Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- empathetic
- introspective
- reflective evening
- mental health awareness viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film amiable and attentive to character, with effective performances and a welcome avoidance of psych-ward comedy clichés, though many felt it was only mildly entertaining and insufficiently dramatic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Craig enters psychiatric care after recognizing his suicidal thoughts and gradually gains insight through therapy, friendship, creativity, and romance.
The hospital ward houses Craig alongside adults and young people, making the institutional setting a sustained social and emotional environment.
The film uses warmth and offbeat humor while directly addressing Craig's suicidal crisis, therapy, depression, and recovery.
Craig draws during his hospitalization, using art as one of the film's concrete avenues toward self-understanding.
Films like It's Kind of a Funny Story, and why
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Shares a coming-of-age story about teenage depression, emotional isolation, and tentative connection with an introspective, gently comic tone.
The Edge of Seventeen
Both are empathetic teen dramedies combining romantic awkwardness, mental health struggles, and warm character development.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Shares a hospital-centered exploration of psychological distress, recovery, and humane humor amid an ensemble of troubled characters.
Garden State
Both use witty, offbeat humor to approach depression, alienation, and the search for meaningful human connection.
Movie Details
- Directors
- Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
- Release Date
- 2010-10-08
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (2520)
Cast
- Keir Gilchrist
- Emma Roberts
- Zach Galifianakis
- Viola Davis
- Lauren Graham
- Jim Gaffigan
- Zoë Kravitz
- Jeremy Davies
- Matthew Maher
- Adrian Martinez
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- 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 It's Kind of a Funny Story about?
- A suicidal high-school student finds unexpected friendship, creativity, and emotional perspective during an unplanned week in a psychiatric ward.
- What is It's Kind of a Funny Story like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of It's Kind of a Funny Story as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is It's Kind of a Funny Story violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in It's Kind of a Funny Story.
- What did critics think of It's Kind of a Funny Story?
- Critics generally found the film amiable and attentive to character, with effective performances and a welcome avoidance of psych-ward comedy clichés, though many felt it was only mildly entertaining and insufficiently dramatic.
- Which films are like It's Kind of a Funny Story?
- Films with a similar feel include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Edge of Seventeen, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Garden State.
- How long is It's Kind of a Funny Story?
- It's Kind of a Funny Story runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch It's Kind of a Funny Story?
- In United States, It's Kind of a Funny Story streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
