Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Kernel Score: 87% · 7,707 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Released: 2006-07-26
Runtime: 102 minutes
Is Little Miss Sunshine worth watching?
Must-watch. A funny, warm and loving road-trip comedy about a dysfunctional family driving to a kids' pageant. The cast is superb, and the film is both silly and sincere about failure.
Watch it if you
- like quirky family comedies
- enjoy road-trip stories
- want laughs with a real heart
Skip it if you
- dislike dry, awkward humour
- want a polished feel-good gloss
Best for: Family night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Little Miss Sunshine
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.
Little Miss Sunshine parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Little Miss Sunshine is an R-rated comedy-drama following a dysfunctional family on a road trip, with strong language.
- Language: Strong — Contains frequent strong profanity, as reflected in review excerpts quoting explicit language from the family patriarch.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Little Miss Sunshine
If you liked Little Miss Sunshine, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Straight Story (1999) — 89%: A gentle journey across the country with a lot of heart.
- National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) — 79%: Classic family road-trip chaos.
- Broker (2022) — 80%: Unlikely travellers become a family on the road.
- Benny & Joon (1993) — 79%: Quirky characters finding love in odd ways.
- Ruby Sparks (2012) — 79%: Same directors, a quirky romantic comedy.
- Fatherhood (2021) — 86%: A warm, funny story about family under pressure.
Director
Valerie Faris
Cast
- Greg Kinnear as Richard Hoover
- Toni Collette as Sheryl Hoover
- Steve Carell as Frank Ginsberg
- Paul Dano as Dwayne Hoover
- Abigail Breslin as Olive Hoover
- Alan Arkin as Edwin Hoover
- Bryan Cranston as Stan Grossman
- Beth Grant as Nancy Jenkins
- Wallace Langham as Kirby
- Matt Winston as Pageant MC
Little Miss Sunshine FAQ
Is Little Miss Sunshine worth watching?
Must-watch. A funny, warm and loving road-trip comedy about a dysfunctional family driving to a kids' pageant. The cast is superb, and the film is both silly and sincere about failure.
Where can I watch Little Miss Sunshine?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Little Miss Sunshine OK for kids?
Little Miss Sunshine is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Little Miss Sunshine is an R-rated comedy-drama following a dysfunctional family on a road trip, with strong language.
What movies are like Little Miss Sunshine?
If you liked Little Miss Sunshine, try The Straight Story, National Lampoon's Vacation, Broker and Benny & Joon.