The Fabelmans
A budding young filmmaker turns his camera on postwar family life, discovering that cinematic vision can reveal truths ordinary eyes resist.
Overview
A young boy's passion for filmmaking leads him to uncover deep family secrets.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- warm
- bittersweet
- reflective weekend
- family movie night with older teens
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a warm, deeply personal, visually accomplished coming-of-age drama anchored by strong performances and Spielberg's autobiographical perspective.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sammy uses home movies and filmmaking to process family tensions and see emotional truths that remain unspoken.
The fictional Fabelman family and Sammy's childhood closely rework Steven Spielberg's own upbringing and artistic development.
Mitzi's creative longing and Burt's technical career pull the family in opposing directions, reshaping their marriage and children's lives.
Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński render Sammy's recollections through carefully composed, cinematic images and film-within-film moments.
Films like The Fabelmans, and why
Roma
shared coming of age drama, family instability, artistic self-discovery, and autobiographical warmth
The Wonder Years
shared intimate family drama, childhood perspective, memory, and bittersweet emotional realism
Almost Famous
shared filmmaker coming of age, nostalgia, youthful creativity, and conflicted family relationships
Boyhood
shared semi autobiographical adolescence, eccentric family dynamics, and artistic ambition
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Release Date
- 2022-11-11
- Runtime
- 151 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (2893)
Cast
- Michelle Williams
- Paul Dano
- Seth Rogen
- Gabriel LaBelle
- Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord
- Keeley Karsten
- Alina Brace
- Julia Butters
- Birdie Borria
- Judd Hirsch
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
- 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 Fabelmans about?
- A budding young filmmaker turns his camera on postwar family life, discovering that cinematic vision can reveal truths ordinary eyes resist.
- What is The Fabelmans like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Fabelmans as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Fabelmans violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Fabelmans as mild.
- What did critics think of The Fabelmans?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a warm, deeply personal, visually accomplished coming-of-age drama anchored by strong performances and Spielberg's autobiographical perspective.
- Which films are like The Fabelmans?
- Films with a similar feel include Roma, The Wonder Years, Almost Famous, and Boyhood.
- How long is The Fabelmans?
- The Fabelmans runs 151 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Fabelmans?
- In United States, The Fabelmans streams on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus.
