Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- family movie night
- lazy afternoon
What critics said
Critics found the adaptation nimble and funny for younger audiences, but unevenly translated the charm of the source material and made its protagonist difficult to like.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Greg records his school experiences, opinions, family troubles, and attempted triumphs in a journal that shapes the film's presentation.
Greg treats middle school as a hierarchy governed by popularity, cafeteria politics, bullying, and the infamous cheese touch.
The adaptation incorporates line drawings and animation-inspired sequences derived from Greg's journal perspective.
Greg repeatedly schemes to gain recognition and status, while his treatment of Rowley exposes the limits of his shallow ambitions.
Films like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and why
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
Both are family coming-of-age comedies centered on middle-school social hierarchies, awkward friendships, and adolescent schemes.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Both use irreverent schoolyard humor and a young protagonist's attempts to gain popularity while navigating humiliating social mishaps.
The Little Rascals
Both are upbeat family comedies about immature boys, friendship, and chaotic efforts to improve their social standing.
How to Eat Fried Worms
Both adapt popular children's books into light, episodic live-action comedies with a mischievous young protagonist and exaggerated visual gags.
Movie Details
- Director
- Thor Freudenthal
- Release Date
- 2010-03-19
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (1838)
Cast
- Zachary Gordon
- Robert Capron
- Steve Zahn
- Devon Bostick
- Rachael Harris
- Chloë Grace Moretz
- Laine MacNeil
- Andrew McNee
- Connor Fielding
- Owen Fielding
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- 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 Diary of a Wimpy Kid about?
- An ambitious middle-school schemer chronicles his disastrous campaign for popularity while learning that friendship cannot be treated as a social ladder.
- What is Diary of a Wimpy Kid like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Diary of a Wimpy Kid as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Diary of a Wimpy Kid violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Diary of a Wimpy Kid as mild.
- What did critics think of Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
- Critics found the adaptation nimble and funny for younger audiences, but unevenly translated the charm of the source material and made its protagonist difficult to like.
- Which films are like Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
- Films with a similar feel include Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, The Little Rascals, and How to Eat Fried Worms.
- How long is Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
- In United States, Diary of a Wimpy Kid streams on Disney Plus.
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