Overview
A young man's journey from the slums to the spotlight reveals the power of love and destiny.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- hopeful
- romantic
- inspirational movie night
- international cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an energetic, visually vivid, emotionally engaging drama that combines suspenseful storytelling with a powerful performance from Dev Patel.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jamal's police interrogation frames the layered recollection of his childhood, adolescence, and relationship with Latika.
The quiz show's enormous cash prize and national audience are repeatedly contrasted with Jamal's life in Mumbai's slums.
Jamal's pursuit of Latika is repeatedly obstructed by displacement, gang control, and the violence surrounding their childhoods.
Danny Boyle uses rapid movement, vivid city imagery, and densely populated Mumbai locations to give the setting propulsive presence.
Films like Slumdog Millionaire, and why
Lion
shared coming of age structure, poverty-focused drama, romantic yearning, and socially vivid urban setting
City of God
shared retrospective storytelling, class inequality, crime-adjacent danger, and emotionally uplifting romance
The Pursuit of Happyness
shared rags to riches trajectory, suspenseful game-centered premise, and hopeful romantic resolution
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
shared fast-moving ensemble drama, divided social classes, and romance shaped by dangerous circumstances
Movie Details
- Director
- Danny Boyle
- Release Date
- 2008-11-12
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (11623)
Cast
- Dev Patel
- Freida Pinto
- Madhur Mittal
- Anil Kapoor
- Mahesh Manjrekar
- Saurabh Shukla
- Irrfan Khan
- Ankur Vikal
- Tanay Chheda
- Ayush Mahesh Khedekar
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Slumdog Millionaire about?
- An orphan from Mumbai's slums turns a televised quiz-show interrogation into a sweeping account of survival, memory, and enduring love.
- What is Slumdog Millionaire like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Slumdog Millionaire as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Slumdog Millionaire violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Slumdog Millionaire as moderate.
- What did critics think of Slumdog Millionaire?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an energetic, visually vivid, emotionally engaging drama that combines suspenseful storytelling with a powerful performance from Dev Patel.
- Which films are like Slumdog Millionaire?
- Films with a similar feel include Lion, City of God, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
- How long is Slumdog Millionaire?
- Slumdog Millionaire runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Slumdog Millionaire?
- In United States, Slumdog Millionaire is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store.
