Goodbye June - A Netflix Review

Good memories help you live forever.

Goodbye June is a 2025 Netflix film. The family matriarch is facing the final stages of her life in the hospital in December. A dysfunctional family comes together through fights, tears, and laughter as they try to work through issues.

Goodbye June is a sad subject matter that’s handled with all the humor to make viewers laugh and feel thankful for life. Films about family in the hospital are like watching home movies. You can’t choose family, and death is unavoidable. Goodbye June presents a bittersweet drama about reconnecting and living your best life.

A cast of commendable and talented actors stars in Goodbye June, each spending decades in their careers. They all did a terrific job in the family’s dynamics, which is what this film is all about.

Helen Mirren broke one of her rules because she loved the script. As the matriarch, June continues to look out for everyone, even in her declining health. June’s sarcasm remains, along with her positive attitude. Mirren was fantastic in all the stages of her character’s health.

Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Toni Collette, and Johnny Flynn play the siblings. I have watched these actors grow in their careers. It’s exciting to see how far they’ve come since their debut.

I could write a book about Collette’s amazing versatility, often playing the serious woman or the unreliable family member. She was as funny as the airheaded Helen. Connor (Flynn) tries to keep everyone together, as Julia (Winslet) and Molly (Riseborough) battle in endless fights.

Acting veteran Timothy Spall plays Bernie, the aging and unobservant father. I laughed when he was teaching his grandkids armfarts while in the hospital. Bernie may appear like he doesn’t care about the situation, but he is hiding his emotions. Spall is a splendid actor. He treats audiences to a song in one scene.

This film proves that not all superheroes wear capes. Doctors, nurses, and medical specialists are savants. Nurse Angel (Fisayo Akinade) is a kind, patient, and gentle nurse who helps the family with their needs.

Not only did she star in it, but Kate Winslet also directed Goodbye June. When the spot opened up, she did not hesitate. She wanted to bring Joe Anders (Winslet’s son) script to life. She said the project was a lot of fun, though it had its challenges. Winslet captures the stress in her direction, editing fast cuts between reactions and action in the hospital.

The one issue I had was that this is the emptiest hospital I have ever seen! Characters wander the halls, and nobody else is around. However, this film could be viewed as a memory. When looking back, do you remember every person in a situation?

This story is based on a real-life experience of when Anders' grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer when he was thirteen. He decided to take all the experiences from the hospital and emotions he felt and solidified a script. Hospital stories and sick family members are the most relatable storylines.

I’m always intrigued by the conversations. The character's conversations stray from the situation, but it’s to avoid the topic. Make everyone comfortable. Goodbye June is sad, but it packs in a lot of humor. That’s the only way to get through these awful situations.

Although sad, Goodbye June is worth a watch. As difficult as it is to watch someone you love who is dying, it’s important to be there. As Helen says, “Good memories help you live longer.” There’s nothing truer than that. Keep living your life.