Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- offbeat
- wistful
- sincere
- quiet evening
- romantic drama night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film touching and offbeat, with Hugh Dancy's performance elevating an otherwise overly tidy treatment of a challenging relationship.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Adam and Beth's relationship centers on the difficulties and possibilities of connecting across Adam's Asperger's syndrome and Beth's expectations of romance.
Adam's space fixation is a prominent personal trait and a recurring part of how he understands and communicates with others.
Beth's growing attachment to Adam is repeatedly tested by discomfort with his mannerisms and by pressure from family and social norms.
The story is rooted in Adam's downstairs apartment and Beth's nearby domestic world, with the emotional drama carried primarily through close character interaction.
Films like Adam, and why
The Station Agent
shared offbeat romance, emotional vulnerability, and socially awkward protagonists
Punch-Drunk Love
shared unconventional romantic connection, gentle humor, and neurodivergent-coded outsider perspective
The Giant Mechanical Man
shared bittersweet relationship drama, intimate character focus, and difficult emotional communication
Lars and the Real Girl
shared touching romantic comedy, wounded characters, and imperfect attempts at intimacy
Movie Details
- Director
- Max Mayer
- Release Date
- 2009-07-07
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (506)
Cast
- Hugh Dancy
- Rose Byrne
- Peter Gallagher
- Amy Irving
- Frankie Faison
- Mark Linn-Baker
- Haviland Morris
- Adam LeFevre
- Mike Hodge
- Peter O'Hara
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Adam about?
- An offbeat Manhattan romance asks whether genuine connection can survive radically different ways of reading the world.
- What is Adam like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Adam as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Adam violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Adam.
- What did critics think of Adam?
- Critics generally found the film touching and offbeat, with Hugh Dancy's performance elevating an otherwise overly tidy treatment of a challenging relationship.
- Which films are like Adam?
- Films with a similar feel include The Station Agent, Punch-Drunk Love, The Giant Mechanical Man, and Lars and the Real Girl.
- How long is Adam?
- Adam runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Adam?
- In United States, Adam is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
