Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- wistful
- warm
- reflective evening
- road movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an appealing, humane independent comedy drama whose offbeat charm and performances outweigh its occasional unevenness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Al Fountain leaves the expected route home and searches for the lake associated with his childhood while questioning his settled life.
The Kid's free-spirited lifestyle exposes Al to alternatives to professional routine and middle-aged conformity.
Al's improvised drive toward a childhood lake becomes an extended personal journey shaped by encounters with strangers.
The film places an electrical engineer's mid-life crisis alongside the Kid's unconventional energy and invitations to enjoy life.
Films like Box of Moonlight, and why
The Station Agent
shared themes of midlife dissatisfaction, spontaneous wandering, and personal reinvention in a gently comic character drama
Defending Your Life
shared free spirited tone, offbeat encounters, and road movie structure centered on an emotionally constrained protagonist
Local Hero
shared themes of escaping routine, eccentric companionship, and wistful self-discovery through a warm independent comedy drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Tom DiCillo
- Release Date
- 1996-08-29
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (80)
Cast
- John Turturro
- Sam Rockwell
- Catherine Keener
- Dermot Mulroney
- Lisa Blount
- Annie Corley
- Alexander Goodwin
- Mike Stanley
- Rica Martens
- Ray Aranha
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Box of Moonlight about?
- A buttoned-up engineer's detour toward a childhood lake becomes an eccentric, liberating encounter with a young man who challenges his settled life.
- What is Box of Moonlight like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Box of Moonlight as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Box of Moonlight violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Box of Moonlight.
- What did critics think of Box of Moonlight?
- Critics generally found the film an appealing, humane independent comedy drama whose offbeat charm and performances outweigh its occasional unevenness.
- Which films are like Box of Moonlight?
- Films with a similar feel include The Station Agent, Defending Your Life, and Local Hero.
- How long is Box of Moonlight?
- Box of Moonlight runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Box of Moonlight?
- In United States, Box of Moonlight is available to rent or buy from Fandango At Home.
