Movie · 2016 · Family, Drama · 1h 43m · NR · English
Curator score: 3.0/10 (38.2K ratings)
Sometimes it takes nine lives to save one
Overview
James Bowen, a homeless busker and recovering drug addict, has his life transformed when he meets a stray ginger cat.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.0/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Metacritic: 54
TMDB: 7.9/10
Director
Roger Spottiswoode
Production
Iris Productions, Shooting Script Films, Prescience, Stage 6 Films
Cast
Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt, Anthony Stewart Head, Caroline Goodall, Beth Goddard, Darren Evans, Ruth Sheen, Nina Wadia, John Henshaw, Nadine Marshall, Lorraine Ashbourne, Akbar Kurtha, Llewella Gideon, Ivana Basic, Rob Jarvis, Sasha Dickens, Cleopatra Dickens, Rosie Ede, Tony Jayawardena
Where to watch
fuboTV
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, crowd-pleasing true-story drama with an easy emotional hook: a struggling man, a stray cat, and a path toward recovery. It’s sincere, gently funny, and very watchable if you’re in the mood for comfort viewing with a sentimental streak, though it can feel a bit polished and formulaic.
Best for
cat lovers
feel-good true stories
light recovery dramas
viewers who want an uplifting tearjerker
family-friendly emotional dramas
Skip if
you dislike sentimentality
you want a gritty or unvarnished addiction story
animal-centered movies make you too emotional
you prefer subtle, character-driven realism over inspirational arcs
Overview
A Street Cat Named Bob is built to do one thing very well: make you care about a man and a cat who help each other survive. The premise is simple, but the film leans into it with genuine affection, a soft comic touch, and a strong sense of emotional payoff. Bob is the obvious draw, but the movie’s real appeal is the way it frames companionship as a lifeline rather than a gimmick.
Worth noting
The downside is that it often plays like a polished inspirational drama, smoothing over rough edges in favor of uplift. That makes it easy to recommend to a broad audience, but less compelling if you’re looking for complexity or bite. Still, the performances and the real-life basis give it enough sincerity to land its more heartfelt moments.
Bottom line
If you want a modest, comforting film that mixes hardship with hope, this works. If you need a tougher, more searching look at homelessness or addiction, it may feel too neat. As a piece of feel-good storytelling, though, it’s hard to resist the charm of its central bond.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Tony the Terror (5★) · 449 likes
I lost my “Bob” yesterday. My sweet little baby Oscar isn’t with me anymore.
Watching this probably wasn’t the best idea because it hits too close to home, but it’s also the only thing I wanted to watch.
Tony the Terror (5★) · 365 likes
Listen, I would probably give this 4.5 stars, but Oscar says it’s a solid 5 so 5 it is.
(the answer to your question is: YES, of course I do everything my cat wants. Duh.)
Matthew L. Brady (3★) · 202 likes
RIP Bob.
You took care of James and gave him a reason to get up in the morning while he struggled with addiction. Bob was a good boy.
rebeca (5★) · 192 likes
me in tears: i just........ love..... cats so much
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (5★) · 128 likes
Action! - The March of the (3) Rogers: Stop Or Buddy Spottiswoode Will Shoot
A film about overcoming hurdles in life with nice music and a fantastic kitty. What is it that is melting? Oh, oh, my poor, beleaguered heart!
While it may seem a little mushy, schmaltzy, and even exploitative to many, Spottiswoode personally I feel does a superb job translating these wholesome and amusing moments in a way that at least I personally got to cheer whilst my… more