Paddington 2(2017)
dir. Paul King
A bear in prison changes it with marmalade.
Where to watch: Subscription: HBO Max ($10.99/mo); rent $3.99-5.99 on Spectrum, Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango At Home; buy $7.99-14.99 (JustWatch US, checked 2026-11-01). Verify.Letterboxd ↗
Paddington, the bear from Peru, is framed for stealing a rare pop-up book and sent to prison. Instead of fighting, he makes marmalade sandwiches for the inmates, who turn out to be a better crowd than the vain actor who framed him. A family comedy about kindness as a practice, with a London that shows what a welcoming neighborhood looks like.
Why it’s here
It's a kids' movie that says kindness is a political act. What's punk is a bear who changes a prison kitchen by being polite on purpose, and a story that treats the neighbors as the heroes. What's pedagogical is how clearly it shows prejudice as the thing that turns a neighbor against a stranger. Pairs with Last Stop on Market Street, Enemy Pie and The Rabbit Listened. Note: gentle, a little prison peril; a film about welcoming migrants that never says so.
Where This Film Lives
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