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The Mighty

The Mighty

The quest for friendship is the noblest cause of all

1998100 minPG-13Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Director
Peter Chelsom
Starring
Sharon Stone, Elden Henson, Kieran Culkin, Gena Rowlands

Kevin, an intelligent guy helps out Maxwell to improve his reading skills. In return, Kevin wants Maxwell to take him out places since he is not authorized to go out. Being the social outcasts of the town, Kevin and Maxwell come to realize that they are similar to each other and accept that they are "freaks" and nothing will stop them.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Mighty?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Mighty streaming on Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Mighty?

The Mighty earns 7 badges, led by Top 10% in Comedy and Standout acting.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Mighty worth watching?

The Mighty's Midcredits score is the 88th percentile of all films, from 25K ratings across 4 sources. 77% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

88th percentile

Better received than 88% of films

92nd percentile among Comedy89th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)85th
Approval (how many liked it)87th

72 /100

85th percentile of all films

91st percentile among Comedy88th percentile among 1990s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.5 — solid but not unanimous.

77% liked it

87th percentile of all films

91st percentile among Comedy88th percentile among 1990s
77% rated it 7–1023% rated it 1–6

Critics 74% · Audience 79%

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

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 4 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Original Song - Motion Picture
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Reach

How many have seen it

88th percentile

25K ratings across platforms

86th percentile among Comedy82nd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$88K
Domestic gross$2.7M
Worldwide gross$2.7M

55th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A story about two misfit boys—one physically disabled, one learning disabled—who form an unlikely friendship.

Fans praised

  • Genuinely moving and emotionally resonant, often bringing tears
  • Outstanding young leads with strong chemistry and believable friendship
  • Uplifting message about friendship overcoming adversity without cheap sentiment

Detractors panned

  • Overly sentimental and emotionally manipulative
  • Formulaic, cliché-ridden story with predictable beats

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Young leads praised as exceptional; supporting cast solid but some critics note overacting

Emotional impactDivisive85

Highly tearjerking and cathartic for fans; detractors call it manipulative

Sound and musicDivisive80

Score praised as emotionally stirring and fitting

CharactersDivisive75

Warm, well-drawn leads; some adult characters seen as one-dimensional

EndingDivisive75

Satisfying and poignant for fans; detractors find it overly sentimental

DialogueDivisive65

Some witty lines and King Arthur references; occasionally cheesy

Plot and storyDivisive60

Heartwarming but predictable, following familiar disabled-friendship arc

Originality35

Frequently compared to other coming-of-age dramas; seen as derivative

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 10 points higher than critics.

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

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Mighty like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Quiet and reflective: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are in a patient, quiet mood.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. 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

Quiet and reflective.

Moods
HopefulWarmMelancholicCathartic
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmTender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its emotional material straight with warmth and tenderness, never undercutting the sincere bond between the boys.
The rideThe middle section carries the weight of the boys' struggles, but the overall tone remains hopeful and warm.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically from the meeting of the two boys through their deepening bond and the eventual loss, with a brief framing device of the surviving protagonist writing their story.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with the warmth of an enduring friendship alongside the sadness of loss, balanced by a belief that the bond has transformed the survivor's life.
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 archetypeTwo isolated boys find purpose and self-worth through their friendship; the narrative arc is one of emotional recovery and transformation.

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% (this title) · 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% · 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 filmsSelf-worth · 7% of filmsComing of age · 5% 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 story is built on the transformative power of an unlikely friendship that helps both boys see their own value and face the world together.
StanceThe film affirms the value of friendship and self-acceptance, celebrating the boys' resilience in the face of social ostracism.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Trevor Jones
SettingA small American town in the 1990s, where two socially isolated boys navigate school and home life.
MusicA gentle orchestral score that underscores the emotional beats without overwhelming the story.

Content guide

Is The Mighty okay for kids?

PG-13

The Mighty is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for elements of violence and peril” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (64/100), sexual content at mild (20/100), language at moderate (56/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (40/100) and frightening material at moderate (58/100). Overall it is heavier than 80% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 6 other countries
  • Canada14A
  • Germany6
  • FranceU
  • Belgium16
  • CzechiaU
  • Sweden11
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 50% of all filmsHeavier than 80% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 82%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 29%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 80%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 80%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 71%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence.

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 The Mighty have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Mighty?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Sharon Stone
as Gwen Dillon
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion PictureTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Elden Henson
as Maxwell Kane
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kieran Culkin
as Kevin Dillon
Gena Rowlands
as Gram
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Harry Dean Stanton
as Grim
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Meat Loaf
as Iggy
Jenifer Lewis
as Mrs. Addison
Dov Tiefenbach
as Doghouse Boy #1
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Michael Colton
as Doghouse Boy #2
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Daniel Lee
as Doghouse Boy #3
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Mighty?

Movies like The Mighty include Paddleton (2019), Handsome Devil (2016) and Compartment Number 6 (2021). Of the 12 closest matches, several are odd-couple stories, and several are coming-of-age stories.

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

11 of these 12 share its subject: friendship. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Mighty?

2.6K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: odd couple. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.