Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- earnest
- sentimental
- family viewing with older children
- inspirational movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film well-meaning but manipulative, overly sentimental, and ethically misguided in its treatment of wartime history and Hiroshima.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Pepper’s devotion to his absent father and encounters with Ben Eagle turn faith into the central dramatic mechanism.
World War II and its consequences are experienced primarily through Pepper’s longing for and fear of losing his father.
The plot repeatedly links family separation, prayer, miracles, and hope in an openly inspirational register.
Pepper’s relationship with Hashimoto complicates wartime hostility and foregrounds compassion across national lines.
Films like Little Boy, and why
The War Room
faith-centered family drama, wartime separation, and emotionally direct inspirational storytelling
The Book Thief
young protagonist, World War II setting, family bonds, and earnest spiritual themes
Empire of the Sun
nostalgic small-town drama, childhood perspective, and sentimental treatment of wartime loss
Movie Details
- Director
- Alejandro Monteverde
- Release Date
- 2015-04-23
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (581)
Cast
- Jakob Salvati
- Emily Watson
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
- Michael Rapaport
- David Henrie
- Ben Chaplin
- Eduardo Verástegui
- Ted Levine
- Ali Landry
- Abraham Benrubi
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 Boy about?
- A determined wartime boy turns faith, friendship, and a magician’s lessons into a desperate hope of bringing his father home.
- What is Little Boy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Little Boy as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Little Boy violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Little Boy as mild.
- What did critics think of Little Boy?
- Critics broadly found the film well-meaning but manipulative, overly sentimental, and ethically misguided in its treatment of wartime history and Hiroshima.
- Which films are like Little Boy?
- Films with a similar feel include The War Room, The Book Thief, and Empire of the Sun.
- How long is Little Boy?
- Little Boy runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Little Boy?
- In United States, Little Boy streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
