Little Boy

PG-13

Released Apr 24, 2015

1 hr. 46 min.

History

Drama

War

TRAILER

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List

26%

54 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When auto mechanic James Busbee (Michael Rapaport) is sent to fight the Japanese during World War II, he leaves behind his wife (Emily Watson) and two sons, London (David Henrie) and Pepper (Jakob Salvati). Pepper feels his father's absence most keenly, and can't wait for him to return home. An encounter with a magician (Ben Chaplin) and advice from a priest (Tom Wilkinson) convince Pepper that the power to bring his dad back safely may be within himself and his actions.

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Critics Consensus

Well-meaning but manipulative on a horrifically misguided scale, Little Boy is the rare faith-based film that many viewers may find legitimately offensive.

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pieperbe

Horrific. Grotesque and reprehensible. Anyone who sees this as an uplifting film about the power of faith needs to have their moral compass checked. The great triumph of his faith was the belief that he helped murder hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. I wish I could give below zero stars. This movie deserves negative four stars.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

GT S

Stumbled across this little gem that I've never heard of. What a nice surprise. How could you not be in tears at the end of this? Beautiful film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

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Ozzie I

Just watched this movie on Tubi on the recommendation of a friend. Really loved it, was a real tearjerker. Would recommend to anyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Aimee A

While a little on the long side, Little Boy has a stellar cast and performance by the young star. It is a heart felt story of family and communities torn apart by war, grief, and bigotry and the misguided beliefs of an eight year old boy who desperately wants his father back. It's tongue-in-cheek humor is apparently missed by several critics. I'm shocked honestly by the low rating for this film. It is also not a religious movie of faith as some claim, but a story of hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation. In the end, the boy understands that he didn't really create any of the events (including unleashing the atomic bomb, which he later has a nightmare about after he realizes the atrocity of war) but he brought goodness into his community and had done it out of love for his father. Luckily, this tear jerker ends on a happy note, leaving us believing not that he brought about the events, but that miracles are possible.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Wendy B

Love this movie! Beautiful story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If your wondering, should I watch this? Or not? I think you should. It’s a very good movie and with a happy ending. The director is incredible. He directs this new movie called sound of freedom. Little boy has a good message saying small kids can do great big things. You need to see it. The tomato meter is lying. This is a really good movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/23

Full Review

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Alejandro Monteverde

Director

Jakob Salvati

Pepper Flynt Busbee

Emily Watson

Emma Busbee

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Hashimoto

Michael Rapaport

James Busbee

David Henrie

London Busbee

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Little Boy: Trailer 1

2:16

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Alison Willmore

BuzzFeed News

The movie seems utterly and sincerely well-intentioned -- which is why what happens in it is so jaw-dropping.

Nov 10, 2015

Full Review

Steve Davis

Austin Chronicle

For all its unsubtle sentimentality, it remains unclear whether Little Boy intends to celebrate the conviction of belief or to mock it.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 30, 2015

Full Review

Inkoo Kang

TheWrap

Despite boasting several important moral lessons, the period piece is more artificial than a polyester teddy bear stuffed with Splenda and Cheez Whiz - and about as appealing

Rated: 40/100

Apr 24, 2015

Full Review

Kip Mooney

College Movie Review

There's an earnestness that simply can't be denied.

Rated: B-

Aug 29, 2021

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

[T]he most uplifting, hopeful and faith restoring film to come around in a long while.

Dec 8, 2019

Full Review

Bernard Boo

Way Too Indie

At best, the film's messaging is outdated; at worst, it's insensitive and difficult to bear.

Rated: 3/10

Mar 14, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

When auto mechanic James Busbee (Michael Rapaport) is sent to fight the Japanese during World War II, he leaves behind his wife (Emily Watson) and two sons, London (David Henrie) and Pepper (Jakob Salvati). Pepper feels his father's absence most keenly, and can't wait for him to return home. An encounter with a magician (Ben Chaplin) and advice from a priest (Tom Wilkinson) convince Pepper that the power to bring his dad back safely may be within himself and his actions.

Director: Alejandro Monteverde
Executive Producer: Eduardo Verástegui, Roma Downey, Mark Burnett, Emilio Azcárraga, Mickey O'Hare, Sean Wolfington, Bernardo Gómez Martínez, Alexander Acha
Screenwriter: Alejandro Monteverde, Pepe Portillo
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: Metanoia Films
Rating: PG-13 (Violence|Some Thematic Material)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.5M

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