Dear Frankie (2004)
Kernel Score: 78% · 216 ratings
Genres: Drama, Family
Released: 2004-05-18
Runtime: 105 minutes
Where to watch Dear Frankie
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Nine-year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they've run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands. As Frankie tracks the ship's progress around the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie's father for just one day...
Dear Frankie parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Dear Frankie is a family drama about a single mother's loving deception to protect her deaf son.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Dear Frankie
If you liked Dear Frankie, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- This Boy's Life (1993) — 78%
- Bird (2024) — 80%
- Like Stars on Earth (2007) — 87%
- The Sixth Sense (1999) — 89%
- Nebraska (2013) — 83%
- P.S. I Love You (2007) — 81%
- Two Is a Family (2016) — 89%
- Braveheart (1995) — 95%
Director
Shona Auerbach
Cast
- Gerard Butler as The Stranger
- Emily Mortimer as Lizzie
- Jack McElhone as Frankie
- Sharon Small as Marie
- Katy Murphy as Miss MacKenzie
- Jayd Johnson as Catriona
- Mary Riggans as Nell
- Cal MacAninch as Davey
- John Kazek as Ally
- Anne Marie Timoney as Janet
Dear Frankie FAQ
Is Dear Frankie good?
Dear Frankie has a 78% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 216 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Dear Frankie?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Dear Frankie OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Dear Frankie is a family drama about a single mother's loving deception to protect her deaf son.
What movies are like Dear Frankie?
If you liked Dear Frankie, try This Boy's Life, Bird, Like Stars on Earth and The Sixth Sense.