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Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, Charles Furneaux ... see more see more... , John Brisby , Lynn Johnson , Neil Hughes , Nicholas Hitchon , Paul Kligerman , Peter Davies , Susan Sullivan , Suzanne Dewey , Tony Walker

In the second follow-up to the original film Seven Up, Michael Apted continues his documentary saga that began when his subjects, 14 students from varied social backgrounds, were 7 years old. As young... read more read more... adults finally grown out of the awkward teenage years, the participants share similar worries and dreams, displaying humanity, honesty and candor in every frame. Extras include biographies, commentaries and more.

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89% liked it

2,142 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Michael Apted

Release Date: December 31, 1977

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DVD Release Date: October 19, 2004

Stats: 102 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (102)

  • superclerk25
    May 13, 2009
    superclerk25
    Some of the children have grown into the people you expected. Some have not. I found it interesting how when they talked about the film series they discussed to pointless nature of it. I think they thought about it too hard. The point is to see the unpredictability of life an... read mored how we are not really in control of our futures.
    They also talk about how they are judged by what is shown on the film and not by all the things they did to get there. I say what they answer the questions with shows us more about them than seeing what they do every step of the day.
    So far this is an excellent series. We are still seeing these people from a time that has long passed and I look forward to seeing how they change as the world goes into fast forward in tech and thinking.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    April 25, 2009
    YosemiteSamFan
    Interesting update on what those kids have turned into.
  • Stinger839
    February 29, 2008
    Stinger839
    This is the first in the series that I have seen. I particularly liked this glimpse into various people's lives. But as one of the subjects expresses, though it may not be a valid experiment it is at least entertaining.
    Also, as an American viewer I do gain some solid knowledge ... read moreof UK culture in this particular time period. The people are all quite candid, and currently being 21 myself, this film consequently knocks away some boundaries other viewers have when relating to these people and examining their mentality.
  • randallangela1
    May 22, 2012
    randallangela1
    Suddenly they all seem to have careers lined up and a real direction.
  • scrambledegg7
    January 15, 2011
    scrambledegg7
    Seeing these people at 7, then at 14, and now again at 21, what's interesting to me is how *few* of them have actually deviated from the plans they laid out for themselves in the earlier installments. The standout is Neil Hughes, who cut a decidedly new path when he left school b... read moreecause he felt he needed to "get away." I found myself extremely interested in how these people were going to progress over the next 7 years.
  • shawnmiller2
    January 16, 2009
    shawnmiller2
    Up Series - GENERAL REVIEW

    GREAT, GREAT, GREAT series to watch these movies...started watching them all in order in 2007...

    (by coincidence one of the subjects ends up living in Madison, WI!)

    So very interesting to watch this non-statistically-relevant social experiment unfold... read more...

    Reality TV before there was Reality TV...

    We see a little of ourselves in each on of the characters and family...

    A masterful editing of subject matter, to get the audience to CARE about each of the subjects and APPRECIATE things from their lives...

    Ebert puts this series in his all-time top 10 or even top 5 lists...I agree...

    A must-watch for anyone over the age of 25...

View All 21 Up Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
March 4, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The third chapter in Michael Apted's one of a kind documentary Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
October 26, 2004
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

Seven Up scene-stealer Neil Hughes becomes the series' tragic figure in 21 Up. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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21 Up Trivia

  • how many james bond movies are up to 2007?  Answer »
  • in Superbad who said this quote Seth, Seth, Seth. Listen up, ass-face: every day, hundreds of kids go into the liquor store with fake IDs, and every single one says they're 21. Pssh, how many 21 year olds do you think there are in this town? It's called fucking strategy, all right?   Answer »
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