MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Little Man Tate

Little Man Tate

1991 · 99 min

A gentle, heartfelt drama about a gifted child and the adults who love him, balancing warmth and melancholy with quiet emotional depth.

Directed by
Jodie Foster
Genres
Drama, Family
Starring
Jodie Foster, Dianne Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd
Tagline
It's not what he knows. It's what he understands.
Overview
Dede is a sole parent trying to bring up her son Fred. When it is discovered that Fred is a genius, she is determined to ensure that Fred has all the opportunities that he needs, and that he is not taken advantage of by people who forget that his extremely powerful intellect is harboured in the body and emotions of a child.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Stream in the UK
  • MGM Plus Amazon Channel
More options Data from JustWatch
Directed by
Jodie Foster
Genres
Drama, Family
Starring
Jodie Foster, Dianne Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • warmstrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • tensestrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • family
  • identity
  • isolation
  • parenthood
  • coming-of-age
Places
  • big city
  • school
  • home
Era
contemporary
Audience
teen
Form
None
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence none
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action1
Horror0
Humour3
Realism8
Romance1
Tension4
Darkness3
Complexity5
Emotional weight7

More like this

Titles like Little Man Tate

TV series

The Queen's Gambit

2020

A stylish, slow-burning character study that makes chess feel thrilling, anchored by a magnetic performance and a poignant look at addiction and genius.

Same director: Scott Frank · Melancholic, earnest · about identity and isolation

Also
Same director: Scott Frank
Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • identity
  • isolation
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
1
Details
The Queen's GambitHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Gifted

2017

A gentle, heartfelt drama that balances courtroom tension with tender family moments, anchored by a precocious child and a devoted uncle.

Warm, earnest · about family and identity

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
101 min
Details
GiftedHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Out of My Mind

2024

A heartfelt and earnest coming-of-age story that balances moments of frustration and sadness with warmth and triumph, anchored by a strong central performance.

Warm, melancholic · about family and identity

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
107 min
Details
Out of My MindHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Taare Zameen Par

2007

A tender, heartfelt journey through a misunderstood child's struggle that swells with empathy, colour and music, leaving you moved and quietly hopeful.

Warm, melancholic · about family and identity

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
162 min
Details
Taare Zameen ParHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Hotel New Hampshire

1984

A bittersweet, eccentric family saga that veers between whimsy and tragedy, leaving a lingering sense of affection for its oddball characters.

Melancholic, earnest · about family and identity

Via
  • melancholic
  • earnest
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
110 min
Details
The Hotel New HampshireHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Wonder

2017

A gentle, heartfelt journey that balances moments of sadness with warmth and kindness, leaving you uplifted.

Warm, earnest · about family and identity

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
113 min
Details
WonderHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Orange Is the New Black

2013–2019

A sprawling, humane ensemble drama that balances bleak institutional cruelty with warm, funny, deeply human character studies.

Same director: Jodie Foster · Melancholic · about identity and isolation

Also
Same director: Jodie Foster
Via
  • melancholic
  • identity
  • isolation
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
7
Details
Orange Is the New BlackHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Shameless

2011–2021

A chaotic, funny, and heartbreaking look at a family scraping by, mixing outrageous schemes with genuine warmth and grit.

Same director: Scott Frank · Warm · about family

Also
Same director: Scott Frank
Via
  • warm
  • family
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
11
Details
ShamelessHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Good Will Hunting

1997

A warm, talky drama that earns its tears through sharp wit and slow-burning emotional honesty.

Warm, melancholic · about identity

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
127 min
Details
Good Will HuntingHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

I Swear

2025

A heartfelt, sometimes painful true story that balances raw struggle with warmth and gentle humour, leaving you moved and hopeful.

Warm, melancholic · about family and identity

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
121 min
Details
I SwearHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

C'mon C'mon

2021

A quiet black-and-white wander through tender conversations and small frustrations, leaving you moved and unexpectedly hopeful about people.

Warm, melancholic · about family and isolation

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • isolation
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
110 min
Details
C'mon C'monHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Boyhood

2014

A quietly absorbing, deeply human experience that feels like watching memories unfold in real time, warm and bittersweet.

Warm, melancholic · about family and identity

Via
  • warm
  • melancholic
  • family
  • identity
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
165 min
Details
BoyhoodHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Stream
  • MGM Plus Amazon Channel
Free
  • YouTube Free
Rent or buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
  • Sky Store
  • YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
drama, family
Directed by
Jodie Foster
Written by
Scott Frank
Starring
Jodie Foster, Dianne Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd, Harry Connick Jr., David Hyde Pierce, Debi Mazar, P.J. Ochlan, Michael Shulman
Music
Mark Isham
Cinematography
Mike Southon
Runtime
99 min
Country
United States of America
Languages
Hungarian, French, English

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata