Mr. Burton

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Mr. Burton is available in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the US on Hoopla right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 33 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Toby Jones leads a cast that never overplays its hand. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Foxtel Now.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Mr. Burton earns its spot. Mr. Burton trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. In the Welsh town of Port Talbot, 1942, Richard Jenkins lives as a wayward schoolboy, caught between the pressures of his struggling family, a devastating war and his own ambitions. However, a new opportunity arises when Richard’s natural talent for drama catches the attention of his teacher, Philip Burton. Toby Jones and Lesley Manville lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2025. What elevates Mr. Burton is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Mr. Burton. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Toby Jones is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.