---
title: "Notting Hill"
year: 1999
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/notting-hill"
fi1m_id: "notting-hill"
imdb_id: "tt0125439"
tmdb_id: 509
wikidata_id: "Q200672"
fi1m_score: 78
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 8
published: "2026-09-14"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:21.299785+00:00"
region: "KR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Notting Hill (1999)

Directed by Roger Michell · 2h 04m · KMRB 12 · Romance, Comedy

## Identity

Notting Hill

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/notting-hill
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** notting-hill
- **IMDb ID:** tt0125439
- **TMDB ID:** 509
- **Wikidata ID:** Q200672
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/509, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200672

**Fi1m score: 78** · Critics 71 from 8 reviews

*In a sentence:* Hugh Grant makes apologising to Julia Roberts look like a full-time occupation

> Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant make this unlikely romance funny and easy to care about. Richard Curtis supplies the lines; Roger Michell keeps the affection credible, though the second half takes too long over its obstacles.

## Synopsis

Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) is a film star whose fame makes an ordinary romance difficult. William Thacker (Hugh Grant) is an ordinary man who finds himself drawn into her life. In London’s Notting Hill, their attraction brings together two people used to different kinds of attention and different expectations. As they try to make room for each other, the distance between a celebrity’s public life and a private relationship becomes part of their courtship. Richard Curtis writes and Roger Michell directs a romantic comedy whose cast also includes Rhys Ifans, Gina McKee and Emma Chambers.

## Review

Roger Michell’s *Notting Hill* is a good romantic comedy with two leads who make its unlikely courtship worth following through some unnecessary delays. Richard Curtis’s script puts a famous film star beside an ordinary man and finds plenty of comedy in their unequal confidence. The attraction is easy to understand, and Michell lets us enjoy it without treating every tender moment as an occasion for embarrassment. The trouble is finding enough complications to justify 124 minutes.

Hugh Grant plays William Thacker as someone who can make a simple exchange sound like a difficult request at a council counter. His hesitations are carefully timed, and the jokes often land because he seems so keen not to impose one. We laughed at his apologising: Grant lets William hear how ridiculous he sounds without giving him the confidence to stop. Curtis does return to this manner too often, and there are stretches when another awkward qualification is the last thing a sentence needs. Grant usually gets away with it.

Julia Roberts gives Anna Scott enough warmth to keep her from becoming merely the glamorous reward for all that nervousness. She makes the star’s guardedness understandable, but she also lets us see why William would want her company once the initial astonishment had passed. Their chemistry does much of the work that the plotting ought to do, especially when the script gives her less room than him. It is a limitation of Curtis’s writing that Roberts repeatedly has to make that imbalance feel natural.

Michael Coulter’s photography makes the neighbourhood look inviting, and that is exactly what this particular fantasy needs. Stuart Craig’s production design contributes to the same comfortable impression: these are surroundings in which a romance can seem like the most pressing problem anybody has. We need not demand a housing survey from a courtship comedy, but the narrow, well-to-do view of London does grow complacent. The film scarcely seems curious about anyone outside its comfortable circle.

Nick Moore’s editing gives the comic exchanges useful room to breathe. A little space around Grant’s delivery helps the embarrassment register, although the slower second half tests our patience. The obstacles start to feel arranged to postpone a resolution, and the film’s easy company cannot quite disguise the waiting. Some of Curtis’s jokes survive passages that would have been better shortened.

Trevor Jones’s score supports the gentler scenes, but the soundtrack as a whole is too eager to settle our feelings for us. The music sometimes presses for an emotion that Roberts and Grant have already made clear. Michell is more assured when he trusts their exchanges, allowing affection and a sharp line to occupy the same scene. Those moments keep the romance enjoyable even when the pace slackens.

This belongs to the reassuring end of romantic comedy, where an unlikely attraction deserves to be taken seriously and embarrassment need not be fatal. There is nothing wrong with offering that pleasure, provided the people involved can hold our attention. We would happily spend another evening with these two, even knowing where the pace begins to falter. Allow for a little dawdling between the good jokes.

*Fi1m score 78, published 14 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Notting Hill an enjoyable, polished romantic comedy, with praise clustering around Richard Curtis’s dialogue and the appeal of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. The reviews repeatedly credit the leads’ chemistry, Grant’s comic delivery and a supporting cast that gives the romance room to be funny. For most, the charm and emotional payoff carry a familiar fairytale, though enthusiasm is generally warm rather than unqualified.

Reservations centre on slack pacing, contrived obstacles and a soundtrack that presses too hard. Critics also differ over how convincingly the film handles celebrity and how much its comfortable London setting invites scrutiny. Sight and Sound objects to what it sees as a hypocritical fixation on wealth and success, while still admiring Grant. Eye for Film is the clearest dissenter, finding the self-deprecating humour tiresome and the star appeal insufficient to compensate for the lack of pace or wit.

## Straight answers

**Is Notting Hill worth watching?**

*Notting Hill* is worth watching for anyone who enjoys a reassuring romantic comedy with two leads good enough to carry it, and we scored it 78. Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts make the unlikely courtship funny and easy to care about. The second half dawdles over its obstacles, so allow for some waiting between the good jokes.

**How long is Notting Hill, and what is it rated?**

*Notting Hill* runs 2h 04m and is rated 12 by the KMRB in South Korea. It is a romance and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Notting Hill in South Korea?**

*Notting Hill* is not on any streaming or rental service in South Korea at the moment. It is available in 29 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Notting Hill, and is it suitable for children?**

*Notting Hill* contains nothing violent or frightening; it is a romantic comedy about embarrassment rather than danger. The UK 15 certificate reflects adult content in a film written for grown-ups, not anything alarming on screen. Younger children will find little to hold them, but the squeamish and the nervous have nothing to worry about.

**How does Notting Hill compare to Roman Holiday?**

*Notting Hill* and [*Roman Holiday*](https://film.one/film/roman-holiday) are both unequal romances that find pleasure and inconvenience in an ordinary day, and the earlier film is the tighter of the two. William Wyler's Roman escape is funnier and more tender in less time, though its reporter's deception gets an easy ride. Notting Hill has more jokes and a slower second half, and suits anyone who wants Grant's apologising at length.

**What should I watch after Notting Hill?**

After *Notting Hill*, try [*Roman Holiday*](https://film.one/film/roman-holiday) (1953, Fi1m 88): Another unequal romance that understands the appeal, and inconvenience, of an ordinary day. Then [*The Shop Around the Corner*](https://film.one/film/the-shop-around-the-corner) (1940, Fi1m 88): For romantic hesitation played by adults who can also land a joke; and [*Amélie*](https://film.one/film/amelie) (2001, Fi1m 82): A different neighbourhood fantasy, with more visual mischief and an equally selective postcode.

### Reviews we read (11)

- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it a smartly cast and consistently amusing romantic comedy with strong dialogue from Curtis and able direction from Michell that balances sentiment with tart lines, crediting Grant's expert delivery. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-28-ca-41691-story.html)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (80/100, inferred): The critic finds it a thoroughly enjoyable, well-crafted and funny romantic comedy despite some smugness about its London setting. He singles out Julia Roberts' strong, humane performance and the witty script by Richard Curtis for praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian/0,,51724,00.html)
- **Empire**, Caroline Westbrook (75/100, inferred): It delivers solid crowd-pleasing romcom entertainment with sharp one-liners, quirky supporting characters, and strong chemistry between Grant and Roberts, though it falls just short of Four Weddings and has a slightly naive take on media intrusion. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/notting-hill-review/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film bright with witty dialogue and likable leads in Grant and Roberts, praising its charm and realistic take on celebrity while noting some mannerisms in Grant's performance and an overreliant soundtrack. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/notting-hill-1999)
- **Variety**, Derek Elley (75/100, inferred): The critic praises the genuine engaging charm, strong cast chemistry and emotional payoff in the fairytale romance, while noting it is slick but occasionally gawky and ten minutes too long with some construction issues. [Read](https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/notting-hill-1200457114/)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (70/100, inferred): The critic sees the film as an amiable romantic comedy centered on the Notting Hill setting and the odd-couple dynamic between a star and a commoner, appreciating the director's touch but sensing some overload in its social observations. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/06/07/boy-meets-goddess)
- **Total Film**, Total Film team (70/100, inferred): The film repeats the Four Weddings formula with funny moments and appealing performances from Grant and Ifans, plus strong use of locations, but the second half flags with contrived obstacles, limited material for Roberts, and intrusive soundtrack. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/notting-hill-review/)
- **Sight and Sound**, Charlotte O'Sullivan: Notting Hill is a sly but unconvincing film that inverts the Four Weddings formula by making glamorous America dominant over impotent Britain. The critic praises the acute sections on American narcissism and Hugh Grant's performance but faults the film's hypocritical obsession with money, success and wealth. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/131)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (Critic's Pick): The critic highlights the film's glossy charm and intelligent pedigree from director Michell and writer Curtis, noting how it pairs mismatched stars in a story that mixes romance with knowing commentary on celebrity. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/28/movies/film-review-looking-for-a-book-and-finding-a-man.html)
- **Time Out**, GA: It's a calculated but very enjoyable romantic comedy that plays up to naive fantasies with polished entertainment, neat conceits and gags. The critic notes its complacently white, well-to-do perspective on W11 life and some over-extended moments but calls it an agreeably slick affair overall. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/notting-hill-1)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the apologetic humor tiresome and the film slow-paced, relying too much on Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts' charms without sufficient supporting elements or wit. The reviewer singles out the overused self-deprecating jokes and lack of pace as complaints. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/notting-hill-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** Roger Michell
- **Director:** Roger Michell
- **Writer:** Richard Curtis
- **Cinematography:** Michael Coulter
- **Editor:** Nick Moore
- **Music:** Trevor Jones
- **Production design:** Stuart Craig
- **Producer:** Duncan Kenworthy
- **Cast:** Julia Roberts as Anna Scott; Hugh Grant as William Thacker; Gina McKee as Bella; Tim McInnerny as Max; Rhys Ifans as Spike; Emma Chambers as Honey; Hugh Bonneville as Bernie; Richard McCabe as Tony
- **Runtime:** 2h 04m
- **Certificate (KMRB):** 12
- **Release (South Korea):** 3 July 1999
- **Genres:** Romance, Comedy
- **Also in:** [Golden Globe Best Musical or Comedy winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-comedy.md) (Nominee, 1999)
- **Budget:** $42 million
- **Box office:** $364 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn-m50RUf_Q

## Where to watch in South Korea

Not streaming, renting or buying in South Korea at the last check.

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IN, IT, JP, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, SE, TR, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- European Film Award for Best Film 1999: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Roman Holiday* (1953), Fi1m 88: Another unequal romance that understands the appeal, and inconvenience, of an ordinary day. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/roman-holiday.md)
- *The Shop Around the Corner* (1940), Fi1m 88: For romantic hesitation played by adults who can also land a joke. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-shop-around-the-corner.md)
- *Amélie* (2001), Fi1m 82: A different neighbourhood fantasy, with more visual mischief and an equally selective postcode. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/amelie.md)
- *Rye Lane* (2023), Fi1m 78: Another London courtship, with livelier streets and less room for genteel embarrassment. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/rye-lane.md)
- *Enough Said* (2013): For awkward courtship where the apologies have a little more experience behind them.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/notting-hill