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The Summer Book

Play trailer Poster for The Summer Book 2025,  1h 30m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 80% 61 Reviews Tomatometer - - Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 61 Reviews Popcornmeter
At her family's home on a Finnish island, young Sophia explores the natural world with her father and grandmother (Glenn Close). Adapted from Tove Jansson's beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old.
The Summer Book

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Enlivened by a characteristically graceful performance by Glenn Close, The Summer Book is a poignant exploration of life's beginnings and endings.

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Critics Reviews

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Donald Clarke Irish Times Aug 24, 2026
3/5
Old-fashioned in a good way. Here is a film for a mainstream audience – a senior audience in particular – that gives itself space to stretch out in loose and unhurried fashion. Go to Full Review
Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Aug 10, 2026
The gentle marvel of Charlie McDowell’s quiet adaptation is just how much of the novel’s restraint is present in the movie. Go to Full Review
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh The Times (UK) Aug 7, 2026
4/5
Surrender to its flow, though, and you’ll be rewarded. Like a welcome dip in a clear, cold lake, this cinematic “cool-cation” left me cleansed, revived and blissfully peaceful. Go to Full Review
Victoria Luxford Clash Magazine Aug 18, 2026
6/10
Slight but enjoyable, The Summer Book is an expedition that wins you over with its beauty. Go to Full Review
Tori Brazier Metro Aug 12, 2026
2/5
The Summer Book proves that not every novel should receive the big screen adaptation treatment... Sometimes a mood-heavy book with a light touch is better off being left as just that, rather than a paper-thin interpretation stretched over 95 minutes. Go to Full Review
Jenny McCartney Sunday Times (UK) Aug 11, 2026
3/5
The Summer Book didn’t beguile me as much as it wanted to, or I hoped it would. But sometimes that’s just the way the island moss crumbles. Go to Full Review
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Cast & Crew

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Charlie McDowell

Director

Glenn Close

Grandmother

Anders Danielsen Lie

Father

Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson

Eriksson

Pekka Strang

Mr. Malander

Sophia Heikkilä

Mrs. Malander

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The Summer Book

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Movie Info

Synopsis At her family's home on a Finnish island, young Sophia explores the natural world with her father and grandmother (Glenn Close). Adapted from Tove Jansson's beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old.
Director
Charlie McDowell
Producer
Aleksi Bardy, Kevin Loader, Charlie McDowell, Kath Mattock, Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Helen Vinogradov
Screenwriter
Tove Jansson, Robert Jones
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Helsinki Filmi Oy, Finnish Impact Film Fund, Case Study Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 21, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA)
$53.9K
Runtime
1h 30m
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