Bonus Track is a 2023 British musical coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Julia Jackman, in her feature directorial debut, based on an original story by Josh O'Connor, who also appears in the film, and Mike Gilbert, who wrote the screenplay.

Bonus Track
Directed byJulia Jackman
Screenplay byMike Gilbert
Story by
Produced by
Starring
  • Joe Anders
  • Samuel Small
CinematographyJonas Mortensen
Edited byJason Rayton
Music byChris Hyson
Production
companies
Release dates
  • 5 October 2023 (2023-10-05) (LFF)
  • 1 June 2024 (2024-06-01)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Premise

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In 2006, George Bobbin, a 16-year-old who lives in a small English town and dreams of becoming a pop star, meets Max, the son of a famous musical duo.[1][2]

Cast

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Production

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Filming was underway in York on 17 August 2022, when the film was announced.[3] The School featured is All Saints Catholic School, in York.

Release

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Bonus Track was selected to screen for potential buyers in the Industry Selects section at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023.[2] It premiered at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival on 5 October 2023.[4][5]

Sky pre-bought the United Kingdom and Germany rights.[3] The film was released on Sky Cinema on 1 June 2024 in the UK.[6] In July 2024, it was reported that Sunrise Films had acquired US rights and was planning a theatrical and digital release in October.[7]

Reception

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Nikki Baughan of Screen Daily found the film laden with teenage romantic comedy clichés, and the 2006 setting "not entirely realistic", but wrote that "two charming lead performances, and a largely positive depiction of adolescent homosexuality ... should chime with its intended teen audience".[8] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian found the film "sweet-natured and engagingly laid-back, if a bit televisual and reliant on that time-honoured staple that dates from Richard Curtis's Love Actually", giving it three out of five stars.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Ntim, Zac (1 September 2023). "'Bonus Track' Clip: First Look At TIFF Industry Selects & LFF Competition Pic From Julia Jackman". Deadline. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kay, Jeremy (21 August 2023). "James Marsh, Rebecca Snow, Neil Burger films among 12 TIFF Industry Selects sales titles". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b Dalton, Ben (17 August 2022). "Bankside boards Sky-backed UK feature 'Bonus Track' as production begins (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ^ Calnan, Ellie (31 August 2023). "'Priscilla', 'The Zone Of Interest', 'The Killer' among 171 features in BFI London Film Festival 2023 line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Bonus Track". BFI London Film Festival 2023. British Film Institute. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ Sandwell, Ian (14 May 2024). "First trailer for Josh O'Connor's new movie Bonus Track". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (15 July 2024). "Josh O'Connor's Queer Teen Romance 'Bonus Track' Finds U.S. Home With Sunrise Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  8. ^ Baughan, Nikki (6 October 2023). "'Bonus Track': London Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  9. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (10 October 2023). "Bonus Track review – boy meets boy in sweet route-one romcom". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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