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DramaFamily Cannes 2025 Editor's Pick

My Father's Shadow Review (2025) — 84% Celluloid Score

Directed by Akinola Davies Jr. · 2025 ·

Short answer

Is My Father's Shadow worth watching?

Yes. My Father's Shadow (2025) earns an 84% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (98%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (88%). See the 4 inputs.

84%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

98% Editorial Rating
88% Audience snapshot · excluded
85 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
7.4 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 33m
Age rating
NR (US) · 12A (UK) · 17+ (Indonesia) · M (Australia) · PG (Canada)
Cast
Sope Dirisu , Chibuike Marvellous Egbo , Uzoamaka Power , Godwin Egbo
Streaming
MUBI
Country
Nigeria
Language
English

Also known as La sombra de mi padre Un jour avec mon père A Sombra do Meu Pai 내 아버지의 그림자 父影之下 父親回來的那一天 Babamın Gölgesi Bóng của cha tôi

Where to watch

  • MUBI

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home

Where to watch My Father's Shadow by country

Country Streaming on
India MUBI
Malaysia MUBI
Nigeria Netflix
Pakistan MUBI
Philippines MUBI
South Africa Netflix
South Korea MUBI
Thailand MUBI
Turkey MUBI
United Kingdom MUBI
United States MUBI

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (98/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (88%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (85/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • Celluloid Score 84% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, family pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is My Father's Shadow worth watching?

    Yes — My Father's Shadow earns an 84% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, family pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Critics have called this semi-autobiographical debut a quietly devastating breakthrough, praising Sope Dirisu's restrained lead performance and Akinola Davies Jr.'s ability to fold national upheaval into an intimate father-son story without ever feeling didactic.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (98%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (88%).

    What is My Father's Shadow about?

    Over one sweltering day in Lagos during the tense 1993 Nigerian election, two young brothers tag along with the estranged father they barely know as he chases down a debt across the city. Between an amusement park detour and a beach stop, small tender moments accumulate — even as the father hides a nosebleed and a secret that will reshape how his sons remember him.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English My Father's Shadow

    My Father's Shadow (2025) Review: One Day in Lagos, 1993

    My Father's Shadow is Akinola Davies Jr.'s tender debut about two boys spending a day in Lagos with their elusive father as Nigeria's 1993 election crisis unfolds.

    Yes. It is a quietly overwhelming father-and-son drama and a remarkable debut, ideal for viewers who value intimate, patient filmmaking over plot-driven storytelling.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    My Father's Shadow stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    My Father's Shadow production still 1
    My Father's Shadow production still 2
    My Father's Shadow production still 3
    My Father's Shadow production still 4
    My Father's Shadow production still 5
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    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    My Father's Shadow: frequently asked questions

    Is My Father's Shadow worth watching?

    Yes. My Father's Shadow (2025) has a Celluloid Score of 84%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch My Father's Shadow?

    In the United States, My Father's Shadow streams on MUBI with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home. Elsewhere: MUBI in India; MUBI in Malaysia; Netflix in Nigeria; MUBI in Pakistan. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is My Father's Shadow?

    My Father's Shadow runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

    What is My Father's Shadow rated?

    My Father's Shadow is rated NR in the United States, 12A in the UK, 17+ in Indonesia, M in Australia and PG in Canada. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in My Father's Shadow?

    My Father's Shadow is directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and stars Sope Dirisu, Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, Uzoamaka Power, Godwin Egbo.

    What is the Metascore for My Father's Shadow?

    Metacritic's Metascore for My Father's Shadow is 85 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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