---
title: "Wild Bill"
year: 2011
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/wild-bill"
fi1m_id: "wild-bill"
imdb_id: "tt1795702"
tmdb_id: 86593
wikidata_id: "Q2813808"
fi1m_score: 74
critics_score: 68
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-10-01T22:19:15.148412+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T22:19:15.907287+00:00"
region: "DK"
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."
---

# Wild Bill (2011)

Directed by Dexter Fletcher · 1h 38m · Drama

## Identity

Wild Bill

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/wild-bill
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** wild-bill
- **IMDb ID:** tt1795702
- **TMDB ID:** 86593
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2813808
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1795702/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/86593, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2813808

**Fi1m score: 74** · Critics 68 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* The teenagers have enough to deal with before the adults start helping

> Dexter Fletcher’s family-and-crime drama is worth seeing for Charlie Creed-Miles and Will Poulter, who make familiar material matter. The criminal business is less convincing, but the quieter exchanges earn the film’s warmth.

## Synopsis

In East London, Bill (Charlie Creed-Miles) is at the centre of a family story complicated by crime. Dean (Will Poulter) is a teenager carrying responsibilities that leave little room for an ordinary teenage life. Around them are Jimmy (Sammy Williams), Roxy (Liz White) and Terry (Leo Gregory), as family difficulties overlap with the pressures of the local criminal world. Bill and Dean’s uneasy relationship gives the story its focus. Domestic drama, humour and the threat of violence share space, with the younger characters facing demands that the adults struggle to manage themselves.

## Review

*Wild Bill* is a good family drama with a rather ordinary crime story attached. Dexter Fletcher gives the people enough attention to make that an acceptable arrangement, though we occasionally wish the criminal business would leave them alone. His writing with Danny King allows humour into difficult circumstances without treating those circumstances as a joke. The film is sentimental, sometimes predictably so, but its affection for its characters is persuasive enough to keep us interested.

Charlie Creed-Miles gives Bill a warmth that never quite removes the sadness. He makes the character approachable without asking us to accept everything about him, and that distinction matters in a story susceptible to easy sympathy. There is room in the performance for uncertainty and disappointment as well as charm. When the writing threatens to settle for a familiar type, Creed-Miles supplies enough hesitation to suggest someone who cannot be understood quite so quickly.

Will Poulter is equally important as Dean, a teenager whose responsibilities interfere with being young. We were moved by his struggle to manage those demands while still wanting an ordinary teenage life. Poulter makes the strain convincing without turning Dean into an advertisement for youthful resilience, and his exchanges with Creed-Miles give the film its strongest scenes. Fletcher is wise to let their relationship develop at a measured pace rather than insist on our sympathy immediately.

That patience is also the strongest feature of Stuart Gazzard’s editing. The quieter storytelling gives the performances time to register, which matters more here than keeping the crime plot moving briskly. George Richmond’s cinematography supports Fletcher’s intimate approach; the attention stays on people rather than making their surroundings the principal attraction. Murray McKeown’s production design works best in the same supporting capacity, giving the actors a credible setting without demanding that we stop to admire it.

Christian Henson’s music serves a film already willing to tell us how to feel. We prefer the restraint of the acting to the more emphatic emotional guidance, especially when the writing has made its point clearly enough. Sentiment itself is not the problem: these characters deserve tenderness. The difficulty comes when the film makes their troubles too easily legible, leaving the actors to restore the awkwardness and uncertainty that make the central relationship convincing.

The supporting criminal characters are less successfully rescued from familiarity. Fletcher and King find sharp dialogue, but some of the people speaking it remain recognisable gangster types, and the predictable plotting limits the threat they can carry. Against the expectations of a British crime drama, the film is more assured about family tensions than intimidation. Its humour helps, and Fletcher generally keeps the changes between comedy and drama from feeling forced, even when the crime material is less distinctive.

At 98 minutes, there is enough space for these performances without an exhausting commitment to the weaker material. The film rewards an interest in people coping imperfectly with responsibilities, particularly when Poulter and Creed-Miles are together. Choose it for them, and allow the gangsters their interruptions.

*Fi1m score 74, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to Wild Bill, finding Dexter Fletcher’s debut an engaging blend of family drama, humour and crime. Praise centres on the performances: Charlie Creed-Miles gives the story warmth and emotional weight, while Will Poulter makes the responsible teenager affecting and believable. The reviews also favour Fletcher’s intimate, measured direction, which allows the characters to develop without rushing their relationships. For many, the familiar setting and story gain enough life from the cast and sharp dialogue.

Reservations cluster around predictability, sentimentality and supporting characters who slip into cliché. The spread is fairly wide, though positive responses comfortably outnumber mixed and negative ones. Even some admirers acknowledge a lack of originality. Variety supplies the clearest dissent, finding the drama short of grit and nuance, the leads thinly written and the fight choreography weak.

## Straight answers

**Is Wild Bill worth watching?**

*Wild Bill* is worth watching for its central performances and warm family drama, and we score it 74 out of 100. Charlie Creed-Miles and Will Poulter make the uneasy relationship between Bill and Dean matter; we recommend it for those interested in people struggling with responsibility, rather than anyone seeking a distinctive crime story.

**How long is Wild Bill, and what is it rated?**

*Wild Bill* runs 1h 38m. It is a drama film.

**Where can I watch Wild Bill in Denmark?**

*Wild Bill* is not on any streaming or rental service in Denmark at the moment. It is available in 4 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Wild Bill, and is it suitable for children?**

*Wild Bill* has a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children under 15; its family drama includes criminal pressures and the threat of violence. We find the domestic tensions more convincing than the intimidation, but that is a judgement about the storytelling rather than an assurance for squeamish viewers.

**How does Wild Bill compare to Shoplifters?**

*Wild Bill* is the less searching family-and-crime drama beside [*Shoplifters*](https://film.one/film/shoplifters), which we recommend more warmly for its tender, funny and quietly troubling account of a household surviving through theft. Both connect family loyalty with crime, but *Wild Bill* relies more on familiar gangster plotting; its strongest reason to watch is the relationship between Bill and Dean.

### Reviews we read (14)

- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (85/100, inferred): Bradshaw praises the film as a likable, involving comedy-drama with strong writing and performances. He especially singles out Charlie Creed-Miles, whose warmth and melancholy make him the story’s beating heart. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/mar/22/wild-bill-review)
- **Total Film**, Matt Mueller (4/5): The review is positive, praising the film as an engaging, funny, and fresh take on a family-and-crime story. It particularly singles out Charlie Creed-Miles, whose performance anchors the film emotionally. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/wild-bill-1-review/)
- **Empire**, Kim Newman (75/100, inferred): Newman finds the film a fresh, engaging take on the East End gangster and dysfunctional-family story. He singles out Will Poulter’s affecting performance as the responsible teenager struggling with ordinary teenage life. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wild-bill-2-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, Derek Malcolm (70/100, inferred): Malcolm finds the film a welcome, sincere surprise, though it does not always escape cliché or sentimentality. He praises Charlie Creed-Miles’s performance and the supporting cameos for making the story feel decent and convincing. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/wild-bill-review-7582952.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, THR Staff (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a sentimental but effective entry in the British gangster genre. They praise its sharp dialogue and the potent chemistry between Charlie Creed-Miles and Will Poulter, while noting that some supporting characters veer into cliché. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wild-bill-film-review-241705/)
- **Screen Daily**, Fionnuala Halligan (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is inaccessible. The paywall also prevents identifying what the review singles out for praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/wild-bill/5032423.article)
- **Radio Times**, Trevor Johnston (3/5): The critic calls the film bleakly entertaining, finding its blend of family drama and crime thriller effective. They single out Dexter Fletcher’s directorial debut and its East London setting. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-99hhsy/wild-bill/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): Huddleston gives the film a middling three-out-of-five rating, suggesting a mixed verdict. The review text is unavailable, so no specific praise or complaint can be identified. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wild-bill-1)
- **Variety**, Jay Weissberg (30/100, inferred): Weissberg finds the film mild and clichéd, lacking the grit and nuance expected of a British working-class drama. He faults the weak fight choreography and says the leads have little material beyond surface characterization. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/wild-bill-1117946243/)
- **Digital Spy**, Mayer Nissim (4): The review finds Fletcher’s debut tender, heartfelt and genuinely touching. It particularly praises the young cast, especially Will Poulter, and the film’s assured, quiet storytelling. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a370152/wild-bill-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (75/100, inferred): Wilkinson calls the film a very good debut, despite occasional perfunctoriness and references that do not land. She praises its steady, measured pace for letting the characters develop gradually and believably. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/wild-bill-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist** (75/100, inferred): The headline presents the film as an immensely likable directorial debut. The blocked page prevents identifying what the critic specifically praised beyond that overall verdict. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/lff-11-review-wild-bill-is-an-immensely-likable-directorial-debut-from-dexter-fletcher-20111023/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Craig Skinner (3.5/5): The critic calls the film a convincing, absorbing drama and an impressive debut. They praise the performances, especially Will Poulter and Liz White, and single out the film’s intimate direction and visual style. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/lff-2011-wild-bill-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Luke Holland (3/5): The critic finds the directorial debut an enjoyable, heartfelt surprise despite its predictable plot and lack of originality. He praises the cast, especially Will Poulter, and Fletcher’s balanced handling of humor, drama, and crime. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/wild-bill-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Dexter Fletcher
- **Director:** Dexter Fletcher
- **Writer:** Dexter Fletcher, Danny King
- **Cinematography:** George Richmond
- **Editor:** Stuart Gazzard
- **Music:** Christian Henson
- **Production design:** Murray McKeown
- **Costume design:** Matthew Price
- **Producer:** Sam Tromans, Tim Cole
- **Cast:** Charlie Creed-Miles as Bill; Will Poulter as Dean; Sammy Williams as Jimmy; Leo Gregory as Terry; Andy Serkis as Glen; Jason Flemyng as John; Jaime Winstone as Helen; Liz White as Roxy
- **Runtime:** 1h 38m
- **First release (the UK):** 21 October 2011
- **Genres:** Drama
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBJvEHwb2KQ

## Where to watch in Denmark

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

Also available in: CA, GB, IE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Sweet Sixteen* (2002): Another teenager carries adult burdens, with considerably less reassurance available.
- *A Room for Romeo Brass* (1999): Young friendship and adult interference make for funny, increasingly troubling company.
- *The Kid with a Bike* (2011): A child’s need for dependable affection receives patient, unsentimental attention.
- *Shoplifters* (2018), Fi1m 89: Family loyalty and petty crime meet in a more searching domestic drama. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shoplifters.md)
- *Paper Moon* (1973): For another young person obliged to supervise a less responsible adult.

---
© 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/wild-bill