{"id":954734,"date":"2026-05-12T11:55:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/954734\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:55:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:55:20","slug":"maggie-smiths-terrific-final-movie-with-world-class-cast-is-now-streaming-on-the-bbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/954734\/","title":{"rendered":"Maggie Smith’s “terrific” final movie with “world-class” cast is now streaming on the BBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maggie Smith’s final film<\/a>, which was hailed as “sincere” and “terrific”<\/a>, is streaming now on BBC iPlayer. Released in 2023, The Miracle Club follows three working-class women from Dublin \u2013 Lily (Smith), Eileen (Kathy Bates) and Dolly (Agnes O’Casey) \u2013 who win a pilgrimage to Lourdes.<\/p>\n

They are joined on the journey by Chrissie (Laura Linney), the estranged daughter of their recently deceased friend Maureen, who returns from the US.<\/p>\n

Directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan, the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023 before its theatrical run in the UK and Ireland in October of the same year.<\/p>\n

\"kathy<\/p>\n

Lionsgate<\/p>\n

Related: <\/strong>Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Miracle Club marked the final acting role of Smith before her death in September 2024<\/a> at the age of 89. <\/p>\n

Speaking about working with Smith on the film, O’Sullivan told the Guardian<\/a>: “She\u2019s so un-Downton. Although [her] character does have a somewhat prickly and demanding nature\u2026 Eventually we see a deeply vulnerable, humble and compassionate woman.”<\/p>\n

Producer Chris Curling added: “She has such an actor\u2019s brain. The questions she asks, the comments she makes\u2026 about the screenplay as a whole and individual scenes got to the heart of the story and the relationship between her and the other two characters. Every day on the set with her was a revelation.”<\/p>\n

Who’s in The Miracle Club?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Maggie Smith as Lily Fox
\u2022 Laura Linney as Chrissie Ahearn
\u2022 Kathy Bates as Eileen Dunne
\u2022 Agnes O’Casey as Dolly Hennessy
\u2022 Stephen Rea as Frank Dunne
\u2022 Mark O’Halloran as Father Dermot Byrne
\u2022 Mark McKenna as George Hennessy
\u2022 Niall Buggy as Tommy Fox
\u2022 Hazel Doupe as Cathy Dunne <\/p>\n

\"maggie<\/p>\n

Lionsgate<\/p>\n

What did the critics say about The Miracle Club?<\/p>\n

The Miracle Club holds a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, with the critics’ consensus reading: “Thanks to a talented ensemble cast whose performances enhance a somewhat predictable story, The Miracle Club’s charms outnumber its clich\u00e9s.”<\/p>\n

In its review, The Australian<\/a> said: “The film succeeds mainly because of a flawless ensemble, among whom viewers can put their faith in the eternally dependable Smith stealing the movie.”<\/p>\n

Observer<\/a> added: “The Miracle Club is a sincere and meritorious effort, enhanced by John Conroy\u2019s beatific cinematography that vividly captures the quiet stoicism of rural Ireland, but it leaves you empty, undernourished, and wanting more.”<\/p>\n

The Chicago Sun-Times<\/a> said the film had a “world-class” cast, while Variety<\/a> also hailed the “terrific” actors involved.<\/p>\n

However, The Independent<\/a> thought: “While there\u2019s nothing outrightly stereotypical here, The Miracle Club suffers from being both sentimental and superficial. It\u2019s exactly the sort of film you suspect was made to cater to American, rather than Irish tastes.”<\/p>\n

\"laura<\/p>\n

Lionsgate<\/p>\n

Where can I watch The Miracle Club?<\/p>\n

For those keen to see which side of the fence they’ll fall when it comes to The Miracle Club, it is available to stream for free right now on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n

You can also rent The Miracle Club for \u00a33.49 from the Sky Store<\/a> and Rakuten TV, and for \u00a34.99 from AppleTV<\/a> and Prime Video<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Miracle Club can be watched an unlimited number of times if bought from Prime Video, AppleTV, the Sky Store, and Rakuten TV, which all price the film at \u00a37.99. <\/p>\n

Other Maggie Smith TV shows you can stream now \"dame<\/p>\n

@downtonabbey_official\/\/Instagram<\/p>\n

If The Miracle Club has you hankering to watch more TV shows with lead icon Maggie Smith, you’re in luck, with several available to stream right now.<\/p>\n

All six seasons of period drama Downton Abbey can also be streamed for free on ITVX, in which Smith starred as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.<\/p>\n

In 1999, Smith starred as Betsey Trotwood in the BBC mini-series adaptation of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, a role that garnered her several rave reviews.<\/p>\n

Like The Miracle Club, David Copperfield is streaming on BBC iPlayer free of charge.<\/p>\n

The Miracle Club is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The new edition of <\/strong>Living Legends<\/strong>, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Sir David Attenborough, is here! <\/strong>Buy <\/strong>Sir David Attenborough<\/strong> in newsagents or online<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Lettermark\"<\/p>\n

Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy
\nRebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more.
\nHer particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club.
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