Jimmy Carr’s raunchy period comedy Fackham Hall hits theaters December 5, 2025, earning an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score and proving that British costume dramas—from Downton Abbey to Bridgerton—have finally met their comedic match. With Thomasin McKenzie, Damian Lewis, and Harry Potter’s Tom Felton delivering joke-a-minute chaos, this R-rated sendup is the “Airplane! meets Monty Python” spoof audiences didn’t know they needed.
Quick Takeaways
- Fackham Hall released December 5, 2025 (US) and December 12 (UK) with an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score
- Written by comedian Jimmy Carr in his feature screenplay debut, co-written with brother Patrick Carr and The Dawson Brothers
- Stars Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Damian Lewis, Katherine Waterston, and Tom Felton
- Described as “Downton Abbey meets Airplane!”—a joke-a-minute spoof of British period dramas
- Rated R for sexual content, language, and violence—this is NOT your grandmother’s costume drama
- Directed by Jim O’Hanlon (Catastrophe, Your Christmas Or Mine)
- Filmed in Leeds and Liverpool, UK in early 2025
- Box office tracking not yet released, but strong critical reception suggests sleeper hit potential
What Is Fackham Hall About?
Set in 1930s England, Fackham Hall follows Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), a lovable pickpocket who cons his way into a job as a hallboy at the grand Fackham estate. He quickly rises through the ranks and sparks a forbidden romance with Rose Davenport (Thomasin McKenzie), the bookish youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Davenport (Damian Lewis and Katherine Waterston).
But when a prominent aristocrat is discovered dead with a paper knife lodged in him during a disastrous family wedding, Eric gets framed for murder—leaving Rose and her family’s future hanging by a thread. The film parodies everything from Downton Abbey’s class tensions to Bridgerton’s romance tropes, with visual gags ranging from a “Trainspotting” poster in the servants’ quarters to outrageous bathroom humor.
Table: Fackham Hall Movie Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date (US) | December 5, 2025 |
| Release Date (UK) | December 12, 2025 |
| Runtime | 97 minutes (1 hour 37 minutes) |
| Rating | R (sexual content, language, violence) |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 85% Fresh (26 reviews) |
| Director | Jim O’Hanlon |
| Screenplay | Jimmy Carr, Patrick Carr, The Dawson Brothers |
| Stars | Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Damian Lewis, Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton |
| Supporting Cast | Anna Maxwell Martin, Sue Johnston, Emma Laird, Hero Fiennes Tiffin |
| Genre | Period Comedy Parody |
| Filming Locations | Leeds, Liverpool (UK) |
| Distributor | Bleecker Street (US), Legion M (co-financing) |
| Comparison Films | Airplane!, The Naked Gun, Monty Python, Scary Movie |
Jimmy Carr’s “Unashamedly Stupid” Masterpiece
Comedian Jimmy Carr—known for his dark humor on British panel shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown—wrote Fackham Hall as his first feature screenplay. He aimed for the “joke-a-minute” spirit of Airplane! and The Naked Gun, mixing highbrow period drama aesthetics with lowbrow poop jokes, masturbation gags, and physical comedy.
The New York Times called it “clever sight gags” that “jazz up this Downton Abbey sendup,” while Deadline praised it as “Naked Gun meets Python”. USA Today celebrated the return of “unashamedly stupid movies” alongside the upcoming Naked Gun reboot, arguing that smart parodies like Fackham Hall prove audiences still crave silly, physical comedy.
Critical Reception: 85% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes
Following its December 5 release, Fackham Hall debuted with an impressive 85% Rotten Tomatoes score from 26 reviews—a strong showing for a niche comedy. Critics praised the ensemble cast’s commitment to the absurdity:
“The cast of actors ride the waves of wordplay with a game commitment to the bit.”
— The New York Times
“Fackham Hall is enlivened by its ensemble cast, who wholeheartedly embrace the playful banter. Yet, it is the visual gags that truly shine.”
— NY Times Review
IndieWire called it “Julian Fellowes meets Monty Python in a period drama spoof that commits to the bit,” while Screen Rant declared it “absurdly funny satire” with “a laugh a second”. However, Roger Ebert’s site was more lukewarm, noting that “what’s funny in the writers’ room does not always work on screen”.
The Cast: From Harry Potter to Homeland
Thomasin McKenzie (Rose Davenport)
The Jojo Rabbit and Last Night in Soho star plays the “dried husk of a woman” bookworm caught between duty and love.
Ben Radcliffe (Eric Noone)
Rising British actor Radcliffe leads as the charming con artist who falls for the wrong woman.
Damian Lewis (Lord Davenport)
The Homeland and Billions star embraces the comedy as the bumbling patriarch.
Katherine Waterston (Lady Davenport)
Waterston delivers sharp zingers as the matriarch desperately trying to marry off her daughters.
Tom Felton (Archibald)
Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy returns as the “caddish cousin” Rose is supposed to marry.
Why This Matters: The Return of Spoof Comedy
Fackham Hall represents a cultural shift—proof that audiences exhausted by gritty prestige dramas and superhero films are hungry for unapologetic silliness. The film arrives alongside Paramount’s Naked Gun reboot (starring Liam Neeson), signaling Hollywood’s renewed interest in the parody genre that dominated the 2000s with Scary Movie and Austin Powers.
Cinema Blend noted that Fackham Hall features “quite a few Downton Abbey Easter eggs” and tributes the beloved British property “in ways I didn’t see coming,” suggesting it works both as loving homage and brutal takedown.
Box Office and What’s Next
Box office numbers have not yet been reported for the December 5-8 opening weekend, but with strong reviews, an R-rating novelty, and word-of-mouth buzz, Fackham Hall could become a sleeper hit. The film expands to international markets through December, including Australia and New Zealand in February 2026.
Director Jim O’Hanlon and the cast have teased potential for more British period parodies if Fackham Hall succeeds, with one critic joking: “What’s next—a Bridgerton spoof?”.
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