Parody films are staging a glorious comeback, and Fackham Hall might just be leading the charge! The first trailer for this uproarious period comedy dropped on October 28, 2025, promising what one excited fan called “Downton Abbey meets Airplane! meets Monty Python”—a deliciously ridiculous combination that’s already going viral. Directed by Jim O’Hanlon and co-written by comedian Jimmy Carr in his screenwriting debut, this December release blends aristocratic elegance with slapstick absurdity, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Harry Potter’s Tom Felton and Damian Lewis. If you’ve been missing quality spoof movies, prepare for “tea to be spilled and crumpets to be crumpeted.”
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Fackham Hall At-A-Glance
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | December 5, 2025 (Limited US Theatrical) |
| Director | Jim O’Hanlon (Your Christmas Or Mine?, Catastrophe) |
| Writers | Jimmy Carr, Patrick Carr, Andrew & Steve Dawson |
| Runtime | 1 hour 37 minutes |
| Genre | Period Comedy Parody |
| Distributor | Bleecker Street (US), No UK date yet |
The Plot: Pickpockets, Passion & Murder
When lovable pickpocket Eric Noone moves into the aristocratic English manor house of Fackham Hall, he climbs the household ladder while pursuing a forbidden romance with Rose Davenport. But just when everything seems perfect, Eric gets framed for murder while rivalries spill over in the Davenport family, led by the bumbling Lord and Lady Davenport, as they weather the epic failure of their eldest daughter’s wedding to her caddish cousin.
Set in 1931, the film follows Eric (Ben Radcliffe) as he quickly rises through the ranks, blossoming a forbidden romance with lady-of-the-house Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), but when an unexpected murder occurs, Eric gets framed—leaving Rose and her family’s future perilously uncertain.
Star-Studded Ensemble Brings Comedy Pedigree
Ben Radcliffe takes the lead as the charming rogue Eric Noone, while Thomasin McKenzie plays his love interest Rose Davenport. Damian Lewis and Katherine Waterston portray the bumbling heads of the Davenport family, bringing theatrical gravitas to characters designed for maximum comic effect.
Tom Felton appears as Archibald, Eric’s romantic rival for Rose’s affections. The Draco Malfoy actor brings his British period drama experience to this irreverent parody, while Jimmy Carr himself plays the moronic bishop of the local church. The ensemble also features Emma Laird, Tom Goodman-Hill, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Sue Johnston—all British acting veterans who understand both period dramas and comedy timing.
Why This Parody Feels Different
Director Jim O’Hanlon explained his approach: “I don’t think parody works unless the people making it have at least some fondness for the genre they’re parodying. So I like to think of Fackham Hall as a very affectionate parody of British period dramas and murder mysteries”.
Jimmy Carr joked about the project: “The British film industry does two things very well—period drama and comedy. Now we didn’t have time to write two movies, so we’ve had to mash the genres together”. This affectionate approach distinguishes Fackham Hall from mean-spirited spoofs, promising clever satire rather than cheap mockery.
Spoof Cinema’s Renaissance Moment
The film promises comedy filled with posh chaos, murder, romance, and more double entendres than you can count. Following the summer 2025 success of The Naked Gun reboot, audiences clearly still crave quality parody films that balance sophisticated wit with unabashed silliness.
For comedy enthusiasts exploring different humor traditions, our curated list of best Bollywood comedy movies showcases how different cultures approach laughter. British period dramas have their own rich tradition—check our Top Boy cast guide for another acclaimed British series that takes itself much more seriously than Fackham Hall ever will.
The UK Release Mystery
Despite being filmed in Yorkshire in November 2024 with additional filming at Knowsley Hall in Liverpool, there’s currently no confirmed UK release date. Bleecker Street inked a December 5, 2025 date for its US debut, with Legion M supporting the release, but British audiences who inspired the source material eagerly await news about their domestic premiere.
The timing couldn’t be better—Downton Abbey officially concluded with “The Grand Finale” in September, leaving fans nostalgic for manor house drama. Fackham Hall offers the perfect comedic antidote, celebrating the genre while gleefully dismantling its conventions.
What Critics Are Saying
Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The red band version of the trailer played in US theaters ahead of screenings of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, generating immediate buzz among comedy-hungry audiences. Both green band and restricted trailers showcase the film’s dual appeal—accessible broad comedy complemented by adult humor for mature viewers.
The tagline alone—”Tea will be spilled. Crumpets will be crumpeted”—perfectly captures the film’s commitment to absurdist wordplay alongside physical comedy. With the film coming out as a limited theatrical release showing only in select movie theaters across major markets, checking Fandango and Atom Tickets for local availability is essential.
For official updates and behind-the-scenes content, visit Bleecker Street’s distribution page or check IMDb’s Fackham Hall page for comprehensive cast and crew information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will Fackham Hall require detailed Downton Abbey knowledge to enjoy?
Not at all! While familiarity with British period dramas enhances specific references, the humor stands independently through broad comedy techniques—physical gags, wordplay, absurd situations, and character-driven comedy. The filmmakers intentionally crafted it as an affectionate parody rather than inside-baseball mockery, making it accessible to general comedy fans who appreciate films like Airplane! and The Naked Gun. The universal themes of class dynamics, forbidden romance, and murder mystery tropes work regardless of whether you’ve watched a single Downton Abbey episode.
Q: Why is there a US release date but no UK announcement yet?
This puzzling situation likely involves distribution rights negotiations. Bleecker Street secured US theatrical distribution, but UK distributors may still be finalizing deals or strategizing release timing. Given the film was shot entirely in Yorkshire and Liverpool with predominantly British cast and crew, a UK release is virtually certain—it’s just a matter of when and through which distributor. British audiences should monitor entertainment news for announcements, as the film targeting their own period drama traditions makes domestic release inevitable and commercially logical.
