Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- melancholic
- sincere
- family movie night
- quiet weekend
What critics said
Critics found some charm in the adoption drama but broadly judged its emotional manipulation and inconsistent tone to undermine its intended heartfelt impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dennis believes he is from Mars and remains isolated because adults struggle to understand his behavior.
David considers adopting Dennis and must learn how to become a reliable father figure.
Dennis’s claim of being Martian expresses his profound sense of disconnection and childhood trauma rather than establishing a conventional science-fiction world.
David’s prospective adoption of a six-year-old outcast drives the film’s central conflict.
Films like Martian Child, and why
The Pursuit of Happyness
shared adoption-centered family drama, gentle comedy, and emotionally vulnerable outsider characters
Instant Family
shared heartfelt domestic drama, child-centered emotional stakes, and themes of unconventional family
Starman
shared whimsical family comedy, child alienation, and a warm outsider perspective
Movie Details
- Director
- Menno Meyjes
- Release Date
- 2007-11-02
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (334)
Cast
- John Cusack
- Bobby Coleman
- Amanda Peet
- Sophie Okonedo
- Joan Cusack
- Oliver Platt
- Richard Schiff
- Taya Calicetto
- David Kaye
- Braxton Bonneville
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon 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 Martian Child about?
- A grieving science-fiction author finds his ideas about other worlds tested when he tries to become a father to a boy who insists he came from Mars.
- What is Martian Child like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Martian Child as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Martian Child violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Martian Child.
- What did critics think of Martian Child?
- Critics found some charm in the adoption drama but broadly judged its emotional manipulation and inconsistent tone to undermine its intended heartfelt impact.
- Which films are like Martian Child?
- Films with a similar feel include The Pursuit of Happyness, Instant Family, and Starman.
- How long is Martian Child?
- Martian Child runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Martian Child?
- In United States, Martian Child streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
