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Music drama

Wild Rose (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Wild Rose (2019) movie poster

Wild Rose is a 2019 music drama directed by Tom Harper, starring Jessie Buckley as Rose-Lynn, Julie Walters and Sophie Okonedo. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $7.1 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 6 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$7.1M
award won
1
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Wild Rose (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m (101 min)
Director
Tom Harper
Genres
Drama , Music
Original language
English
Studio
Neon
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Wild Rose About?

The premise of Wild Rose without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A young woman from Glasgow, Rose-Lynn Harlan, dreams of becoming a country music star and escapes her everyday life to pursue her ambitions in Nashville. Balancing the challenges of motherhood, a demanding job, and the pressures of the music industry, she must confront personal struggles and find her voice. Her journey involves letting go of her past and embracing a new path towards achieving her dreams on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Wild Rose Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • singer
  • country music
  • release from prison
  • grand ole opry
  • single mother
  • working class
  • scotland
  • mother daughter relationship
  • electronic bracelet
  • ankle monitor
  • train
  • party
+38 more
  • nashville tennessee
  • bigger dreams
  • glasgow scotland
  • cleaning lady
  • dancing
  • court
  • london england
  • beach
  • hate
  • motel
  • waitress
  • musician
  • estranged son
  • estranged daughter
  • country singer
  • class distinction
  • female protagonist
  • reference to johnny cash
  • reference to dolly parton
  • white boots
  • woman takes off boots
  • electricity bill
  • toy airplane
  • lie
  • female female hug
  • housemaid
  • headset
  • listening to music
  • singing
  • birthday
  • song
  • mother son relationship
  • absent mother
  • map
  • bus
  • sex
  • smoking marijuana
  • doorbell
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Cast & crew

Wild Rose Cast & Characters

Jessie Buckley leads the cast as Rose-Lynn, with Julie Walters as Marion and Sophie Okonedo. Directed by Tom Harper; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Tom Harper

More films directed by Tom Harper, best-rated first: Heart of Stone, The Aeronauts, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man and The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death.

Full filmography
Ratings

Wild Rose Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Wild Rose 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (75).

85 /100

Wild Rose Echo Score Breakdown

Wild Rose’s primary strength lies in its expressive performances anchored by a clear directorial vision. The film’s grounding in social realism and its willingness to subvert musical biopic conventions earn consistent praise for script shrewdness and tonal balance. Jessie Buckley’s compelling charisma and Julie Walters’ steady maternal grounding enhance the narrative’s emotional core. While some viewers note predictable plot points and accent challenges, the net effect is an affecting drama that vividly explores ambition and responsibility.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Wild Rose is guided by a naturalistic direction that emphasizes intimate refrains and grounded realism. Tom Harper’s skillful pacing of dramatic beats and sober tonal shifts lends clarity to Rose-Lynn’s journey. The production design and editing maintain coherence between Glasgow’s modest settings and the film’s melodic interludes. Overall, the film’s craft solidly supports its emotional narrative.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film thrives on Jessie Buckley’s charismatic portrayal and Julie Walters’ pragmatic maternal presence. Rose-Lynn’s impulsive nature is matched by nuanced interactions that convey both heartache and determination. Chemistry among the leads and the realistic depiction of family tensions amplify emotional resonance. Ultimately, character depth anchors the narrative’s affective core.

  • Story & Flow 80

    In terms of story and flow, Wild Rose balances a familiar ambition narrative with well-timed soberening moments. The script intelligently addresses the tension between personal ambition and maternal duty, though occasional narrative shortcuts and predictable beats emerge. Measured pacing allows for thematic exploration without significant digressions. Net, the storyline remains engaging and coherent.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    Regarding sensory experience, the film’s country-inflected soundtrack serves as its emotional heartbeat, with gritty vocal performances underscored by understated scoring. Sound design blends live music sequences with ambient Glasgow settings, fostering an immersive auditory texture. Visual cohesion between pale suburban hues and warm performance lighting reinforces thematic contrasts. All in all, the sensory elements are striking and cohesive.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    When evaluating rewatch factor, Wild Rose offers enduring appeal through its central performances and musical moments. Jessie Buckley’s renditions and the film’s realistic portrayal of personal struggle invite subsequent viewings. However, predictable narrative shifts and narrow visual scope may limit repeat engagement for some viewers. On balance, the film retains enough emotional warmth and musical resonance to warrant revisiting.

Plot

Wild Rose Plot Summary

What happens in Wild Rose from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Rose-Lynn Harlan, a Glasgow-born, aspiring country singer and mother of two, is released after serving a year in prison for attempted drug smuggling. She was convicted of throwing a package of heroin over the wall into HM Prison Cornton Vale, but she insisted she didn’t know what was in the package.

Her long-held dream collides with family responsibilities when she returns to everyday life, and her mother, Marion, who has been caring for Rose-Lynn’s children, urges her to give up the music pursuit for something steadier and more reliable. The pull between art and duty becomes a recurring tension as Marion emphasizes the need for stability over aspiration.

Full summary

The whole story of Wild Rose, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Wild Rose Box Office

Wild Rose grossed $7.1 million worldwide. $1.6 million came from the US and Canada and $5.5 million (77%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.1M

US & Canada
$1.6M
International
$5.5M
US & Canada 23% Rest of the world 77%
Awards

Wild Rose Awards & Nominations

Wild Rose won 1 award from 6 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2020, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win6 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Wild Rose Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

WILD ROSE | OFFICIAL MAIN TRAILER
  • Featurette Jessie Buckley on Wild Rose | Film4 Interview
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Wild Rose?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
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  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the protagonist in the film?

Cars

Cars in Wild Rose

9 cars on screen, including the 1995 Chevrolet C-2500 and the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria.

All 9 cars
  • 1995 Chevrolet C-2500 in Wild Rose 1995 Chevrolet C-2500 Minor role
  • 1998 Ford Crown Victoria in Wild Rose 1998 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2017 Land-Rover Range Rover Series IV in Wild Rose 2017 Land-Rover Range Rover Series IV Minor role
  • 1996 Mercedes-Benz Vario T2 in Wild Rose 1996 Mercedes-Benz Vario T2 Minor role

Seen Wild Rose?

FAQ

Wild Rose FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Wild Rose, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Wild Rose?

Wild Rose runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

When was Wild Rose released?

Wild Rose was released on June 21, 2019.

Who directed Wild Rose?

Wild Rose was directed by Tom Harper.

More films by Tom Harper

Who is in the cast of Wild Rose?

Wild Rose stars Jessie Buckley as Rose-Lynn, Julie Walters as Marion and Sophie Okonedo, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Wild Rose make at the box office?

Wild Rose grossed $7.1 million worldwide ($1.6 million domestic, $5.5 million international).

How is Wild Rose rated?

Wild Rose has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 80 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

What awards did Wild Rose win?

Wild Rose won 1 award from 6 nominations, including Best Song at the Critics' Choice 2020.

Does Wild Rose have a post-credit scene?

No. Wild Rose has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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