A warm, sentimental odd-couple friendship drama with enough humor and emotional sincerity to land as a crowd-pleaser. It’s especially appealing if you like underdog stories about kids finding dignity, companionship, and a sense of self through each other.
Kevin, an intelligent guy helps out Maxwell to improve his reading skills. In return, Kevin wants Maxwell to take him out places since he is not authorized to go out. Being the social outcasts of the town, Kevin and Maxwell come to realize that they are similar to each other and accept that they are "freaks" and nothing will stop them.
Director
Peter Chelsom
Cast
Sharon Stone, Elden Henson, Kieran Culkin
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, sentimental odd-couple friendship drama with enough humor and emotional sincerity to land as a crowd-pleaser. It’s especially appealing if you like underdog stories about kids finding dignity, companionship, and a sense of self through each other.
Best for
viewers who like heartfelt coming-of-age dramas
fans of friendship stories with a bittersweet edge
people drawn to 1990s family-friendly tearjerkers
audiences who enjoy earnest performances from young actors
Skip if
you want a gritty or realistic portrait of disability
you dislike sentimental, message-driven dramas
you prefer fast-paced plots over character bonding
you’re sensitive to movies that lean heavily on emotional manipulation
Overview
The Mighty is a sincere, old-school tearjerker in the best and most obvious sense: it wants you to care, and it usually earns that care. The central friendship has a sweet, lived-in quality, and the movie’s blend of humor and melancholy gives it a gentler shape than many similar “misfit kids” dramas.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Matt_Samahl (4★) · 200 likes
Kevin? You really had to name another Culkin, Kevin?
McGrey (3.5★) · 88 likes
Ahhh I didn’t know that that was happening 😔 Could this be any gayer, and we all know queer stories end in soul crushing heartaches.
DirkH (4★) · 82 likes
This film hits all the emotional notes a film like this should. It does so with perfect pitch. Adapted from the wonderful book 'Freak, the Mighty', this story is mainly about the power of friendship and dealing with the cards you've been dealt. The bond that develops between these two boys feels authentic and that makes the way the story unfolds all the more dramatic and engaging. The stars of this film are definitely Kieran Culkin and Elden Henson. Physically… more
eddie · 79 likes
kieran was 35 in this btw
art (4.5★) · 62 likes
wouldve so easily made this my entire personality when i was 10