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The Hundred-Foot Journey
Film
FilmPG-132015
The Lady in the Van
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
The true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. From TMDB
42 reactions from 3 sources (Bluesky, TMDB reviews, Mastodon) · newest Oct 6, 2026 · last updated Oct 15, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
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Sentiment labels for these sources are still being hand-checked; no score yet.
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluesky * | 14 | 1 | 24 |
| TMDB reviews * | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
What people are saying
A written summary appears once the title has a score.
At a glance
The Lady in the Van is a 2015 comedy drama film, directed by Nicholas Hytner, starring Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour.
- 38 people have posted about this film on Bluesky, TMDB reviews, Mastodon
- posts span May 4, 2016 to Oct 6, 2026
Assembled from TMDB, Wikidata and Steam fields and our own counts, nothing written by a model. Method
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
42 public posts have mentioned The Lady in the Van so far, but it needs 10 opinionated reactions from checked sources before it gets a score. Seen it? Post your take.
The Experts
75%
avg of 3 sources
The People
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audience score
Reactions
42 of 42 · most liked firstTonight’s schedule does not include the film THE LADY IN THE VAN (2015), which I’ve never seen. But reading the plot online got me a bit teary-eyed. Seek it out; I will. #TCMParty #NowhereToGo ^JW
neutral · AI labelView post →Maggie Smith was so much more than her roles in Harry Potter and Downtown Abby. Recommend watching The Lady in the Van youtu.be/OA8tMziteZM?..., Sublime. #rip #MaggieSmith
neutral · AI labelView post →Hey folks! For Goon Pod Film Club in November I want to cover Waking Ned, The Lady In The Van, Nuns On The Run or Bullshot! If anyone is a particular fan of any of these films and would like to be a guest on the show please shout out! Patreon.com/GoonPod
neutral · AI labelView post →This must be the fifth time I've watched The Lady In The Van, but I gently enjoy it every time. An soothing bath of a film.
positive · AI labelView post →I'd never seen THE LADY IN THE VAN. I'd read it. I prefer it in the theatre but the film is good. As with most Bennett, a bit too good; most people see a Sunday story about an old lady & a writer. Again, as with a lot of AB, it's pretty clearly about how writers are duplicitous & exploitaitive.
neutral · AI labelView post →Just bawled my eyes out watching The Lady In The Van - not for the first time. Hilarious, tragic, thoughtful & poignant; just adore it, probably my favourite film ♥️
positive · AI labelView post →I am going to miss Dame Maggie. She never failed to elevate the characters she played on stage and screen. I was lucky enough to see her perform the Lady in the Van - many, many moons ago. She could suck the air out of a room with one cocked eyebrow. www.theguardian.com/film/2024/se...
neutral · AI labelView post →I don’t suppose you’ve seen the Alan Bennet film The Lady in the Van? You’re not really much like her, apart from being in the van, but sometimes your posts make me think of the film. You should try to see it sometime
neutral · AI labelView post →On Christmas Day The Lady in the Van is on BBC2 at the same time as the Downton Abbey movie on ITV. It's the telly equivalent of playing football in No-Man's land.
neutral · AI labelView post →If you want to watch a nice Maggie Smith movie that flew kind of under the radar, I recommend The Lady In The Van. A bit of a different role for her, and just a pleasant way to spend 104 minutes
positive · AI labelView post →Have you seen "The Lady in the Van"? Very cute film. www.youtube.com/watch?v=47T0...
neutral · AI labelView post →Watched The Lady In The Van (2015). Maggie Smith is as always incredible in this very endearing comedy drama based on real events. #film #movies
positive · AI labelView post →Gregory caught a snippet, sound only, of a trailer for, what he took to be :The Lady in the Van', he had read the book, but as yet, had not seen the film. You can imagine his acute consternation in finding Miriam Margolyes luxuriating on a road trip around Scotland. #NewAlanBennetts
neutral · AI labelView post →The Choral is on Netflix. It has the same writer and same director as The Lady in the Van, a film starring Maggie Smith I really love. This one is pretty good. I had hoped to see it in the theater at Christmas, but didn't get the chance. The other two are German and Finnish/German films (on MUBI).
neutral · AI labelView post →saw somewhere my favorite Maggie Smith movie is available. The Lady in the Van.
neutral · AI labelView post →Film-wise: at 8pm, Some Like It Hot on BBC4. At 9pm, Reality on Film4. At 10pm, Atonement on BBC3, Lethal Weapon 4 on ITV4, The Dry on Sky Showcase or Life & Death Of Peter Sellers on BBC4. At 10.40pm, Man On Fire on Film4. At 11.40, The Lady in the Van on BBC1. At 11.55, Citizen Kane on BBC4 #telly
neutral · AI labelView post →9 May 1934 – Alan Bennett, 91, English screenwriter, playwright, novelist. Beyond the Fringe (1963 Tony Award) * A Private Function * Prick Up Your Ears * Talking Heads * The Madness of King George (OscarNom) * The Lady in the Van (play + film) * The History Boys (Tony Award) * Allelujah! (2022)
neutral · AI labelView post →After an entire lifetime of not watching movies I am now finally finding time to watch movies: The Lady in the Van (2015)
neutral · AI labelView post →😢😢😢 Such a marvellous actress - Professor McGonegal in Harry Potter she will always be and the dowager in Downton Abbey, and her role of the lady in The Lady in the Van was outstanding. But my favourite role of Maggie Smith's was in Keeping Mum - such a deadly funny movie.
neutral · AI labelView post →Watching the film The Lady in the Van. Maggie Smith is simply brilliant. No other word for it.
positive · AI labelView post →Film-wise: at 9pm, Time Bandits on ITV4, No Hard Feelings on Film4, Safe House on Legend or The Predator on Great Action. At 10pm, La La Land on BBC3. At 11.05pm, Hope & Glory on BBC2 or Passing on Film4. At 11.40pm, The Lady In The Van on BBC1 #telly
neutral · AI labelView post →Agreed, friend Charles. If you haven’t seen it, and have the appetite for it, look for a movie called The Lady in the Van. It’s a true story of a homeless woman who lived in a van parked in Alan Bennett‘s driveway. Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings star. I think you and your little shit will love it 😊
positive · AI labelView post →not my usual taste but it looks fun. Reminds me of The Lady in the Van, again not my usual fare but a damn good movie.
positive · AI labelView post →...streaming. One I'm looking forward to is a picture called The Choral with Ralph Fiennes and Roger Allam, directed by Nicholas Hyntner (whose last film, The Lady in the Van -- which I absolutely loved -- was 10 years ago). They've been showing trailers, but it's a Sony film, so Netflix. 🙄
neutral · AI labelView post →Unfortunate though true for the most part. Though I did recently see films I enjoyed which spoke about people and being human - Housewife 49 and The Lady in the Van. I also saw a British film that was incredibly kind and charming - Ballet Shoes. A few still make art.
positive · AI labelView post →The acting of Dame Maggie Smith as the Lady, and Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett is spot on. My ★★★★ review of The Lady in the Van on Letterboxd boxd.it/8bTXfd
positive · AI labelView post →He turns up in ‘The Lady In The Van’ and it genuinely spoils the film for me.
negative · AI labelView post →Maggie Smith & Alex Jennings, star in the wonderful (2015) film, The Lady in the Van.... Love it ♥️♥️
positive · AI labelView post →Film-wise: at 9pm, The First Wives Club on Sky 1, Warrior on Legend Xtra or Swede Caroline on Sky Comedy. At 9.05, The Good Die Young on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social. At 10.40, I Am Legend on BBC3 or Anyone But You on BBC1. At 11.20, Let Him Go on Film4. At 12am, The Lady in the Van on BBC1 #telly
neutral · AI labelView post →The (movie) The Lady in the Van HD 720p (Prime)(US) $7.99 (Biography) (iMDB) 6.8 Cast: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent, Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam, Gwen Taylor
neutral · AI labelView post →Obituary Robert Fox Film and theatre producer who made The Audience the starting point for The Crown, and was behind Another Country, The Lady in the Van, Iris and Notes on a Scandal www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ma...
neutral · AI labelView post →Must admit, I'm not really a 'film buff'. Very picky, but I know what I like - gentle humour mainly. Observational stuff, mocking the human condition. I love old Buster Keaton films, but Chaplin doesn't do it for me. More recently, 'The Lady in the Van' was fun.
positive · AI labelView post →While you’re watching developments, you might read The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett. Also made into a film
neutral · AI labelView post →June 10 : Favourite British Actress #Bales2025FilmChallenge #FilmMastodon 📽️ 🎬 Dame #MaggieSmith #TheLadyInTheVan (2015) A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her van that's parked in his driveway. [1/2]
neutral · AI labelView post →Film 023 for '25 ▶️ A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her van that's parked in his driveway: #NowWatching "The Lady in the Van" (2015) #Film #iPlayer
neutral · AI labelView post →We all knew the Lady in the Van, Miss Shepherd, in my part of Camden. I love this film. #BBC2 so sums up the time.
positive · AI labelView post →(I loved "The Lady In the Van". I ought never to have watched/read "The Lady In the Van". I am going to become The Lady In the Van.) Also my father would have loved that movie. He'd have gone out of the room & come back in with a tea cosy on his head & told us all he was Maggie Smith.
positive · AI labelView post →Apparently everyone gave up on the Maggie Smith movie set in the Paris Apartment because Kline’s character was a waste of air. Mom had already watched the Lady in the Van, so we went with funny murdery movies like Kingsman and ThunderForce.
neutral · AI labelView post →Oh, my. I just watched the most lovely film (yes, I know I am late to it), "The Lady in the Van.
positive · AI labelView post →I've got The Lady In The Van on in the background. It might be the perfect film for that purpose, because it's always so easy listening to Alan Bennett. I am a fan. (nothing else in the pic is mine)
neutral · AI labelView post →As the writer himself acknowledges at the end, he's augmented this a little but most of it is already the stuff you couldn't make up! He buys a new home in a well-to-do street in London's Camden only to find the area "blighted" by a curmudgeonly and smelly old woman who lives out of her rusting old van. When it comes time for her to move on, she ends up parked outside his new home and prevails upon him to use his facilities. That's just the start of a friendship that develops over fifteen years…
positive · AI labelView post →> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and still her performances can compete with younger generation actors. The story was narrated from someone's perspective about the role she played, that's why it's little weakened, otherwise if she was in solo, it would have been an Oscar worthy. Incidentally, that someone was an actual writer, so the film ended up portraying her very well, beside himself. Inspired…
positive · AI labelView post →
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