My Girl (1991)

Kernel Score: 83% · 2,256 ratings · Rated PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Released: 1991-11-27

Runtime: 103 minutes

Is My Girl worth watching?

Worth watching. My Girl is a gentle 1970s coming-of-age story about a girl obsessed with death and her best friend. It's charming and sad, and the final act is memorably heartbreaking, so bring tissues.

Watch it if you

  • like nostalgic coming-of-age stories
  • enjoy childhood friendship dramas
  • don't mind a tearjerker

Skip it if you

  • want to avoid sad endings
  • dislike sentimental family dramas

Best for: Nostalgic night in

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch My Girl

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is "allergic to everything", and sticks with Vada despite her hangups. When Vada's father hires Shelly, and begins to fall for her, things take a turn to the worse...

My Girl parents' guide: ages 8+

Parents need to know that My Girl is a coming-of-age PG drama that deals candidly with death and grief.

  • Violence & scariness: A little — Deals with themes of death, including a childhood friend's death, though not graphically.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like My Girl

If you liked My Girl, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Forrest Gump (1994) — 97%: Sentimental, funny and moving story spanning one life
  • Life Is Beautiful (1997) — 93%: Humour and heartbreak woven together with great tenderness
  • A Man Called Otto (2022) — 87%: Grumpy loner and found-family warmth with funny and sad moments
  • The Kid (1921) — 92%: Silent classic about love between an adult and a child
  • Mr. Church (2016) — 85%: Gentle story about an unlikely bond that changes a girl's life
  • The Magic of Belle Isle (2012) — 77%: Quiet, warm drama about a friendship that heals

Director

Howard Zieff

Cast

  • Anna Chlumsky as Vada Sultenfuss
  • Macaulay Culkin as Thomas J. Sennett
  • Dan Aykroyd as Harry Sultenfuss
  • Jamie Lee Curtis as Shelly DeVoto
  • Richard Masur as Phil Sultenfuss
  • Griffin Dunne as Mr. Jake Bixler
  • Ann Nelson as Gramoo Sultenfuss
  • Peter Michael Goetz as Dr. Welty
  • Jane Hallaren as Nurse Randall
  • Anthony R. Jones as Arthur

My Girl FAQ

Is My Girl worth watching?

Worth watching. My Girl is a gentle 1970s coming-of-age story about a girl obsessed with death and her best friend. It's charming and sad, and the final act is memorably heartbreaking, so bring tissues.

Where can I watch My Girl?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is My Girl OK for kids?

My Girl is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that My Girl is a coming-of-age PG drama that deals candidly with death and grief.

What movies are like My Girl?

If you liked My Girl, try Forrest Gump, Life Is Beautiful, A Man Called Otto and The Kid.