The Mighty (1998)
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A boy with a physical disability and a boy with learning challenges form an imaginative bond to face the world together.
The story
13-year-old Kevin "Freak" Dillon, who suffers from Morquio syndrome and uses leg braces and crutches, is assigned as a reading tutor for 15-year-old Maxwell "Max" Kane. Max has learning challenges and is frequently tormented by a bully gang led by Tony "Blade" Fowler. After an incident at a firework festival leads to the two escaping into a lake with Kevin riding on Max's shoulders, they begin a series of adventures together. During a museum visit, Kevin uses a sword to knight them as "Freak the Mighty," establishing a unique bond of friendship and imagination.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Chelsom
- Writers
- Charles Leavitt · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Sharon Stone; Gena Rowlands; Gillian Anderson; Harry Dean Stanton; Kieran Culkin; James Gandolfini; Elden Henson
- Genres
- coming of age; buddy comedy-drama
- Themes
- friendship; imagination; disability; overcoming bullying
- Tone and mood
- spirited; sweet; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; buddy comedy-drama; independent
- Source material / true-story basis
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
- Content notes
- death
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was praised for its whimsical charm and its portrayal of the healing power of friendship.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 75% · review count: 40; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6.80/10 · scale: 10
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Supporting Actress · Nomination; Young Artist Awards · Best Performance in a Feature Film · 20th · Nomination; Young Artist Awards · Best Family Feature - Drama · 20th · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Song - Motion Picture · Nomination; Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards · Best Original Song · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was produced on a budget of $100,000.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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