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Trailer+1 trailer

Pretty Baby

1978Movie1 h 50 minR

Drama
65
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb6.5Metacritic665.8Rotten Tomatoes70%58%

A deeply moving, relentlessly bleak drama movie about history and growing up, with standout performances and cinematography.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · solo watch

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

The image of an adult world seen through a child's eyes.

In 1917 New Orleans, a 12-year-old girl is raised in a brothel by her prostitute mother.

Feels like

  • Tragic Period Drama
  • Precocious Child Performance
  • Atmospheric New Orleans
  • Emotionally Devastating
  • Historical Exploitation Narrative
  • Melancholic Tone
  • Visually Lush but Grim
  • Coming-of-Age in Adversity
  • Controversial Subject Matter

Cast

13 of 13

Crew

Directed by
Louis Malle
Written by
Louis Malle, Polly Platt
Produced by
Louis Malle
Music by
Jerry Wexler, Donald F. Johnson, Louis Cottrell

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 5, 1978 · 1 h 50 min · R

Released
April 5, 1978
Runtime
1 h 50 min
Age rating
R
Content
Nudity, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$4 million
Box office
$12 million
Available in
32 countries

Tropes

Absurdly Youthful Mother, Bittersweet Ending, Blonde, Brunette, Redhead +9

  • Absurdly Youthful Mother
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Blonde, Brunette, Redhead
  • Children Are Innocent
  • Deliberate Values Dissonance
  • The Edwardian Era
  • Last Guy Wins
  • Miss Kitty
  • Parental Abandonment
  • Platonic Prostitution
  • Nature Adores a Virgin
  • Unusually Uninteresting Sight

12 of 41 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Pretty Baby?"

Questions about Pretty Baby

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Pretty Baby?

Hoopla

In the United States, Pretty Baby is free with ads on Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 1 other country.

Is Pretty Baby worth watching?

65
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 65 (IMDb 6.5, Rotten Tomatoes 70%, and Metacritic 66).

Is Pretty Baby plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Will I feel good after watching Pretty Baby?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Was Pretty Baby a box office hit?

Budget$4 million
Box office$12 million

Yes: it cost about $4 million to make and earned $12 million worldwide, 3.3 times its budget.

What tropes does Pretty Baby use?

Absurdly Youthful MotherBittersweet EndingBlonde, Brunette, RedheadChildren Are InnocentDeliberate Values DissonanceThe Edwardian EraLast Guy WinsMiss KittyParental AbandonmentPlatonic ProstitutionNature Adores a VirginUnusually Uninteresting Sightand 29 more

TV Tropes lists 41 tropes for it, including Absurdly Youthful Mother, Bittersweet Ending, and Blonde, Brunette, Redhead.