Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drinking, smoking in intimate biographical drama.
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Mr. Burton
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MR. BURTON, intelligent but rebellious schoolboy Richard (Harry Lawtey) lives in a Welsh mining town with his sister and her husband, after being all but deserted by his struggling father. When Richard is forced to leave school to help support the household, his teacher, Mr. Burton (Toby Jones), sees the potential waste of talent and takes him under his wing. With the help of his mentorship, Richard—later to become Hollywood icon Richard Burton—dares to dream of becoming an actor, and it starts to become a reality.
Is It Any Good?
Focusing on the early years of Richard Burton's life, when he started to believe he could overcome his circumstances and reach for his dreams, this is a kind of origin story of the Hollywood legend. Mr. Burton follows the actor's upbringing in a Welsh mining town, and focuses on his relationship with his teacher—the titular Mr. Burton—whose attention and dedication goes on to shape his success. The timeline jumps quite significantly toward the end, which can feel a little disorientating, but the pace is otherwise steady, and characters are developed enough to fully invest in. Jones is great as the devoted but frustrated teacher, and Lawtey does an impressive job of capturing the actor's charisma and drive as he moves from directionless youth to promising young actor. The movie ends as he's experiencing early success on the English stage, but it doesn't shy away from hinting at the excess later to come.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the central relationship is portrayed in Mr. Burton. What brought Mr. Burton and Richard together? What did they see in each other that they needed? Can you think of other movies that center mentor-mentee relationships? How do they compare? What do you think makes a good mentor?
Which characters showed curiosity, empathy, and perseverance? What impact do these character strengths have? Can you think of a time when you've shown these traits in your own life?
How were smoking and drinking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter? Do you think people drink and smoke less today than they did when this movie is set?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 20, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : March 20, 2026
- Cast : Toby Jones , Lesley Manville , Harry Lawtey
- Director : Marc Evans
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 25, 2026
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