Saving Mr. Banks

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Saving Mr. Banks

PG-13,

2013,

2h 5m,

Drama/

Comedy

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79%

262 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

262 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Spurred on by a promise he made to his daughters, Walt Disney embarks on what would become a 20-year quest to obtain the movie rights to "Mary Poppins." The author, P.L. Travers, proves to be an uncompromising curmudgeon who has no intention of letting her beloved characters become mangled in the Hollywood machine. However, when the books stop selling and she finds herself in need of money, Travers reluctantly agrees to consider Disney's proposition.

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Critics Consensus

Aggressively likable and sentimental to a fault, Saving Mr. Banks pays tribute to the Disney legacy with excellent performances and sweet, high-spirited charm.

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Laura Mandanas

Autostraddle

Jun 14, 2021

The movie is charming and Emma Thompson, per usual, makes for an utterly endearing misanthrope. However, I have to question the decision to gloss over Travers' queer identity.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Sep 5, 2018

It is not a taxing film. You always know where it's going and, with its rather melodramatic flashbacks, there is no ambiguity as to where it is coming from, but neither matters as much as they should as there is just so much joy to be had otherwise.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 6, 2017

B-

... it follows the Disney modus operandi of ultimately exalting even the most unlikable characters in order to satisfy their traditional family audiences.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

C+

Novak, Jason Schwartzman, and Bradley Whitford are a fine trio of slick-job comic relief and their many colored reactions to Travers' totalitarian workmanship are amongst the best moments of the film.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28, 2025

4/5

"Saving Mr. Banks" is likely very much the Disney side of the story, but the film puts great effort forward to make the journey of P. L. Travers the emotional center of the story, just as it should.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 19, 2024

A-

Saving Mr. Banks is a good movie that most audiences will enjoy, despite a few flaws. I'm not 100% convinced this is a movie for children, even though it's a Disney film about a Disney film.

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Finn R

Mar 19, 2019

A beautiful story artfully told. What happens when an strong-willed woman meets a determined man? That's the story of Mrs. Travis, author of Mary Poppins, and Walt Disney who promised his daughters that he would bring Mary Poppins to the movie screen.

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Theodore L

Mar 16, 2019

A very heartfelt story, that offers insight to the journey it took to produce Mary Poppins. Amazing character development as we see the very stubborn and terse Travers eventually open up. Walt Disney portrayed amazingly by Tom Hanks can do no wrong in this movie. A very effective piece of Disney propaganda.

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Anakin W

Mar 11, 2019

Very entertaining movie. The acting was exceptional and it had much more of an in-depth plot than I was expecting. Highly recommend!

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Draco R

Mar 9, 2019

"Una increÃble y emocional historia que todo el mundo debe ver" 10/10

Poe L

Mar 8, 2019

So much different than what I expected! Puts the pieces together about the happy endings. Near the end of the movie, when Walt chats with Mrs Travers and explains why it was so important for her to agree to share the rights of Mary Poppins,really hit a nerve. ð'

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Mar 2, 2019

10 mins in and i absolutely cannot stand emma thompsons character. Love Tom Hanks and Ms Thompson but clearly this is not the movie for me. Her character is so gruff, bratty and unasumingly mean i dont want to watch

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John Lee Hancock

Director

Emma Thompson

P.L. Travers

Tom Hanks

Walt Disney

Paul Giamatti

Ralph

Jason Schwartzman

Richard Sherman

Colin Farrell

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Synopsis

Spurred on by a promise he made to his daughters, Walt Disney embarks on what would become a 20-year quest to obtain the movie rights to "Mary Poppins." The author, P.L. Travers, proves to be an uncompromising curmudgeon who has no intention of letting her beloved characters become mangled in the Hollywood machine. However, when the books stop selling and she finds herself in need of money, Travers reluctantly agrees to consider Disney's proposition.

Director: John Lee Hancock
Producer: Alison Owen, Ian Collie, Philip Steuer
Screenwriter: Kelly Marcel, Sue Smith
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: Easy Tiger Productions, Ruby Films, Essential Media and Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Unsettling Images)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $83.3M
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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