Picture: Sony Pictures Classics
A quaint British movie has just been announced to be joining the Netflix library at the end of July 2025. We’re referring to the relatively recently released comedy-drama The Penguin Lessons, headlined by Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, Night at the Museum) and Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones, The Two Popes). Here’s what you need to know.
Set to arrive on Netflix US beginning on July 26th, the movie comes from Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), based on a screenplay by Jeff Pope, which adapts the true story of Tom Michell’s memoir of the same name that was first published a decade ago in 2015. Set in Argentina in the 1970s, when the country was going through a massive political upheaval, we follow an English teacher who finds comfort and meaning in rescuing a stranded penguin.
British comedian and actor Steve Coogan is the star of the movie, playing the role of Tom Michell. Still, beyond being joined by Jonathon Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Alfonsina Carrocio, Micaela Breque, and Aimar Miranda, the cast is rounded out.
The movie is only confirmed for a Netflix US release right now, although other regions will likely see the movie get added in the coming years through various deals with distributors. In the US, the movie is coming to Netflix as part of the first window deal with Sony Pictures, which acquired the movie’s US distribution under their Sony Pictures Classics label.
The Penguin Lessons will stream on Netflix in the US for 18 months before moving to Hulu.
As mentioned in the title, the movie does hold a certified fresh rating on RottenTomatoes with 125 reviews giving it a 77% score. Most criticism came from the British press, if anything. Many outlets praised the movie’s heart-warming moments, while others suggest the movie doesn’t go beyond being a gentle comedy. Christine Westood praised Coogan’s “note-perfect performance” in her review, concluding, “His comic timing and light, sustained pitch are excellent as always.” On the other end of the spectrum, David Jenkins for Little White Lies said, “The film never hits the heights of charm for which it’s aiming.”
This is the second major Sony Pictures movie coming to Netflix in July 2025, with Until Dawn, the horror movie based on the hit video game, also confirmed to be arriving imminently. For more on everything still to come to Netflix throughout the remainder of the month, keep it locked here on What’s on Netflix.
Will you check out The Penguin Lessons when it touches down on Netflix US?