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Starter for 10

Play trailer Poster for Starter for 10 PG-13 2007 1h 36m Romance Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 80 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Brian Jackson (James McAvoy), a working-class youth from Essex, gets a chance to prove himself when he is accepted to respected Bristol University. As Brian navigates his way through his first year there, he finds romance with two pretty students (Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall) and tries out for a popular TV program called "University Challenge."
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Starter for 10

Starter for 10

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Critics Consensus

Starter For 10 is a spirited coming-of-age tale that remains charming and witty even as it veers into darker teritory. The unique setting of a quiz show makes the film wittier than your average romantic comedy.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Dec 4, 2007
Conventional, slight, but charming. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Sep 22, 2007
3/5
McAvoy carries the picture confidently enough as a leading man, and there is a nice performance from Benedict Cumberbatch. Go to Full Review David Fear Time Out Sep 22, 2007
2/6
There's nothing here we haven't seen done better before. Go to Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter May 21, 2020
McAvoy is piling up an impressive resume of leading-guy roles for an actor who doesn't at first glance possess leading-guy looks. Go to Full Review Troy Patterson Spin Oct 25, 2019
3.5/4
Adhering to every convention of the coming-of-age film in a sneakily alluring way and flirting with cliche without slobbering all over it, this sweet little date-night flick is built to charm everyone's inner 18-year-old. Go to Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List Nov 3, 2018
3/5
While the love story is predictable, the amusing quiz show storyline and excellent post-new wave soundtrack almost make up for it. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Thyaagu C @Thyaagu Jul 14, 2026 A PERFECT LAZY TIME COMPANION. Easy smiles, gentle romance, and comforting vibes. Sometimes that's exactly what you need for a good leisure watch! See more Conrad C @sosopoptart Jan 19, 2026 McAvoy is charming but slightly spineless in this film that is probably best categorized as coming-of-age. There's not a lot of good to say about the plot for this one, and not enough in the other facets of the movie to make up for it. See more alan g @agenser Jan 10, 2026 Michael Fox did the charming young man better. Alice Eve is beautiful as usual. See more Farah R. @Farah Jun 25, 2025 McAvoy plays a charming young man in this entertaining coming-of-age romantic comedy that explores deeper themes of love and friendship. See more Ralph R @RT14837316 Nov 22, 2024 Starter for 10 is a fun and entertaining movie, and it’s even better because it stars three of my favorite actors—James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Alice Eve. James is great as Brian Jackson, a college student trying to fit in at university and make it onto the "University Challenge" quiz team. He really nails the mix of awkwardness and ambition, making his character super relatable. Benedict is hilarious as the overly serious team captain, and Alice Eve adds a lot of charm as Brian’s crush. The cast really makes this movie shine, even if the story itself is pretty predictable. It’s your classic coming-of-age tale, but it’s done in such a fun way with a lot of humor and heart. The soundtrack and 1980s vibe give it a nostalgic feel, and while it’s not perfect, it’s just one of those movies that’s really enjoyable to watch. If you love these actors like I do, it’s definitely worth checking out. See more Jack S @RT58840043 Sep 14, 2024 A surprise in the finale plus an exceptional cast distinguish Starter For 10 from some otherwise pretty familiar rom-com material. McAvoy for example, is sensational as the callow student. Plus, Cumberbatch is a standout as a seriously uptight quiz team captain. See more Read all reviews
Starter for 10

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Cast & Crew

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Tom Vaughan

Director

James McAvoy

Brian Jackson

Alice Eve

Alice Harbinson

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Epstein

Simon Woods

Josh

Catherine Tate

Julie Jackson

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Starter for 10

Starter for 10 (2006) Starter for 10 (2006) A scene from the film "Starter for Ten." A scene from the film "Starter for Ten." A scene from the film "Starter for Ten." A scene from the film "Starter for Ten." A scene from the film "Starter for Ten." A scene from the film "Starter for Ten." On the set of the film "Starter for Ten." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Brian Jackson (James McAvoy), a working-class youth from Essex, gets a chance to prove himself when he is accepted to respected Bristol University. As Brian navigates his way through his first year there, he finds romance with two pretty students (Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall) and tries out for a popular TV program called "University Challenge."
Director
Tom Vaughan
Producer
Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Pippa Harris
Screenwriter
David Nicholls
Distributor
Picturehouse
Production Co
Scamp Film and Theatre Ltd., Playtone Productions, Neal Street Productions, HBO Films
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Scene of Drug Use|Language)
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$210.1K
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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