The Florida Project
A mischievous child’s enchanted summer exposes the precarious realities of poverty behind Orlando’s theme-park fantasy.
Overview
A poignant exploration of childhood innocence amid harsh realities and strained relationships.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- playful
- melancholic
- reflective evening
- indie film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Sean Baker’s colorful, empathetic social realism and the performances while recognizing its sobering portrait of poverty.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The motel exteriors and tourist strip are rendered in striking 35mm color while Moonee's childhood unfolds amid deprivation.
Bobby accommodates long-term motel residents, while Ashley shares pilfered meals and neighbors support Halley and Moonee.
Moonee's pranks and roaming friendships structure the summer even as her family faces worsening instability.
The family lives in a budget motel along commercial strips serving Walt Disney World visitors while struggling to survive there.
Films like The Florida Project, and why
American Honey
empathetic social realism, child poverty, and an intimate portrait of marginalized families
Shoplifters
naturalistic performances, working-class precarity, and compassionate observation of people living outside mainstream America
Nobody Knows
child-centered coming of age, economic hardship, and bittersweet family drama
Beasts of the Southern Wild
sunlit visual style contrasted with social deprivation and emotionally complex parent-child relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Sean Baker
- Release Date
- 2017-10-06
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (3200)
Cast
- Brooklynn Prince
- Bria Vinaite
- Willem Dafoe
- Christopher Rivera
- Valeria Cotto
- Mela Murder
- Josie Olivo
- Caleb Landry Jones
- Aiden Malik
- Edward Pagan
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 The Florida Project about?
- A mischievous child’s enchanted summer exposes the precarious realities of poverty behind Orlando’s theme-park fantasy.
- What is The Florida Project like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Florida Project as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Florida Project violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Florida Project as mild.
- What did critics think of The Florida Project?
- Critics broadly praised Sean Baker’s colorful, empathetic social realism and the performances while recognizing its sobering portrait of poverty.
- Which films are like The Florida Project?
- Films with a similar feel include American Honey, Shoplifters, Nobody Knows, and Beasts of the Southern Wild.
- How long is The Florida Project?
- The Florida Project runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Florida Project?
- In United States, The Florida Project is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
