I, Daniel Blake

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2:22

I, Daniel Blake

R

2017

1h 37m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

183 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Daniel Blake (Dave Johns) is a 59-year-old widowed carpenter who must rely on welfare after a recent heart attack leaves him unable to work. Despite his doctor's diagnosis, British authorities deny Blake's benefits and tell him to return to his job. As Daniel navigates his way through an agonizing appeal process, he begins to develop a strong bond with a destitute, single mother (Hayley Squires) who's struggling to take care of her two children.

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Critics Consensus

I, Daniel Blake marks yet another well-told chapter in director Ken Loach's powerfully populist filmography.

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Namrata Joshi

The Hindu

Jul 24, 2018

I, Daniel Blake is about the struggles of an ailing common man against the labyrinthine welfare bureaucracy to get that elusive 'employment and support allowance.'

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Michael Upchurch

Seattle Times

Jun 29, 2017

3/4

Whichever side you come down on, Johns' and Squires' low-key performances are impressive, and the technological/red-tape hurdles their characters face feel stingingly accurate.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

Jun 12, 2017

Politically, of course, it cleaves to the left, yet by temperament it shrinks from progress.

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Cameron Meier

MeierMovies.com

Aug 11, 2025

4.25/5

It’s no surprise Loach made a film that delivers such an emotional yet truthful pummeling. After all, he’s been neglecting to pull his punches since the late 1960s.

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Aug 9, 2024

5/5

Ken Loach proves that one does not need some extraordinary circumstances...to make a powerful...film full of conviction – it is simply enough to show life as it is – a simple daily struggle known to many and only too well.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Sep 4, 2023

4/5

Loach’s plain-speaking film is a touchingly realistic parable.

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Sebastian M

@RT34468573 5 hrs ago

Overly simplistic in a way that feels like the movie is beating you over the head with it's message.

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Juris O

@Juris100 1 day ago

A good film about the fact that you can do whatever you want, but the state and bureaucracy will push you against the wall no matter what.

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Mayumi B

@RT81706262 Oct 4, 2026

Super powerful but sad. It shows the harsh reality of people who struggle in poverty and the system failing them. It really captures the lives that are usually overlooked in stories.

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Keith B.

@Okbullard Jun 24, 2026

Wow this was such an engaging film with many intense and moving moments. The acting and storyline were extraordinary. There was even some humor sprinkled in here and there. Watch out it's definitely a tearjerker. Give it a look you'll probably enjoy it.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom May 21, 2026

I, Daniel Blake is a powerful and deeply moving drama that highlights the struggles of ordinary people within a difficult system. It tells its story with honesty and emotional weight, making it hard to forget. The performances feel incredibly natural and grounded, helping every moment feel real rather than scripted. The characters are portrayed with dignity and humanity, which adds to the film’s impact. The film’s strength lies in its social realism, showing everyday challenges without exaggeration or sentimentality. It creates a quiet but powerful sense of frustration and empathy. Overall, I, Daniel Blake is an important and emotionally resonant film that stays with you long after it ends. I rate it a 9/10.

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Ian H

@Howellsey Aug 2, 2025

Kafkaesque bureaucracy in action. Sad, true and very moving

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I, Daniel Blake: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Daniel Blake (Dave Johns) is a 59-year-old widowed carpenter who must rely on welfare after a recent heart attack leaves him unable to work. Despite his doctor's diagnosis, British authorities deny Blake's benefits and tell him to return to his job. As Daniel navigates his way through an agonizing appeal process, he begins to develop a strong bond with a destitute, single mother (Hayley Squires) who's struggling to take care of her two children.

Director: Ken Loach
Producer: Rebecca O'Brien
Screenwriter: Paul Laverty
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions, BBC Films, Wild Bunch
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 2, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $258.2K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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