Five Clues • One Movie • Daily
The Remains of the Day
“Diamond in the Rough.”
The Remains of the Day (1993) is a drama, romance film directed by James Ivory. On Plot-hole, players averaged 0.6/5, with 22% solving the puzzle and 78% failing it, making it the #7 brutalest puzzle of 135 in the archive. A rule-bound head butler's world of manners and decorum in the household he maintains is tested by the arrival of a housekeeper who falls in love with him in post-WWI Britain. The possibility of romance and his master's cultivation of ties with the Nazi cause challenge his carefully maintained veneer of servitude.
Plot-hole Difficulty: Brutal
0.6/5
Avg Score
22%
Solved
78%
Failed
635
Players
#7
Difficulty Rank
The Plot-hole Puzzle
Puzzle #91 · June 18, 2026 · answer revealed below
The Setup (Clue 5)
A quiet English countryside estate.
The Character (Clue 4)
A butler has dedicated his life to perfect service.
The Conflict (Clue 3)
He reflects on decades of service and a relationship he never pursued.
The Twist (Clue 2)
His loyalty to his employer blinded him to the man's political failings.
The Spoiler (Clue 1)
Anthony Hopkins plays a repressed butler opposite Emma Thompson in this Merchant Ivory film.
The answer
The Remains of the Day
Cast
Anthony Hopkins as James StevensEmma Thompson as Miss KentonJames Fox as Lord DarlingtonChristopher Reeve as Jack LewisHugh Grant as Reginald CardinalPeter Vaughan as William StevensBen Chaplin as Charlie, Head FootmanPaula Jacobs as Mrs. Mortimer, the cook
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is The Remains of the Day hard to guess on Plot-hole?
- The Remains of the Day had an average score of 0.6/5. 22% of players solved it, while 78% failed — a brutal puzzle.
- Who directed The Remains of the Day?
- The Remains of the Day was directed by James Ivory.
- Who stars in The Remains of the Day?
- The Remains of the Day stars Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, James Fox, Christopher Reeve, Hugh Grant, Peter Vaughan, Ben Chaplin, Paula Jacobs.
- What genre is The Remains of the Day?
- The Remains of the Day is listed under Drama, Romance.
- Where does The Remains of the Day rank in Plot-hole difficulty?
- The Remains of the Day ranks #7 of 135 Plot-hole movies by average score (1 = hardest).