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Little Boxes

Play trailer 1:53 Poster for Little Boxes 2017,  1h 24m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Little Boxes: Trailer 1 Little Boxes: Trailer 1 Now Playing View more videos
Watchlist 70% 20 Reviews Tomatometer 49% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
70% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
It's the summer before sixth grade, and Clark (Armani Jackson) is the new-in-town biracial kid in a sea of white kids. Discovering that to be cool he needs to act more black, he fumbles to meet expectations, while his parents, Mack (Nelsan Ellis) and Gina (Melanie Lynskey), also strive to adjust to small-town living. Equipped for the many inherent challenges of New York, the members of the tight-knit family are ill prepared for the different set of obstacles that their new community presents.
Little Boxes

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Pleasantly packed with polite optimism, Little Boxes doesn't step outside its confines to carefully -- or wittily -- examine the nuances of "nice" suburban racism.

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Critics Reviews

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Soraya Nadia McDonald Andscape Sep 26, 2017
In Little Boxes, there's cause for optimism because Meyer and Howell are doing interesting work that's absolutely necessary and not always easy: interrogating whiteness and the ways it shapes the people of color who encounter it. Go to Full Review
Katie Walsh Los Angeles Times Apr 14, 2017
"Little Boxes" offers tame social commentary in a pleasant package. Go to Full Review
Tricia Olszewski TheWrap Apr 14, 2017
Has good intentions if not the subtlest delivery. Coming in at merely 84 minutes, the film had plenty of room to include more shading of its characters. Go to Full Review
Stephen Saito Moveable Fest Mar 1, 2019
A satisfying family drama and a provocative comedy, and for a film that shows how unfortunate easy labels can be, it resoundingly proves its point by not easily being categorized itself. Go to Full Review
Jon Winkler The Young Folks Apr 28, 2017
4/10
The greatest error in Little Boxes is that, despite dealing with a very serious and resonant topic, it's essentially harmless. It says nothing new and it's not funny enough to distract from how toothless it reveals itself to be. Go to Full Review
Kenji Fujishima Paste Magazine Apr 14, 2017
6.3/10
Little Boxes at least acknowledges that messiness in a manner that feels like the filmmakers honestly, if at times clumsily, wrestling with an agonizingly complex issue. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Theodore W Jan 9, 2018 I liked this little film. Would have made an even better tv show.
Albus S Nov 4, 2017 Very well observed and scripted. It's open ended so there are no conclusions and that's OK because this is just a snap shot of this family's life. Great cast and performances too. It stimulated a great discussion in my own nicely diverse London household. Recommended. See more
Leia L Sep 13, 2017 I loved this movie! What happens when a big city couple end up in a small college town? The movie is both funny and sweet.
Rey W Jun 7, 2017 Little boxes is a movie that attempts to address the many struggles of interracial Americans, and the prejudices that exist still in todays society. I, being a white female in Australia, will be the first to admit that I have lived a very privileged life, unintentionally ignorant to the many racial struggles of many Black Americans. About a year ago, I met a very dear friend of mine, while I was travelling in San Francisco. I was instantly impressed with how straightforward she was, how unapologetic she was about who she was, and how proud she was to be a strong, black, educated, and independent woman in America. It was she who first really introduced me to how much prejudice still existed in the world. Hate. Paranoia. Reverse racism. Fear. Violence. The list went on. There was no sugar coating the extremes of this disease that festered within our society, and still, I knew I was never going to be able to fully understand. I feel like this movie was only a very sugarcoated introduction to the issues of black, and interracial people in America. In saying that, I feel like many of us are not ready to hear the truth about how things really are, and any movie that begins to address the racial prejudices, is a step in the right direction. The movie is pleasant enough to watch. It was neither offensive, nor overly moving. There were some funny bits, some cringeworthy, some ALMOST touching, but all and all, it was pretty forgettable. I feel like this may be a good movie to show to your kids, if you want to delicately introduce them to issues such as racism, peer pressure, drugs, issues with identity, underage drinking, and the difficulties to stay unified in difficult situations, especially when it comes to family. Will I watch this movie again? Probably not. If I do, there is a good chance I will have forgotten ever watching it in the first place. See more
Hermione L May 3, 2017 Liked the subtly, it's just that it sucked. Boring and bad acting. Poor writing.
Albus W Apr 30, 2017 Interesting points raised.
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Little Boxes

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Rob Meyer

Director

Melanie Lynskey

Gina

Nelsan Ellis

Mack

Armani Jackson

Clark

Oona Laurence

Ambrosia

Janeane Garofalo

Helena

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Little Boxes

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Little Boxes

A scene from "Little Boxes." A scene from "Little Boxes." A scene from "Little Boxes." Little Boxes (2016) Little Boxes (2016) Little Boxes (2016) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis It's the summer before sixth grade, and Clark (Armani Jackson) is the new-in-town biracial kid in a sea of white kids. Discovering that to be cool he needs to act more black, he fumbles to meet expectations, while his parents, Mack (Nelsan Ellis) and Gina (Melanie Lynskey), also strive to adjust to small-town living. Equipped for the many inherent challenges of New York, the members of the tight-knit family are ill prepared for the different set of obstacles that their new community presents.
Director
Rob Meyer
Producer
Jared Goldman, Jordan Horowitz, Ken H. Keller, Caron Rudner
Screenwriter
Annie J. Howell
Distributor
Gunpowder & Sky
Production Co
Gilbert Films, Related Pictures, Mighty Engine
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 14, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 15, 2017
Runtime
1h 24m
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