Overview
A heartfelt and humorous journey of a grandmother and her granddaughter navigating life's challenges together.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- acerbic
- intimate
- indie film night
- thoughtful weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Lily Tomlin's tour-de-force performance, Paul Weitz's wry and empathetic dialogue, brisk pacing, and emotionally powerful treatment of mothers, daughters, sexuality, and abortion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elle and Sage spend a pressured day together, gradually confronting family history and mutual vulnerability.
The one-day search for six hundred dollars takes Elle and Sage through encounters with old friends and former lovers.
Elle's recent breakup with her girlfriend and reunion with former relationships make her queer past central to the character drama.
Sage needs money before sundown in connection with an abortion, making abortion access the day's urgent conflict.
Films like Grandma, and why
The Kids Are All Right
wry, female-centered dramedy driven by sharp dialogue, intergenerational tension, and an emotionally forceful lead performance
The Skeleton Twins
compact road movie about family conflict, sexuality, and difficult personal decisions with a bittersweet comic tone
Enough Said
empathetic independent comedy-drama centered on women, family secrets, and emotionally candid conversations
Beginners
lgbtq+-inflected character drama balancing acerbic humor with grief, regret, and complicated family relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Weitz
- Release Date
- 2015-06-04
- Runtime
- 78 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (395)
Cast
- Lily Tomlin
- Julia Garner
- Marcia Gay Harden
- Judy Greer
- Laverne Cox
- Elizabeth Peña
- Sarah Burns
- Colleen Camp
- Lauren Tom
- Judy Geeson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Grandma about?
- Over one volatile day, an acerbic grandmother and her pregnant granddaughter hunt for abortion money while reopening the wounds of old relationships.
- What is Grandma like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Grandma as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Grandma violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Grandma.
- What did critics think of Grandma?
- Critics broadly praised Lily Tomlin's tour-de-force performance, Paul Weitz's wry and empathetic dialogue, brisk pacing, and emotionally powerful treatment of mothers, daughters, sexuality, and abortion.
- Which films are like Grandma?
- Films with a similar feel include The Kids Are All Right, The Skeleton Twins, Enough Said, and Beginners.
- How long is Grandma?
- Grandma runs 78 minutes.
- Where can I watch Grandma?
- In United States, Grandma is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
