Once Upon a Time in London

Once Upon a Time in London

Directed by Simon Rumley

Produced by Gateway Films, Ratio Film

2019111 min5.3 / 10

A gritty, historically-grounded crime drama chronicling the violent rise and inevitable fall of two ruthless London gangsters in the mid-20th century.

Billy Hill and Jack 'Spot' Comer were among the most notorious criminals in London up until the 1950s. Dramatising the violent reign of two of London's most notorious gangsters, Billy Hill (Leo Gregory) and Jack 'Spot' Comer (Terry Stone), ONCE UPON A TIME IN LONDON charts the legendary rise and fall of a nationwide criminal empire that lasted until the mid-fifties and which paved the way for the notorious Kray Twins and The Richardsons. This is the story of their rise and fall.

Questions people ask

  • Is Once Upon a Time in London violent? Yes. More violent than 88% of films.

  • Does Once Upon a Time in London end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 83% of films.

  • Is Once Upon a Time in London scary? Yes. More frightening than 82% of films.

  • Is Once Upon a Time in London easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.

  • Is Once Upon a Time in London sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

9/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Conventional, and it does not land.

Rarity23

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise4

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love5

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Once Upon a Time in London

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Once Upon a Time in London

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Once Upon a Time in London, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Once Upon a Time in London, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Once Upon a Time in London, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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