My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989)
Kernel Score: 87% · 1,004 TMDB ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 1989-04-07
Runtime: 103 minutes
Where to watch My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
- Stream: MGM+
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-11-11.
Overview
No one expects much from Christy Brown, a boy with cerebral palsy born into a working-class Irish family. Though Christy is a spastic quadriplegic and essentially paralyzed, a miraculous event occurs when, at the age of 5, he demonstrates control of his left foot by using chalk to scrawl a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother — and no shortage of grit and determination — Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that My Left Foot is an R-rated biographical drama about a man with cerebral palsy overcoming disability, with mature themes but not gratuitous content.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Little to no violence; drama centers on physical disability and family hardship.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
If you liked My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Mask (1985) — 80%
- The Life of Chuck (2025) — 82%
- In America (2003) — 80%
- Oasis (2002) — 87%
- I Swear (2025) — 97%
- Bellissima (1952) — 87%
- You're Not You (2014) — 85%
- Nowhere Special (2020) — 81%
Director
Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis as Christy Brown
- Brenda Fricker as Mrs. Brown
- Alison Whelan as Sheila
- Kirsten Sheridan as Sharon
- Declan Croghan as Tom
- Eanna MacLiam as Benny
- Marie Conmee as Sadie
- Cyril Cusack as Lord Castlewelland
- Phelim Drew as Brian
- Ruth McCabe as Mary
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown FAQ
Is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown good?
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown has an 87% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels, our own critic-informed editorial score.
Where can I watch My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
In the US you can stream My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown on MGM+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown OK for kids?
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that My Left Foot is an R-rated biographical drama about a man with cerebral palsy overcoming disability, with mature themes but not gratuitous content.
What movies are like My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
If you liked My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, try Mask, The Life of Chuck, In America and Oasis.