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Is Anybody There?

Is Anybody There?

200894 minPG-13Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Director
John Crowley
Starring
Michael Caine, Bill Milner, David Morrissey, Anne-Marie Duff

A young boy who lives in an old folks' home strikes up a friendship with a retired magician.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Is Anybody There??

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Is Anybody There? on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Is Anybody There??

Is Anybody There? earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Non-US Viewers.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Is Anybody There? worth watching?

Is Anybody There?'s Midcredits score is the 66th percentile of all films, from 6.7K ratings across 6 sources. 62% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

66th percentile

Better received than 66% of films

67th percentile among Drama63rd percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)61st
Approval (how many liked it)68th

65 /100

61st percentile of all films

62nd percentile among Drama60th percentile among 2000s

Critics 54 · Audience 66

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

62% liked it

68th percentile of all films

70th percentile among Drama66th percentile among 2000s
62% rated it 7–1038% rated it 1–6

Critics 65% · Audience 55%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 2 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

72nd percentile

6.7K ratings across platforms

74th percentile among Drama64th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$46K
Domestic gross$2M
Worldwide gross$3.4M

75th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A story about an unlikely friendship between a lonely boy and a cantankerous old magician in a rundown retirement home.

Fans praised

  • Michael Caine's performance as a fading magician is deeply affecting and among his finest
  • Tender bond between the boy and the old man feels genuine and emotionally resonant
  • Dark humor leavens the grim subject matter without cheapening it

Detractors panned

  • Sentimental and predictable, following a well-worn formula without fresh insight
  • Script is thin, with characters who are caricatures rather than people
  • Mood is relentlessly morbid and depressing, lacking the lightness to balance it

What stands out

ActingDivisive80

Caine and Milner give strong, nuanced performances; supporting cast is solid but some roles are caricatures

Emotional impactDivisive55

Moves some viewers deeply but others find it manipulative or unearned

PacingDivisive50

Leisurely and sometimes sluggish; character development feels rushed despite short runtime

HumorDivisive50

Dark comedy works for some but falls flat or feels inappropriate for others

CharactersDivisive45

Elderly residents are thinly drawn clichés; central duo is better developed but still familiar

EndingDivisive45

Conclusion feels rushed and overly sentimental to detractors, poignant to fans

Plot and storyDivisive40

Formulaic and predictable, with a rushed third act and contrived melodrama

OriginalityDivisive30

Retreads familiar territory of old-man-young-boy friendship and nursing home dramas

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 11 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users 8 points apart

Watch experience

What is Is Anybody There? like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmMelancholicContemplative
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmSardonic · 1% of films: Mocking with a bitter edge.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film holds its serious subject matter with a sardonic wit but ultimately sincere warmth, never undercutting its emotional core.
The rideThe film balances warmth and melancholy, with the emotional weight centered on the growing friendship.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly as Edward and Clarence's friendship develops over time.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with a sense of hope and warmth despite its themes of aging and loss.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).RebirthHealing
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

13% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film follows a lonely boy and a grieving widower who form a healing friendship in a retirement home, focusing on their emotional renewal.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% (this title) · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsComing of age · 5% of filmsGrief · 6% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the transformative power of an unlikely friendship across generations, as both characters confront loneliness and loss.
StanceThe film celebrates the healing power of connection across generations.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Joby Talbot
SettingA family-run retirement home in late-20th-century England.

Content guide

Is Is Anybody There? okay for kids?

PG-13

Is Anybody There? is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for language including sexual references, and some disturbing images” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • UK12A
  • Germany12
  • Ireland12
  • Greece13
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (10 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Is Anybody There? have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Is Anybody There??

Cast

Michael Caine
as Clarence
Bill Milner
as Edward
David Morrissey
as Dad
Anne-Marie Duff
as Mum
Rosemary Harris
as Elsie
Ralph Riach
as Clive
Linzey Cocker
as Tanya
Elizabeth Spriggs
as Prudence
Leslie Phillips
as Reg
Sylvia Syms
as Lilian

Crew

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What are movies like Is Anybody There?

Movies like Is Anybody There? include Empire of Light (2022), The Iron Lady (2011) and Adventureland (2009). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in London, and most are stories of healing.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its praise for acting. Those cards say what else they share.

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What else shares a premise, people or place with Is Anybody There??

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