the picture confidently enough as a leading man, and there is a nice performance from Benedict Cumberbatch.

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David Fear

Time Out

09/22/2007

2/6

There's nothing here we haven't seen done better before.

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

05/21/2020

McAvoy is piling up an impressive resume of leading-guy roles for an actor who doesn't at first glance possess leading-guy looks.

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Troy Patterson

Spin

10/25/2019

3.5/4

Adhering to every convention of the coming-of-age film in a sneakily alluring way and flirting with cliche without slobbering all over it, this sweet little date-night flick is built to charm everyone's inner 18-year-old.

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

11/03/2018

3/5

While the love story is predictable, the amusing quiz show storyline and excellent post-new wave soundtrack almost make up for it.

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Thyaagu C

@Thyaagu Jul 14

A PERFECT LAZY TIME COMPANION. Easy smiles, gentle romance, and comforting vibes. Sometimes that's exactly what you need for a good leisure watch!

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Conrad C

@sosopoptart Jan 19

McAvoy is charming but slightly spineless in this film that is probably best categorized as coming-of-age. There's not a lot of good to say about the plot for this one, and not enough in the other facets of the movie to make up for it.

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alan g

@agenser Jan 10

Michael Fox did the charming young man better. Alice Eve is beautiful as usual.

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Farah R.

@Farah 06/25/2025

McAvoy plays a charming young man in this entertaining coming-of-age romantic comedy that explores deeper themes of love and friendship.

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Ralph R

@RT14837316 11/22/2024

Starter for 10 is a fun and entertaining movie, and it’s even better because it stars three of my favorite actors—James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Alice Eve. James is great as Brian Jackson, a college student trying to fit in at university and make it onto the "University Challenge" quiz team. He really nails the mix of awkwardness and ambition, making his character super relatable. Benedict is hilarious as the overly serious team captain, and Alice Eve adds a lot of charm as Brian’s crush. The cast really makes this movie shine, even if the story itself is pretty predictable. It’s your classic coming-of-age tale, but it’s done in such a fun way with a lot of humor and heart. The soundtrack and 1980s vibe give it a nostalgic feel, and while it’s not perfect, it’s just one of those movies that’s really enjoyable to watch. If you love these actors like I do, it’s definitely worth checking out.

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Jack S

@RT58840043 09/14/2024

A surprise in the finale plus an exceptional cast distinguish Starter For 10 from some otherwise pretty familiar rom-com material. McAvoy for example, is sensational as the callow student. Plus, Cumberbatch is a standout as a seriously uptight quiz team captain.

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Tom Vaughan

Director

James McAvoy

Brian Jackson

Alice Eve

Alice Harbinson

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Epstein

Simon Woods

Josh

Catherine Tate

Julie Jackson

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Synopsis

Brian Jackson (James McAvoy), a working-class youth from Essex, gets a chance to prove himself when he is accepted to respected Bristol University. As Brian navigates his way through his first year there, he finds romance with two pretty students (Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall) and tries out for a popular TV program called "University Challenge."

Director: Tom Vaughan
Producer: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Pippa Harris
Screenwriter: David Nicholls
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: Scamp Film and Theatre Ltd., Playtone Productions, Neal Street Productions, HBO Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Scene of Drug Use|Language)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $210.1K
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS