It’s an unfortunate reality of the current cinema landscape that some excellent movies will get overlooked each year, and I definitely rank “The Ballad of Wallis Island” among those movies in 2025. This heartfelt and melancholic British comedy-drama is a rare gem, but it didn’t quite get the attention it deserved during its limited theatrical release back in March.
That’s a real shame, as this excellent little movie deserves all the acclaim it’s received (it’s managed a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes). In better news, it’s just arrived on Prime Video, offering it a second chance to earn the larger audience it so richly deserves. After all, being added to the library of one of the biggest streaming services is a huge opportunity to get in front of more eyeballs, and I really hope subscribers don’t opt to skip this newcomer.
In an effort to ensure “The Ballad of Wallis Island” doesn’t sink into Prime Video obscurity, getting lost in the platform’s vast selection of movies, or overshadowed by lackluster originals like the recent rom-com “Maintenance Required,” I’m here to sing this movie's praises. Here’s why “The Ballad of Wallis Island” should be at the very top of your Prime Video watchlist.
What is ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ about
![THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 28 - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HTi-e20yVNs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Directed by James Griffith and written by stars Tom Baden and Tim Key, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is a feature-length adaptation of the trio’s award-winning short film: "The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island."
Charles Heath (Key) is a reclusive lottery winner and resident of the eponymous remote Welsh island. He’s also the world’s biggest fan of McGwyer Mortimer. This folk music act, comprised of Herby McGwyer (Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), broke up a decade ago, both as a band and as a romantic couple. Yes, there are big Fleetwood Mac vibes.
Using his lotto winnings, Charles pays McGwyer and Mortimer to come to Wallis Island and play a very special reunion show, exclusively for him. However, once the estranged pair arrives on the island, all tensions surface, and they grapple with their past and present ahead of Charles' dream show.
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ is ridiculously charming
I found myself falling in love with “The Ballad of Wallis Island” almost immediately. That’s largely because of the genius of Tim Key. The first scene of the movie sees McGwyer arriving on Wallis Island by boat, with an overly eager Charles ready to greet him shoreside. Charles’s quirky personality and inability to stop talking instantly became apparent. From the first time he opened his mouth, I was totally on board with the gentle comedy on offer.
The drama starts to ramp up once Mortimer arrives on the scene. The duo themselves feel quite inspired by Fleetwood Mac, and their reunion on Wallis Island after 10 years is by no means a completely smooth one. There’s a slimmering romantic tension, but also the clear sense that while Mortimer has moved on (and is even now married), McGwyer is still stuck in the past.
The latter is the movie’s most interesting character (even if Charles is the scene-stealer). McGwyer starts off the movie deeply cynical, currently making “commercial” music that he loathes. But coming to Wallis Island, meeting Charles, and being reunited with Morimer changes his outlook, and his sarcastic rockstar veneer starts to fall away, letting viewers meet the real McGwyer, who is a lot more likable and proves to be quite a sweetheart.
The movie is stuffed with original Mortimer McGwyer songs, and while the folk genre isn’t exactly to my taste, I found the tunes included supremely well-suited for the movie’s wistful tone, and each comes at just the right moment. And even if they’re not my favorite songs ever, you can’t help but get lost in the moment, much like Charles, who beams at each chord.
Underneath the movie’s likeable characters and pleasant comedy, there’s a relatable sadness to “The Ballad of Wallis Island.” It’s a very melancholic movie. Each of its three central characters is dealing with their own personal problems, and while it never strays into heightened melodrama, there is a strong emotional power that keeps you invested until the fitting ending.
Like the best feel-good movies, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” isn’t afraid to almost make you feel a little blue on occasion. But it’s hopeful in tone overall, reminding viewers of the importance of making meaningful connections with those around us and of not getting too hung up on the past. It’s never flashy in its approach, and that’s exactly what makes it so impactful.
‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ is a must-watch on Prime Video
I’m not the only superfan of “The Ballad of Wallis Island.” The movie currently holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is more than enough for a “fresh” rating. The site’s ‘Critics Consensus’ reads, “The Ballad of Wallis Island hums along a sweet melody without lapsing into outright sentimentality, mining a great deal of warmth from its humble premise.” And this isn’t a case where the critics loved it but viewers didn't. Its audience score is 93%.
Prime Video has already become the streaming home of a couple of overlooked movies released in 2025 (such as spy thriller “Black Bag”), and “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is another to add to the growing list. Perhaps the strongest endorsement I can offer is that the moment I saw it was being added to the Amazon platform, I was already planning my next rewatch.
If, for some reason, you’re still not convinced to give this movie a chance, then here’s a guide to everything new on Prime Video in October 2025, but I implore you to take my advice and stream “The Ballad of Wallis Island” this weekend. It’s a wonderful little movie that deserves all the love it's earned.
Watch "The Ballad of Wallis Island" on Prime Video now
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