Netflix is about to lose one of the most charming films of all time – and it has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Netflix adds a ton of new movies every month, but to make room, the streaming service also tosses aside some old favorites. That’s the nature of the beast, but this month the content turnover is particularly painful, as Netflix has confirmed that 2014’s Paddington will soon be removed from its film library.
Your last day to stream this absolutely enchanting feel-good film on Netflix US will be Tuesday, August 13and whether you’ve seen Paddington before or not, I implore you to make yourself some jam sandwiches, make yourself as comfortable as possible, and enjoy the little brown bear’s extremely heartwarming first cinematic adventure.
Paddington is a film you can watch again and again, and although it may seem a little out of place in the summer (it has a strong holiday vibe and there’s even a snow scene at the very end), it’s a wonderfully entertaining film with a valuable message about family.
That’s why you need to watch Paddington before it’s removed from Netflix.
What is “Paddington” about?
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Based on English author Michael Bond’s iconic character Paddington Bear, Paddington brings the eponymous furry creature from deep Peru to a modern audience. However, director Paul King retains the old-fashioned charm of the original Paddington stories, even if this new adventure involves higher stakes and an evil taxidermist.
Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is the new bear on the block after his home in the Peruvian rainforest is destroyed. He heads to London in search of a new family. Wandering around the train station that gives him his name, he soon meets the Browns, led by the uptight Henry (Huge Bonneville) and his free-spirited wife Mary (Sally Hawkins). The close-knit family agrees to take in the bear while he looks for a new permanent home.
While settling into London, Paddington causes all sorts of chaos and wants to share his love of marmalade with the family, but his kind-hearted nature makes him popular with the whole Brown clan (even Herny likes him!). However, trouble looms, as the aforementioned taxidermist (a wonderfully evil Nicole Kidman) is on the hunt for the rare bear and is up to no good.
“Paddington” reviews – critics love this lovable bear
It is no exaggeration to say that Paddington is one of the most critically acclaimed films of the last decade. It has a rating of 97% on Rotten tomatoes from more than 160 reviews, and when you filter by publications that the review aggregator site considers “top critics,” that score jumps even higher to an impressive 98%.
RT’s critics consensus states: “Paddington brings a beloved children’s character into the 21st century without losing any of his essential charm, delivering a family-friendly adventure that’s as irresistibly cuddly as its star.” That’s a very apt summary of this endearing little flick.
Bilge Ebiri from vulture called the film “absolutely, absolutely delightful” with Roger Moore of Film Nation expressed a very similar opinion and called it “absolutely charming, inimitably British”. Another positive comment came from Time outDave Calhoun said: “This first-ever film adaptation of Peru’s furriest export is a cuddly triumph.”
Robbie Collin from the Daily Telegraph made a very apt comparison when they said that Paddington was “as warm and welcoming as a hot pair of socks on a winter morning”. Legendary British film critic Mark Kermode (who wrote for The Observer) was also impressed: “‘Please look after this bear’ is written on the sign around Paddington’s neck. Don’t worry, they did.”
Stream Paddington on Netflix while you still can
There’s less than a week left to watch ‘Paddington’ before it’s removed from Netflix US, and you need to make the time to watch this charming British film. It really is the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug and will have you smiling like a little kid the entire time. I bet this family comedy could melt even the coldest of hearts.
Now is also the perfect time to learn all about Paddington Bear, as the second installment in the series (following 2017’s equally critically acclaimed Paddington 2), titled Paddington in Peru, is set to be released in the UK in November before coming to the US on January 17, 2025. So make sure you’re caught up on the bear’s first adventures before he sets off on his biggest adventure yet.
In the meantime, if you’re wondering which movies will replace Paddington in the Netflix library, we have a full rundown of all the new Netflix releases in August 2024. Plus, check out our list of new Netflix movies with at least 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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