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Little Miss Sunshine

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Little Miss Sunshine R Released Jan 20, 2006 1h 42m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 217 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
The Hoover family -- a man (Greg Kinnear), his wife (Toni Collette), an uncle (Steve Carell), a brother (Paul Dano) and a grandfather (Alan Arkin) -- puts the fun back in dysfunctional by piling into a VW bus and heading to California to support a daughter (Abigail Breslin) in her bid to win the Little Miss Sunshine Contest. The sanity of everyone involved is stretched to the limit as the group's quirks cause epic problems as they travel along their interstate route.
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Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine

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Critics Consensus

Little Miss Sunshine succeeds thanks to a strong ensemble cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, and Abigail Breslin, as well as a delightfully funny script.

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Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi Outlook The best thing about American cinema is that besides the studio-assembled big ticket movies, there's also the flourishing indie film movement which keeps throwing up some delightfully refreshing movies. Rated: 3/4 Jan 24, 2019 Full Review Brian Tallerico UGO It doesn't exploit its characters for comedy or life lessons; it simply embraces the family members and lets them be themselves. Mar 24, 2007 Full Review Melissa Anderson Time Out All indie-movie families may start out unhappy in their own way, but by the time the final credits roll, everyone remains complacent, confident of their brood's superiority. Rated: 2/6 Feb 3, 2007 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a continuously engrossing endeavor that gets off to a memorable (and instantly-captivating) start... Rated: 4/4 Jul 3, 2023 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com The best film of 2006. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 14, 2020 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) The most unlikely (and effective) feelgood movie you might ever see. Rated: 4/5 Aug 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Wouter d In love with insanity Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review Carlo R In 5 words: Stellar writing and masterclass acting. Longer: One of the best casting ever, regarding USA cinema. Not a single charachter is realistic, yet they all feel extremely real. Plus, you are laughin or crying most of the time. I am not really a fan of some "documentary like" views by the direction duo, but it is rare and easily overcome by the acting. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Alexsander F Um filme muito bom, que me surpreendeu bastante sobre os temas profundos abordados, é um longa que se faz sempre presente nos dias de hoje, filmes "Road Movies" são fantásticos. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review Audience Member One of my favorite movies, and an absolute masterpiece. It is somehow so funny, while being quite emotional. There is nothing about this movie that isn't amazing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review David S Little Miss Sunshine is a transcendent masterpiece, easily one of the greatest indie films of all time, blending raw emotion, biting humor, and profound insight into the human condition. At its core, the film is an emotionally charged exploration of family, failure, and the relentless pursuit of self-worth. Abigail Breslin’s portrayal of Olive, a young girl brimming with hope and innocence, is the heart of the film, her vulnerability grounding the absurdity around her. Greg Kinnear’s performance as the desperate, delusional father chasing success adds a layer of tragic realism, while Toni Collette, as the frazzled yet deeply compassionate mother, delivers a nuanced, quietly powerful performance that speaks to the emotional burdens mothers carry. Steve Carell stuns in a career-defining role as the disillusioned, suicidal uncle, exuding a heartbreaking sense of lost purpose, and Alan Arkin’s turn as the foul-mouthed, tender-hearted grandfather provides much-needed levity while delivering the film’s most poignant truths about life. The film's beauty lies in its delicate balance of dark humor and profound sentiment, weaving together the heartbreak and absurdity of life with a sincerity that makes it not just an indie gem, but one of the most heartfelt and emotionally resonant films ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/09/24 Full Review Benedetta V A very well-structured film. It touches on important themes that are still relevant today, without being heavy-handed, but instead adding a touch of irony. I recommend watching it in the original language. I really liked the evolution of all the characters throughout the story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis The Hoover family -- a man (Greg Kinnear), his wife (Toni Collette), an uncle (Steve Carell), a brother (Paul Dano) and a grandfather (Alan Arkin) -- puts the fun back in dysfunctional by piling into a VW bus and heading to California to support a daughter (Abigail Breslin) in her bid to win the Little Miss Sunshine Contest. The sanity of everyone involved is stretched to the limit as the group's quirks cause epic problems as they travel along their interstate route.
Director
Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Producer
Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa
Screenwriter
Michael Arndt
Distributor
Fox
Production Co
Big Beach, Bona Fide Productions
Rating
R (Language|Drug Content|Some Sex)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 20, 2006, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 26, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$59.9M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Dolby
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