"Utterly delightful" British drama with Daniel Mays is the perfect bank holiday movie watch

If you're looking for a way to unwind this bank holiday, why not take a trip to the seaside with Daniel Mays' drama Fisherman's Friends ? The British movie tells the unique but true tale of a group of Cornish fishermen from Port Isaac, whose traditional sea shanties landed them a top-10 debut album. The story follows Danny, a London music executive who finds himself in Cornwall for a stag do and is tasked with persuading a group of local fisherman to sign a record deal. At first, Danny is unconvinced by their appeal, while the group is equally skeptical of the music industry. However, as he integrates into the small community, Danny begins to question the terms of the contract he's presenting. Will he convince them to sign on the dotted line, or will their way of life change his whole perspective? Following its UK box-office success, the movie received a sequel, titled Fisherman's Friends: One and All , which was released in 2022. The original is currently streaming for free in the UK, so if you fancy a merry sing-song, keep reading for all the details. Who's in Fisherman's Friends? • Daniel Mays as Danny • James Purefoy as Jim • David Hayman as Jago • Dave Johns as Leadville • Sam Swainsbury as Rowan • Tuppence Middleton as Alwyn • Noel Clark as Troy • Christian Brassington as Henry • Maggie Steed as Maggie What did the critics say about Fisherman's Friends ? Fisherman's Friends has a 69% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 58 mixed reviews, with North Shore Movies describing it as "utterly delightful". Critics praised the "feel-good vibes" and "big-heart performances", though some noted its "formulaic" plot. " Fisherman's Friends is formulaic, manipulative and any subtlety was cut adrift around the second draft but the story's feel-good underdog story mixed with messages of decency and loyalty make it as refreshing as a gust of sea air in cynical times," wrote Richard Crouse. Keith & the Movies echoed: "With its irresistible mix of feel-good vibes, infectious musical numbers, great rapport and playful humor, Fisherman's Friends makes the formulaic storytelling pretty easy to overlook. "This gentle, sweet-natured comedy has warmth and a certain X factor of likability, helped by big-hearted performances from a cast including Daniel Mays and Tuppence Middleton," said The Guardian . FilmWeek added: "You've been here and hit all of these beats before, but it's like an old warm blanket. It just feels so good." Where can I watch Fisherman's Friends ? Fisherman's Friends is available to watch right now on Channel 4 's streaming service . You can watch it for free with adverts. It's available to watch for the next 23 days. The movie is also available to watch Prime Video , either by renting the title for £3.49 or buying it for £7.99. It can also be streamed on Apple TV and is available to rent (£2.49) or buy (£5.99) on YouTube . Other Daniel Mays movies you can stream now Elsewhere, Mays recently starred in Netflix 's adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club , which is currently available to watch on the streamer. Based on Richard Osman's bestselling novel, the 2025 movie sees a group seniors sleuths become embroiled in a real-life murder mystery. The actor also appeared in the 2026 thriller Shelter , which stars Jason Statham as a reclusive former British government assassin, who is forced back into the action while protecting a young local girl. The movie is available to watch on Apple TV , Prime Video and on Sky .