The Fabelmans (2022)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A young aspiring filmmaker explores how the power of cinema can help him navigate the complexities of his dysfunctional family.
The story
In 1952, the Fabelman family lives in New Jersey, where young Sammy becomes fascinated by the magic of cinema after seeing his first film. As he begins to experiment with his own 8mm and 16mm footage, he discovers the power of storytelling. The narrative follows Sammy as his family moves across the country, navigating the complexities of their personal lives while he pursues his growing passion for filmmaking. Amidst the shifting landscapes of New Jersey, Arizona, and California, Sammy must navigate the tensions between his family's reality and his artistic aspirations, all while trying to find his own voice in a world that often views his craft as a mere hobby.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1952, Sammy Fabelman discovers his passion for filmmaking after seeing 'The Greatest Show on Earth.' He begins filming his family's life in New Jersey. After moving to Arizona in 1957, his interest grows as he learns about post-production and photography. During a trip, he discovers his mother, Mitzi, is having an affair with a family friend, Bennie. This revelation leads to a heated confrontation and a secret they must keep. The family eventually moves to California, where Sammy faces antisemitic bullying at school and a complicated romance with a girl named Monica. As his parents' marriage deteriorates and they eventually divorce, Sammy continues to use film as a way to process his reality. In the final act, living in Hollywood, Sammy works as a production assistant and meets legendary director John Ford. Ford offers him advice on framing, and the film concludes with a poignant moment of artistic realization as Sammy walks through a studio lot, finally finding his footing in the world of cinema.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 151
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steven Spielberg
- Writers
- Steven Spielberg · writer; Tony Kushner · writer
- Cast and characters
- Michelle Williams · Mitzi Fabelman; Paul Dano · Burt Fabelman; Seth Rogen · Bennie Loewy; Gabriel LaBelle · Sammy; Judd Hirsch · Boris; David Lynch · John Ford
- Genres
- coming-of-age; drama
- Themes
- family and passion; trauma; control
- Tone and mood
- wistful; fable-like
- Premise and plot tags
- semi-autobiographical; coming-of-age; filmmaking
- Source material / true-story basis
- Spielberg's early life and beginnings as a filmmaker
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 85 · scale: 100 · review count: 65; AlloCiné · score: 4.9 · scale: 5 · review count: 43
- Production trivia
- The 8mm and 16mm camera props used in the film had real film inside them.; The film's score was composed by John Williams, marking his 29th collaboration with Spielberg.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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