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Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers, James Dreyfus ... see more see more... , Rhys Ifans , Tim McInnerny , Gina McKee , Richard McCabe , Dylan Moran , Roger Frost , Julian Rhind-Tutt , Lorelei King , John Shrapnel , Clarke Peters , Arturo Venegas , Mischa Barton , Henry Goodman , Melissa Wilson , Emma Bernard , Sam West , Ann Beach , Alec Baldwin , Emily Mortimer

Can a beautiful and internationally famous American actress find happiness with a frumpy British bookstore clerk? She can -- at least for a while, it seems -- in Notting Hill. William Thacker (played ... read more read more...by Hugh Grant) is a bookseller at a shop in the Notting Hill district in West London, who shares a house with an eccentric Welsh friend, Spike (Rhys Ifans). One day, William is minding the store when in strolls Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), a lovely and well-known actress from the United States who is in London working on a film. She buys a book from William, and she is polite and charming in the way a famous actress would be with a star-struck sales clerk. Their relationship would logically end there, if William didn't run out a few minutes later to buy some juice. While dashing back to the shop, he bumps into Anna on the street, spilling juice all over her blouse. Since he lives nearby, William politely offers to let her stop by his house to clean up; since William seems harmless enough, Anna agrees. When Anna has to stop back to pick up a bag she left at William's house, they kiss -- just in time for Spike to show up. A romance slowly blooms as his friends and family (not to mention the world at large) wonder out loud what he's doing dating a movie star. Notting Hill reunites Hugh Grant with producer Duncan Kenworthy and screenwriter Richard Curtis, who previously worked together on the international hit Four Weddings And A Funeral. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

74% liked it

478,234 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

98 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Roger Michell

Release Date: May 28, 1999

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DVD Release Date: November 9, 1999

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Stats: 22,448 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (22,448)

  • fb1463751009
    May 28, 2012
    fb1463751009
    Like I've said in a previous review, all a romantic comedy needs is a tangible chemistry between the two actors and a clever script. "Notting Hill" delivers the goods.

    It's lacking in many technical standpoints and can get a little too sappy at times, but the characters are so ... read morealluring and the script is so witty that it overcomes the choke points of this film. I found myself laughing out loud at the humor and I found myself really caring to see more progression within these characters' relationships. "Notting Hill"'s a great romantic comedy that's sure to please all movie-goers.
  • fb1216165431
    November 7, 2011
    fb1216165431
    Personally endeared and irresistible, Notting Hill is a perfect dream - a beloved story that begins with a coincidence that has evolved into something greater between an ordinary man and a prominent actress. Notting Hill is perhaps imperfect, but beyond reason, Notting Hill capit... read morealizes on basic human emotional vulnerabilities. Most charming.
  • CloudStrife84
    October 10, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Wonderfully funny movie, that can be seen over and over again. Brilliantly written, with great characters, a delightful cast and perfect chemistry between the actors. It's got more memorable scenes than several dozen's worth of your average rom-coms put together. In fact, I would... read more even go as far as to say that it's my favourite "Brit flick" of all-time. It also gives you a very fascinating insight to the complicated reality that comes with being a movie star. I have a very sincere love for this film and I'm not afraid to say it. It's witty, it's heartfelt and beautifully narrated. But above all, incredibly moving. Too bad they never made a spin-off with the character "Spike", because every minute he's on screen is an absolute riot. Anyway, if you're looking for a cozy feel-good film to watch with someone special, then this is truly the perfect pick.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    September 8, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Can the most famous film star in the world fall for just an ordinary guy?

    Saw it again! Great romantic film! Julia Roberts nail her part and Hugh Grant in his best work yet to me. Watch it with your significant other and I promise you'll end up holding hands. Two thumps up! Not... read moreting Hill is totally implausible, happily improbable, feel good flick, does more to influence positive attitudes about people with disabilities than any all day sensitivity training seminar could ever hope to accomplish.

    Every man's dream comes true for William Thacker, an unsuccessful Notting Hill bookstore owner, when Anna Scott, the world's most beautiful woman and best-liked actress, enters his shop. A little later, he still can't believe it himself, William runs into her again - this time spilling orange juice over her. Anna accepts his offer to change in his nearby apartment, and thanks him with a kiss, which seems to surprise her even more than him. Eventually, Anna and William get to know each other better over the months, but being together with the world's most wanted woman is not easy - neither around your closest friends, nor in front of the all-devouring press.
  • moonrivers
    July 30, 2011
    moonrivers
    If one is going to dream why not dream big? Roberts plays a big American movie star (I can visualize that) while Grant plays the shy owner of a tiny bookshop in London (ok that's a stretch): can a somebody love a nobody and it work? Better than most romcoms and the secondary c... read moreast do much to convey a sense of London, however imaginary.
  • 76Majikat
    July 10, 2011
    76Majikat
    Whilst this is replayed on tv over and over, this is one o fthe more bearable Rom Coms for me. A completely unlikely scenario, but it's light, comical and easy watching.
  • Deano78
    June 24, 2011
    Deano78
    At last I've finally seen it, more out of curiosity than anything else. I'm not a fan of Hugh Grant, seems he can only play the upper class, bumbling English idiot in all his films, which becomes annoying. I can see why this is so well liked by some. It does have some quirky Brit... read moreish humour and a witty script. However it's way too long and typically cheesy as well. Not bad but personally think there are better Rom-coms out there.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    A great English film! A classic!
  • stevenecarrier
    January 20, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    "Notting Hill" is a rare romantic comedy that is actually charming, romantic, has realistic characters doing realistic things and plenty of wonderful performances. While it still ultimately succumbs to genre conventions (always a downfall with this genre, but what can you expect)... read more, it's still a nicely made film that always rings true. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant are quite good here.
  • flutieman07
    December 23, 2010
    flutieman07
    Really great movie! This one's been hovering in my Instant Queue for some time...Wish I had gotten around to it sooner.

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Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

The ending is happy and ironic in equal measure, but most of the fun is just getting there with the right chemistry and compatibility. Full Review

Jeff Millar
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

An exceptionally guy-friendly chick flick. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 22, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Lately, romance comedies have expanded in running time, doubtless to compensate for their shrinkage in charm, and this is no exception -- it's way too long for something far too slight. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

The film's romantic core is impervious to problems. Full Review

Derek Elley
January 1, 2000
Derek Elley, Variety

[Notting Hill] has buckets to spare of that rarest screen commodity -- genuine, engaging charm -- plus a cast and production values that fully deliver when the chips are down. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
January 1, 2000
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

A romantic-comedy charmer in which you genuinely care about the partners-in-romance. Full Review

Peter Rainer
January 1, 2000
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

The movie-star-playing-a-movie-star-who-wants-to-be-a-real-person conceit also has an odd, chilling effect on Julia Roberts, whose appeal, overwhelmingly, is based on her seeming just like the rest of... Full Review

Christy Lemire
January 1, 2000
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

Notting Hill is a harmless, well-intentioned romantic comedy with several solid laughs.

Steven Rosen
January 1, 2000
Steven Rosen, Denver Post

Very funny! Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is bright, the dialogue has wit and intelligence, and Roberts and Grant are very easy to like. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Spike: Nice firm buttocks!
    • Bernie: James Bond didn't have to deal with this sorta shit.
    • William Thacker: I've opened Pandora's Box!
    • Spike: I knew a girl named Pandora in High school once . . . Never did see her box though!
    • Anna Scott: After all, I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.
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Notting Hill Trivia

  • He took a "blow" from Mrs. Brown, went to Notting Hill, made some Sense & Sensibility out of Ang Lee, and pondered the American Dreamz. Who is he?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Hugh Grant and Juila Roberts fall in love in?  Answer »
  • Which actor was in Bridget Jones (1 and 2), Love Actually, Notting Hill and Two Weeks Notice  Answer »
  • Complete this quote from the film 'Notting Hill' :-) Spike: 'There's something wrong with this yoghurt.' Will: 'That's not yoghurt. That's . . . .  Answer »
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