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My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown

1989·Movie
1h 43min·R
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

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My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension4
  • Fast Pace4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Deeply moving and hopeful

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Pathos9
  • Coming of Age9
  • Family Dynamics9

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Situational Comedy2
  • Cringe Humor2

World

A real life story, growing up, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting10
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

A film about life, laughter, and the occasional miracle.

No one expects much from Christy Brown, a boy with cerebral palsy born into a working-class Irish family. Though Christy is a spastic quadriplegic and essentially paralyzed, a miraculous event occurs when, at the age of 5, he demonstrates control of his left foot by using chalk to scrawl a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother — and no shortage of grit and determination — Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
Biographical DramaOvercoming AdversityIrish Working-Class LifeDisability RepresentationPowerful PerformancesTriumph of the Human SpiritFamily BondsSocial Commentary

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90/100 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 97). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown rated?

R

It's rated R in the United States.

How long is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?

1 h 43 min

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown runs 1 h 43 min.

Is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?

Critics98
Audiences84

Not quite. Critics rate My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown higher (98) than audiences (84). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown a box office hit?

Budget$645,180
Box office$15 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $645,180 to make and earned $15 million worldwide, 22.9 times its budget.

What language is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Ireland, United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?

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GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown in 16 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown use?

Deliberate Values DissonanceAnguished Declaration of LoveObfuscating DisabilityHandy FeetOscar BaitSophisticated as HellComposite CharacterMassive Numbered SiblingsFlashbackGenius CrippleJerk with a Heart of GoldIronically Disabled Artistand 1 more

TV Tropes lists 13 storytelling tropes for My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, including Deliberate Values Dissonance, Anguished Declaration of Love, Obfuscating Disability.