Paddington 2

Heyday Films

Company type	Private
Industry	Film production
Founded	April 2015
Founder	David Heyman
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Key people	David Heyman (producer)
Products	Films (including Paddington 2)

Paddington 2 is a 2017 live-action/animated comedy film directed by Paul King and co-written by King alongside Simon Farnaby. It draws inspiration from the Paddington Bear series created by Michael Bond, to whom the movie is dedicated. This British-French-Luxembourgish collaboration features Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington, with live-action performances by Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Hugh Grant. The storyline follows Paddington as he is wrongfully accused of theft, leading him and his family to work together to prove his innocence.

The project entered development in April 2015, with filming taking place from October 2016 through June 2017. The film premiered in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2017 and later in France on 6 December 2017. It achieved global box office earnings of $283.7 million against a production budget of $40 million. Critics widely praised the film, which appeared on numerous year-end and decade-best compilations. At the 71st British Academy Film Awards, it received three nominations: Outstanding British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Grant. The series continued with the release of Paddington in Peru in 2024.

Plot

Now living with the Brown family at Windsor Gardens, Paddington Brown takes on various odd jobs such as window cleaning to raise money for a special gift: a pop-up book of London for Aunt Lucy’s centennial birthday. One evening, he witnesses a break-in at Samuel Gruber’s antique shop, where the prized book is stolen. While chasing the culprit, Paddington becomes falsely implicated and is arrested; the real criminal, actor Phoenix Buchanan, escapes with the item. Due to lack of proof confirming Buchanan's existence, Paddington is convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison.

In prison, Knuckles McGinty—the chef—employs Paddington after sampling his famous marmalade sandwiches. Meanwhile, the Browns attempt to clear Paddington’s name by distributing sketches of the suspect throughout London. Buchanan uses hints found within the stolen book to uncover a concealed fortune. Growing suspicious, Mary and Henry Brown investigate Buchanan’s residence and discover disguises including one worn during the robbery; however, law enforcement dismisses their findings. Feeling abandoned, Paddington starts doubting whether the Browns remember him.

At midnight, Paddington escapes from prison alongside inmates Knuckles, Phibs, and Spoon. Although they initially promise assistance in proving his innocence, Knuckles and his companions reveal intentions to flee abroad; Paddington distances himself from them. Using a public telephone, he contacts the Browns who confirm Buchanan’s guilt. They arrange to meet at Paddington station, where a carnival train carrying the hidden treasure is scheduled to depart.

Paddington boards the train before departure; the Browns pursue aboard an LNER Peppercorn Class A1. Buchanan traps Paddington in the train’s brake van and disconnects the coupling, but Henry manages to overpower him. The brake van rolls into a river with Paddington trapped inside; Knuckles, Phibs, and Spoon arrive just in time to assist Mary in rescuing him.

After falling into a coma, Paddington awakens on Aunt Lucy’s birthday at home. He discovers he has been cleared of all charges, Buchanan has been apprehended, and the book is secured as evidence. The Browns and neighbors have brought Aunt Lucy all the way from Peru for a visit to London.

Cast

• Hugh Bonneville portrays Henry Brown, the adoptive father of Paddington
• Sally Hawkins appears as Mary Brown, Paddington’s adoptive mother (this marks her final appearance before the role was recast)
• Brendan Gleeson takes on the role of Knuckles McGinty, the prison chef
• Julie Walters plays Mrs Bird, the housekeeper for the Brown family
• Jim Broadbent features as Samuel Gruber, proprietor of an antique shop
• Peter Capaldi acts as Reginald Curry, a neighbour to the Browns
• Madeleine Harris is Judy Brown, Paddington’s adoptive sister
• Samuel Joslin portrays Jonathan "J-Dog" Brown, Paddington’s adoptive brother
• Dame Eileen Atkins plays Madame Kozlova, who owns a fairground
• Imelda Staunton provides the voice for Lucy, Paddington’s aunt
• Michael Gambon voices Pastuzo, Lucy’s deceased husband
• Tom Conti appears as Gerald Biggleswade, a judge
• Joanna Lumley plays Felicity Fanshaw
• Noah Taylor is Miguel Phibs, an inmate
• Aaron Neil portrays Raul "Spoon" Spooner, another prisoner
• Jessica Hynes features as Miss Kitts, a newspaper vendor
• Ben Miller acts as Colonel Lancaster
• Sanjeev Bhaskar plays Dr Jafri, a neighbour next door
• Robbie Gee appears as Mr Barnes, a garbage collector
• Hugh Grant takes on the role of Phoenix Buchanan, a master of disguise and thief
• Ben Whishaw provides the voice for Paddington Brown

Production

In April 2015, producer David Heyman announced that a follow-up to Paddington (2014) was underway. Director Paul King returned to both direct and co-write alongside Simon Farnaby. The British-French production was managed by Heyman's company, Heyday Films, in collaboration with StudioCanal. By October 2016, it was confirmed that most of the original cast—including Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Ben Whishaw, and Imelda Staunton—would reprise their roles. New additions to the cast included Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson. Grant described his character as highly vain and narcissistic.

Principal photography commenced on 18 October 2016. Interior scenes were primarily shot at both Pinewood Studios and Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. To amplify the film’s visual grandeur, iconic London locations such as Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral were incorporated. The visual effects team from Framestore contributed notably with sequences like the pop-up book animation. Filming also took place at various sites including London's scenic Little Venice, Shepton Mallet Prison, and Knebworth Park. The prison dance sequence was choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood. Filming concluded on 27 June 2017; coincidentally, this date marked the passing of Michael Bond, Paddington’s creator, to whom the film was dedicated.

Soundtrack

The score for the film was composed by Dario Marianelli. Additional tracks not featured on the official soundtrack include Stephen Sondheim's "Rain on the Roof," which is performed by Hugh Grant during the closing credits.

Release

Paddington 2 had its world premiere in London on 5 November 2017. It was then released theatrically across the United Kingdom on 10 November. The film subsequently opened in France on 6 December, Germany on 7 December, followed by Australia and New Zealand on 21 December. In the United States, it debuted on 12 January 2018.

Distribution

StudioCanal managed the release of Paddington 2 across the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

Originally, The Weinstein Company was designated to distribute the film in the United States through TWC-Dimension, mirroring the arrangement for the first installment. Nevertheless, after the 2017 allegations of sexual misconduct against founder Harvey Weinstein, Heyday Films and StudioCanal severed ties with the company to prevent any association of the children's movie with the controversy.

In November 2017, Warner Bros. Pictures, which had previously distributed Heyday's Harry Potter franchise and handled Paddington in Spain, acquired the North American distribution rights for $32 million (£24 million). Warner Bros. also obtained first refusal rights for upcoming Paddington films in North America; however, this agreement was later revoked when Sony Pictures was announced as the distributor for the third film in that market.

Marketing

Starting 9 October 2017, five pop-up exhibits inspired by Paddington’s pop-up book featured in the movie were installed at various London locations: Peter's Hill, Tower Bridge, Paddington Station, Peninsula Square, and Bankside. The initiative was supported by Visit London and inaugurated with appearances by Hugh Bonneville and Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

On 16 October 2017, a charity event for Paddington 2 took place at Paddington Station, attended by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, along with members of the cast and crew. Additionally, a mobile game titled Paddington Run based on the film was launched on 25 October 2017 for devices running on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone platforms.

It was revealed on 26 October 2017 that Paddington would be featured in the 2017 Marks & Spencer Christmas campaign. A teaser trailer debuted on 4 November, followed by the full advertisement airing on 7 November during the Pride of Britain Awards 2017. Ben Whishaw reprised his role as Paddington’s voice, accompanied by appearances from Mark Benton and Angela Rippon.

Home media

The digital release of Paddington 2 occurred in March 2018. In the UK market, it became available on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray formats starting 12 March 2018. In the United States, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released the film on Blu-ray and DVD on 24 April 2018.

Box office

Worldwide earnings for Paddington 2 reached $283.7 million, comprising $40.9 million from the United States and Canada and $242.8 million internationally—including $59.4 million from the UK alone.

During its UK opening weekend, the film generated $10.9 million (£8.3 million), outperforming its predecessor’s $8 million (£6 million) debut and establishing a new record as StudioCanal's most successful UK opening weekend. The following weekend saw a decrease of approximately 20%, with box office receipts totaling $8.8 million (£6.6 million).

In North America, Paddington 2 premiered alongside titles such as The Commuter, Proud Mary, and a broad release of The Post, with expectations ranging between $15–17 million across 3,702 theaters. It earned $2.4 million on opening day and amassed $11 million over its initial weekend ($15 million over the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday), ranking seventh at the box office—a decline close to 50% compared to the original film’s launch. The second weekend brought in $8 million—a drop of about 27%—and placed sixth in box office standings.

Critical reception

Paddington 2 enjoys a remarkable 99% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 253 critiques and an average score of 8.7 out of 10. The site's consensus praises the film for respecting its protagonist's cherished heritage, delivering a heartwarming sequel that combines charming visuals with a narrative that skillfully balances family-friendly warmth and adventure suitable for all ages. On 18 January 2018, it set a new record as the most-reviewed film to maintain a perfect 100% rating, overtaking Toy Story 2. Although Lady Bird briefly claimed this record, it subsequently received a negative critique. In 2021, when Citizen Kane's rating dropped to 99%, some considered Paddington 2 the highest-rated film; however, in May of the same year, Paddington 2 also declined to 99% after receiving a negative review.

On Metacritic, the movie holds a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 38 critics, signifying "universal acclaim." The French platform AlloCiné awarded it a score of 4.0 out of 5 based on evaluations from 22 critics. Audience surveys by CinemaScore assigned the film an "A" grade, mirroring the rating achieved by its predecessor.

Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter lauded its uplifting qualities, while Guy Lodge from Variety emphasized its fusion of timeless charm with modern multicultural London elements, noting subtle anti-Brexit undertones. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian praised the film’s effortless appeal to both younger viewers and adults alike through its consistent tone and humor. In 2019, The Guardian ranked Paddington 2 as the 69th greatest film of the 21st century.

Awards and nominations

Award	Ceremony date	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome
Heartland Film Festival	31 December 2017	Truly Moving Picture Award	Paul King	Template:Won
London Film Critics' Circle Awards	28 January 2018	Best British or Irish Film	Paddington 2	Template:Nom
		Best Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant	Template:Won
		Best British or Irish Actress	Sally Hawkins (also for The Shape of Water and Maudie)	Template:Won
		Best Breakthrough British or Irish Filmmaker	Simon Farnaby	Template:Nom
		Technical Achievement	Pablo Grillo	Template:Nom
Evening Standard British Film Awards	8 February 2018	Everyman Award for Best Film	Paddington 2	Template:Nominated
		Peter Sellers Award for Comedy		Template:Won
		Technical Achievement	Gary Williamson	Template:Won
British Academy Film Awards	18 February 2018	Best British Film	Paul King, David Heyman and Simon Farnaby	Template:Nominated
		Best Actor in a Supporting Role	Hugh Grant	Template:Nominated
		Best Adapted Screenplay	Simon Farnaby and Paul King	Template:Nominated
International Film Music Critics Association	22 February 2018	Best Original Score for a Comedy Film	Dario Marianelli	Template:Nominated
Empire Awards	18 March 2018	Best British Film	Paddington 2	Template:Nominated
Saturn Awards	27 June 2018	Best Fantasy Film	Template:Nominated
Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Mid-Season Awards	3 July 2018	Best Picture	David Heyman	Template:Draw
		Best Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant	Template:Nominated
		Best Adapted Screenplay	Paul King and Simon Farnaby	Template:Won

Los Angeles Film Critics Association San Diego Film Critics Society Best Costume Design Best Comedic Performance St. Louis Film Critics AssociationSeattle Film Critics Society Villain of the year Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Best Art Direction/Production Design Austin Film Critics Association Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Alliance of Women Film Journalists"Golden Tomato Awards" Best Movie 2018: UK Best Kids and Family Movie Annie AwardsMovieguide Awards Faith & Freedom Award for Movies

11 November 2018	The Family Movie of 2018	Paddington 2	Template:Shortlisted
25 November 2018	British Academy Children's Award for Feature Film	Paul King, Simon Farnaby and David Heyman	Template:Won
3 December 2018	Best Voice Performance	Ben Whishaw	Template:Nominated
7 December 2018	Best Art Direction/Production Design	Paddington 2	Template:Nominated
	9 December 2018		Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant
rowspan=3| 10 December 2018	Best Visual Effects	rowspan=2| Paddington 2
Hugh Grant
16 December 2018	Best Comedy	Paddington 2
rowspan=2| 17 December 2018	Best Picture
Hugh Grant
rowspan=2| 17 December 2018	Best Picture	Paddington 2
Ben Whishaw
rowspan=2| 21 December 2018	Best Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant
Paddington 2
rowspan=2| 7 January 2019	Best Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant	-	Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance Ben Whishaw
9 January 2019	Best Visual Effects or Animated Performance	Ben Whishaw
10 January 2019	Best Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant
11 January 2019	Best-Reviewed Wide Release	Paddington 2
"2 February 2019"	Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production	Pablo Grillo, Laurent Laban, Kyle Dunlevy, Stuart Ellis and Liam Russell
8 February 2019	Best Movie for Families	Paddington 2
	} In popular culture In the film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent released in 2022, characters Javi (Pedro Pascal) and Nick Cage (Nicolas Cage, portraying a fictionalized version of himself) share their favorite films, with Javi citing Paddington 2 as his third top choice. Director Tom Gormican described it as "a perfect movie," while Cage called it "quite wonderful." Future developments Animated television series On October 9, 2017, StudioCanal revealed plans to produce an animated series titled The Adventures of Paddington, which debuted worldwide on Nickelodeon in 2020. Ben Whishaw returned to voice the titular character. Upcoming sequel Main article: Paddington in Peru In June of 2016, Didier Lupfer, CEO of StudioCanal, confirmed their dedication to producing a third installment in the Paddington franchise. By November the following year, discussions were underway regarding filming locations and story concepts; however, the script had yet to be finalized. In November 2018, David Heyman disclosed that Paul King would not direct due to commitments with Wonka, though he would continue contributing creatively. Formal development on Paddington 3 commenced in February of 2021. StudioCanal announced in July of that year that filming was scheduled to begin in early 2022. The story was co-written by Paul King, Simon Farnaby, and Mark Burton; with screenplay credits going to Burton alongside Jon Foster and James Lamont. By June 2022, the title was unveiled as Paddington in Peru, directed by Dougal Wilson, with principal photography planned for the following year. Filming officially started on July 24, 2023. At the Cannes Film Festival in May of that year, Sony Pictures secured North American distribution rights. In June, Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas were announced as new cast members, with Emily Mortimer replacing Sally Hawkins in the role of Mrs Brown. See also London in film List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes List of films considered the best External links