The Phantom of the Open
The Phantom of the Open

Movie spotlight

The Phantom of the Open

2022
Movie
106 min
English

Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history, becoming a folk hero in the process.

Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes74%
Metacritic63/100
Google Users86%
Director: Craig RobertsGenres: Comedy, Drama, Sport, Biography

Plot Summary

Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unwavering optimist, decides to pursue his lifelong ambition of becoming a professional golfer despite having no prior experience. With boundless enthusiasm and a unique approach to the game, he manages to gain entry into the British Open Golf Championship. His improbable journey challenges conventions and inspires those around him, proving that passion and perseverance can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Critical Reception

The Phantom of the Open was generally well-received by critics, who praised its heartwarming story, comedic tone, and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Mark Rylance. While some found the pacing occasionally slow, the film was largely celebrated for its uplifting and quirky portrayal of an underdog story.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its charmingly eccentric true story and Mark Rylance's endearing performance.

  • Appreciated for its feel-good underdog narrative and gentle humor.

  • Some critics noted the film's familiar trajectory but found its sincerity compelling.

Google audience: Google users largely enjoyed the film, appreciating its lighthearted and inspiring true story about chasing dreams against all odds. The performances, especially Mark Rylance's, were frequently highlighted as a major strength, contributing to an overall positive and enjoyable viewing experience.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a shipyard crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness who, despite having never played a round of golf before, managed to enter the 1976 British Open.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

It is a cliché that there are some performers people would watch reading from a phone book. An exaggeration, perhaps, but the leads in this movie, Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, approach that status for me. I also appreciated and recognize...

Steve Parker

Steve Parker

PHANTOM OF THE OPEN is a hilarious true story of the world's worst golfer, Maurice Flitcroft (played by Mark Rylance). In 1976, Maurice tried to qualify for the British Open and shot the worst round in history. Despite his lack of skill, Ma...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Based on the true story of Maurice Flitcroft who was almost as bad a golfer as me, Mark Rylance is on super form. He works at the Barrow-in-Firness shipyard just as it's about to be wound down. Looking for something new to do, he alights on...

r96sk

r96sk

Much more heartfelt than expected - pleasingly so! <em>'The Phantom of the Open'</em> is a very sweet film, with Mark Rylance being the absolutely perfect lead for it - great performance from him! I also enjoyed the humour, with many lin...