Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Kernel Score: 76% · 2,113 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama
Released: 2011-12-25
Runtime: 129 minutes
Is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A sincere, emotional drama about a boy chasing a clue left by his late father. The performances are strong and it can move you, but its heavy sentiment and a precocious lead will divide viewers.
Watch it if you
- want a weepy drama about grief and family
- like quest stories driven by emotion rather than plot
- respond to earnest, sentimental filmmaking
Skip it if you
- dislike manipulative or overly sentimental drama
- find child narrators grating
Best for: Tissues-ready night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that this PG-13 drama follows a grieving boy coping with his father's death in the 9/11 attacks.
- Violence & scariness: A little — References the trauma and aftermath of 9/11 without graphic depiction.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
If you liked Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- My Name Is Khan (2010) — 90%: Heartfelt journey led by a character who sees the world differently
- The Hours (2002) — 81%: Quiet, emotional study of loss and the people left behind
- The Reader (2008) — 84%: Serious drama about memory, guilt and how the past lingers
- Billy Elliot (2000) — 88%: Young boy, grieving family, and a story that earns its tears
- Forrest Gump (1994) — 97%: Sentimental, big-hearted journey through a life shaped by loss
- Ben X (2007) — 75%: Sympathetic look at a young person who struggles to connect
Director
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Thomas Schell
- Sandra Bullock as Linda Schell
- Thomas Horn as Oskar Schell
- Viola Davis as Abby Black
- John Goodman as Stan the Doorman
- Jeffrey Wright as William Black
- Zoe Caldwell as Oskar's Grandmother
- Max von Sydow as The Renter
- Dennis Hearn as Minister
- Paul Klementowicz as Homeless Man
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close FAQ
Is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A sincere, emotional drama about a boy chasing a clue left by his late father. The performances are strong and it can move you, but its heavy sentiment and a precocious lead will divide viewers.
Where can I watch Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close OK for kids?
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that this PG-13 drama follows a grieving boy coping with his father's death in the 9/11 attacks.
What movies are like Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close?
If you liked Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, try My Name Is Khan, The Hours, The Reader and Billy Elliot.