The first film adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s polarizing 107-year-old novel is having its day. Virginia Woolf was one of England’s greatest writers who helped reshape modern literature. A leading voice of 20th-century modernism, she popularized the stream-of-consciousness style and penned classics like Mrs Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927), and Orlando (1928). Her work later became a cornerstone of feminist literary criticism and continues to influence readers around the globe. Now, more than a century after its publication, one of Woolf’s most polarizing novels has finally reached the big screen, and critics are loving it.

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Following its premiere, Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day has debuted to a stellar Rotten Tomatoes score. Based on the 1919 novel of the same name, the romantic drama follows a fiercely independent astronomer determined to steer clear of romance and marriage, her bold challenge against Edwardian patriarchy set against the suffragette movement and breakthroughs in science and technology in London during 1910. Now, Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day has debuted with an 80% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The film only has 15 reviews at the time of writing, so its score could fluctuate as more are published.

Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day premiered at South by Southwest London on June 1, was released in theaters in the United Kingdom on June 19, and will be released in theaters in the United States in late 2026. Its cast includes Haley Bennett, Lily Allen, Timothy Spall, Elyas M’Barek, Jack Whitehall, Jennifer Saunders, Sally Phillips, Misia Butler, Alex Macqueen, Simon Phillips, and Frances Barber. The film is directed by Tina Gharavi, with a script written by Justine Waddell.

Haley Bennett staring to the side in Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day

Overall, critics are largely charmed by Night and Day, praising director Tina Gharavi for transforming Virginia Woolf’s dense novel into an accessible and entertaining period drama. Many reviews single out Haley Bennett’s captivating lead performance, while others highlight the movie’s warmth, quirky energy, rich production values, and themes of female empowerment. Several reviewers simply describe it as an enjoyable and crowd-pleasing watch with plenty of heart and humor.

That said, not everyone is convinced. Some critics argue that the movie smooths over the complexity of Woolf’s writing, resulting in a more conventional heritage drama. Others found the modern flourishes, such as its synth-heavy score, somewhat awkward or distracting. A handful feel its feminist message lacks depth or that its attempts to modernize the source material produce mixed results. Even so, most agree that the cast helps carry Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day.

Release Date

June 19, 2026

Runtime

95 minutes

Director

Tina Gharavi

Cast

Elyas M’Barek

Ralph Denham

Jack Whitehall

William Rodney