British cinema is about to serve up a riotous, big‑hearted underdog story — and it’s all centred around darts. The Broken Arrow, a warm and wonderfully daft comedy starring Alan Ford, Sue Johnston and Chris Simmons, lands in UK cinemas on 13 November, just weeks before the 2026 World Darts Championship takes over Alexandra Palace.

The film follows Barry Barnes, a local darts hero whose life nosedives after the death of his mentor. A boozy spiral, a freak accident and the loss of an arm later, Barry finds himself facing the ultimate comeback: confronting his demons and taking on his nemesis “Darts Vader” for one last shot at glory. It’s scrappy, silly and surprisingly tender — very much in the spirit of The Full Monty.

Co‑directed by Pablo Raybould and Chris Simmons (who also stars), the film has already made noise on the festival circuit. It opened the 2024 Southend Film Festival and earned Best Director nominations at Romford in 2025. Southend’s festival director Paul Cotgrove called it “a sparkling new comedy”, and honestly, that’s the vibe — sparkling, scruffy, and full of heart.

Behind the scenes, Simmons’ director’s journey is its own feel‑good tale: from hanging around TV sets on his days off to knocking on Sue Johnston’s door with a printed script in hand. Three days later, she said yes. From there, friends, family and an entire village rallied to make the film happen.

With darts enjoying a cultural moment and British comedy leaning back into warmth and working‑class charm, The Broken Arrow arrives right on cue. Expect laughs, redemption, and a 90‑minute escape from the everyday.

The Broken Arrow hits UK cinemas 13 November.