Overview
A charming tale of first love unfolds in the heart of Manhattan, where childhood memories collide with new emotions.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- sweet
- witty
- warm
- family movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics generally found the film sweet, touching, humorous, and pragmatic about young love, though some considered its whimsy and child narration uneven or ponderous.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gabe’s relationship with Rosemary centers the film on the bewildering, exhilarating experience of falling in love for the first time.
Gabe narrates and filters both his romance with Rosemary and his parents’ divorce process through a precocious but still childlike perspective.
School, karate classes, neighborhood encounters, and family life make Manhattan feel like Gabe’s personal map of growing up.
Gabe’s confusion about Leslie and Adam’s divorce unfolds alongside his first experience of romantic attachment.
Films like Little Manhattan, and why
The Wonder Years
Both are warm, witty coming of age stories about the confusing emotional intensity of first love and adolescence.
The Squid and the Whale
Both combine youthful romance, family tension, and an affectionate, nostalgic view of childhood in an urban setting.
Flipped
Both are gentle romantic comedies centered on young protagonists discovering love, jealousy, and emotional vulnerability.
The Parent Trap
Both use child-centered humor and sincere family drama to explore the transition from innocence toward adolescence.
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Levin
- Release Date
- 2005-09-26
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (784)
Cast
- Josh Hutcherson
- Charlie Ray
- Bradley Whitford
- Cynthia Nixon
- Willie Garson
- J. Kyle Manzay
- Josh Pais
- John Dossett
- Talia Balsam
- Jonah Meyerson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Little Manhattan about?
- A tender Manhattan childhood romance finds ten-year-old Gabe navigating first love, jealousy, karate, and his parents’ divorce.
- What is Little Manhattan like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Little Manhattan as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Little Manhattan violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Little Manhattan.
- What did critics think of Little Manhattan?
- Critics generally found the film sweet, touching, humorous, and pragmatic about young love, though some considered its whimsy and child narration uneven or ponderous.
- Which films are like Little Manhattan?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wonder Years, The Squid and the Whale, Flipped, and The Parent Trap.
- How long is Little Manhattan?
- Little Manhattan runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Little Manhattan?
- In United States, Little Manhattan streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
