My Oxford Year (2025) is a romantic comedy-drama available on Netflix, starring Sofia Carson as Anna De La Vega and Corey Mylchreest as Jamie Davenport. Directed by Iain Morris and adapted from Julia Whelan’s 2018 novel, the film blends romance, humor, and emotional depth against the picturesque backdrop of Oxford University. Below is a detailed summary of the movie’s story, avoiding spoilers for key plot twists unless necessary, based on available information from reviews, synopses, and critical analyses.
Plot Summary of My Oxford Year (2025)
Anna De La Vega, a driven and ambitious American from a working-class New York background, arrives at Oxford University to fulfill a lifelong dream of studying English Literature, specifically Victorian poetry, on a prestigious graduate scholarship. With her sights set on a political career in the United States, Anna has deferred a high-flying job at Goldman Sachs for this year abroad. Her life is meticulously planned, and she’s determined to stay focused, excel academically, and return home to her ambitious future.
Upon arriving in Oxford, Anna is captivated by the city’s historic charm—the cobblestone streets, grand libraries, and traditions like rowing and sub-fusc attire. However, her carefully laid plans are disrupted when she meets Jamie Davenport, a charismatic and enigmatic British poetry professor. Their initial encounters spark an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, marked by witty banter and clashing personalities. Anna’s serious, goal-oriented demeanor contrasts with Jamie’s carefree, poetic outlook, but their shared love of literature ignites an undeniable attraction.
As Anna navigates the elitist and tradition-heavy world of Oxford, she forms friendships with a colorful group of students, including Charlie Butler (Harry Trevaldwyn), a pithy and supportive friend, and Cecelia Knowles (Poppy Gilbert), who add humor and warmth to her journey. The film weaves in British university life—pub nights, croquet matches, and even a humorous nod to watching Naked Attraction—while showcasing Oxford’s stunning architecture, like the Radcliffe Camera and Bridge of Sighs.
The flirtation between Anna and Jamie quickly evolves into a passionate romance, fueled by poetry recitations and rainy, scarf-filled moments that lean into classic rom-com tropes. However, as their relationship deepens, Anna discovers a significant secret Jamie has been hiding (avoiding specifics here to prevent spoilers). This revelation shifts the tone of the story, introducing a poignant and emotional layer that challenges Anna’s priorities. She’s forced to confront the tension between her career ambitions and her newfound feelings, as well as broader questions of identity, love, and what it means to live fully in the moment.
The narrative explores themes of personal growth, the clash between art and commerce, and the transformative power of love. Anna grapples with her American roots and her mother’s financial expectations, which contrast with her desire to embrace literature and the unexpected life Oxford offers. The film balances these heavier moments with British humor, courtesy of director Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners), though critics note the script occasionally relies on clichés and predictable beats. Supporting characters, including Dougray Scott as William Davenport and Catherine McCormack as Antonia Davenport, add depth to the academic and familial dynamics.
As the story unfolds, Anna and Jamie’s relationship becomes a whirlwind of laughter, heartbreak, and self-discovery. The film culminates in an emotional resolution that, while familiar to fans of romantic dramas, aims to reaffirm the idea that life is too short not to embrace love and joy, as encapsulated by Alfred Tennyson’s quote, “It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.”