Skip to content
MovieCove
My Generation

My Generation

Michael Caine invites you to celebrate the '60s: The decade that changed the world

201785 minTV-PGMidcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Director
David Batty
Starring
Michael Caine, Twiggy, Mary Quant, Marianne Faithfull

The vivid and inspiring story of British film icon Michael Caine's personal journey through 1960s swinging London.

Where to watch

Where can I watch My Generation?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists My Generation streaming on Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

FreeFree

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about My Generation?

My Generation earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Hopeful.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is My Generation worth watching?

My Generation's Midcredits score is the 85th percentile of all films, from 5K ratings across 4 sources. 76% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

85th percentile

Better received than 85% of films

65th percentile among Documentary85th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)81st
Approval (how many liked it)86th

71 /100

81st percentile of all films

53rd percentile among Documentary81st percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.2 — solid but not unanimous.

76% liked it

86th percentile of all films

72nd percentile among Documentary87th percentile among 2010s
76% rated it 7–1024% rated it 1–6

Critics 79% · Audience 67%

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

82nd percentile

5K ratings across platforms

96th percentile among Documentary84th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 31% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$546K

80th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

It's a nostalgia trip through 1960s London built on Michael Caine's narration and archival footage — whether that's a delightful time capsule or a pointless clip show depends on the viewer's connection to the era.

Fans praised

  • Michael Caine's charismatic narration and personal stories
  • Seamless editing blending modern narration with archival clips
  • Evocative atmosphere capturing the spirit of 1960s London

Detractors panned

  • Nothing new or unseen for those familiar with the era
  • Unclear purpose and lack of a coherent point or statement
  • Cheap-feeling assembly of mostly old footage

What stands out

Sound and music80

Killer soundtrack of 60s hits like The Who and The Stones

Acting80

Caine's amiable, articulate narration carries the film

Atmosphere75

Captures the feel of swinging 60s London

Emotional impact70

Strong nostalgia for those who lived the era; a time warp

Pacing50

Fast montages energize but detractors find it drawn-out

Originality45

Familiar nostalgia footage; unique for its editing approach but not fresh subject matter

Plot and story45

Scattershot structure; fans find it evocative, detractors find it purposeless

Preferred by

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

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is My Generation 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
WarmJoyfulHopeful
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
WarmSentimental · 8% of films
Told as
Chaptered · 1% of films: Told in titled chapters or clearly separate parts.
ToneThe film presents its material with affectionate nostalgia and earnest celebration, never undercutting the era's significance.
The rideThe film sustains a consistently upbeat, affectionate, and celebratory tone as it revisits the creative energy of the 1960s.
StructureThe film is organized into three thematic chapters covering the birth, peak, and early decline of the Swinging Sixties, as noted in reviews.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe documentary leaves the viewer inspired by the spirit of the 1960s and optimistic about the power of youth and change.
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).
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%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThis documentary chronicles the cultural revolution of 1960s England through archival footage and interviews, following no single protagonist's journey or narrative arc.

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 filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% (this title) · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • 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% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9% (this title): Community 14% (this title) · 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%

Society

Community · 14% of filmsClass · 3% of filmsFreedom · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film examines how the 1960s counterculture, rock music, fashion, and art dismantled rigid class structures and created a new sense of collective identity and liberation in England.
StanceThe documentary presents the 1960s cultural revolution as a positive, liberating force that broke down class barriers and opened up new possibilities.

The world

Mid 20th centuryUrbanDomesticRealistic
RockPopForeground music · licensed compilation
SettingSwinging London of the 1960s, with archival footage of streets, clubs, and studios
MusicFeatures a soundtrack of 1960s hits from The Beatles, The Who, and other era-defining artists.

Content guide

Is My Generation okay for kids?

Ratings in 7 other countries
  • UK12
  • Canada18A
  • AustraliaM
  • Ireland12
  • JapanPG12
  • BelgiumAL
  • Russia16+

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does My Generation have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in My Generation?

Cast

Michael Caine
as Self - Presenter
Twiggy
as Self
Mary Quant
as Self
Marianne Faithfull
as Self
Joan Collins
as Self
Roger Daltrey
as Self
Sandie Shaw
as Self
David Hockney
as Self
Lulu
as Self
David Puttnam
as Self

Crew

More like this

What are movies like My Generation?

The closest match to My Generation is Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022); both are films set in London.

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

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with My Generation?

Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.