Mary and Max (2009)
Kernel Score: 87% · 2,209 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Released: 2009-04-09
Runtime: 92 minutes
Is Mary and Max worth watching?
Must-watch. A stop-motion story of two lonely pen pals, one in Melbourne and one in New York, that is bleakly funny and very moving. It deals with loneliness and mental health and is clearly aimed at adults.
Watch it if you
- like dark, quirky animation for grown-ups
- enjoy offbeat friendship stories
- don't mind crying a little
Skip it if you
- expect a kids' film
- want something upbeat throughout
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Mary and Max
- Stream: Philo, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York.
Mary and Max parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Mary and Max is an adult stop-motion animated drama about an unlikely pen-pal friendship touching on depression and suicide.
- Violence & scariness: Some — The film includes a depicted suicide attempt and themes of loneliness and depression.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Mary and Max
If you liked Mary and Max, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Memoir of a Snail (2024) — 90%: Same style of grim, tender stop-motion about outcasts.
- Anomalisa (2015) — 80%: Adult stop-motion about loneliness and human connection.
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988) — 96%: Animated heartbreak for adults, devastating and humane.
- I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018) — 92%: Bittersweet story about connection and mortality.
- Soul (2020) — 90%: Thoughtful animation about finding meaning in ordinary life.
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) — 91%: Gentle fable about friendship and kindness.
Director
Cast
- Toni Collette as Mary (voice)
- Philip Seymour Hoffman as Max (voice)
- Barry Humphries as Narrator (voice)
- Eric Bana as Damien (voice)
- Bethany Whitmore as Young Mary (voice)
- Renée Geyer as Vera Lorraine Dinkle (voice)
- Ian 'Molly' Meldrum as Homeless Man (voice)
- John Flaus as Harvey Krumpet / Ken / Len Hislop (voice)
- Julie Forsyth as Bus Stop Mother / Kissing Woman (voice)
- Christopher Massey as 911 Operator / Ambulance Voice / Derisive Observer (voice)
Mary and Max FAQ
Is Mary and Max worth watching?
Must-watch. A stop-motion story of two lonely pen pals, one in Melbourne and one in New York, that is bleakly funny and very moving. It deals with loneliness and mental health and is clearly aimed at adults.
Where can I watch Mary and Max?
In the US you can stream Mary and Max on Philo, AMC+ and Sundance Now, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Mary and Max OK for kids?
Mary and Max is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Mary and Max is an adult stop-motion animated drama about an unlikely pen-pal friendship touching on depression and suicide.
What movies are like Mary and Max?
If you liked Mary and Max, try Memoir of a Snail, Anomalisa, Grave of the Fireflies and I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.