My Beautiful Laundrette

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (19 reviews)

  • 74% of users liked it
    (6,349 ratings)

After the death of his wife and his subsequent descent into alcoholic near-agoraphobia, a crotchety Pakistani intellectual convinces his shady entrepreneur brother to provide work for his son in this multi-layered portrait of the immigrant experience in Great Britain. Young Londoner Omar (Gordon… More

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R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By
Stephen Frears
Genres
Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy
In Theaters
Sep 7, 1985 Wide
On DVD
Jun 3, 2003
Orion Classics

Critic Reviews

  • Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

    [VIDEO] "My Beautiful Launderette" is a milestone of British cinema.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    An intriguing tale about race, sexuality, and politics in the New London, splendidly played by Daniel day Lewis as the gay punk.

  • Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide

    When it works, it's a sophisticated and modestly ambitious attempt to cast a glance at a minority culture struggling to gain a foothold in a troubling time and place.

  • Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

    A gritty and imaginative English film offering a grim portrait of societal disintegration during the 1980s in a country rife with racial tensions and a thriving underground economy.

  • Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine

    As inviting as having a studly young Daniel Day-Lewis lick your neck.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jim H


    Within the context of film history, this film is surely important as a pioneer in discussion homosexuality in a straight-forward, even endorsing, manner. But I can't help noticing that the dialogue is stolid and expository. Additionally, the gay relationship is not adequately… More

  • Jennifer D


    Had to watch it for a film class. Might not have watched it otherwise.

  • Elvira B


    Stephen Frears's 1985 film is a testament for a group of confused, irreverent middle to lower class youths of the Thatcher years in London. The characters of My Beautiful Laundrette are young, they have nothing to do, they want to do something... but they don't know when, or… More

  • Sarah G


    <u>Director:</u>Stephen Frears <u>Released:</u> 1986 <u>Stars :</u> Daniel Day Lewis, Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth <u>Genre:</u> Drama <u>Country:</u> UK <b>An ambitious British Asian and his white lover strive… More

  • Robert C


    Just re-watched this having seen it years ago, before I knew who Daniel Day-Lewis was. I remeber the first time I saw this I totally bought into his character as tough, street savy "punk" they intended him to be. This time around he just seemed like some homeless gay… More

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips

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