My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989)
Kernel Score: 87% · 1,004 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 1989-04-07
Runtime: 103 minutes
Where to watch My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
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.
- The Life of Chuck (2025) — 82%
- In America (2003) — 80%
- Radio (2003) — 83%
- Oasis (2002) — 87%
- Bellissima (1952) — 87%
- I Swear (2025) — 97%
- 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 from 1,004 audience ratings.
Where can I watch My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown?
In the US you can 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 The Life of Chuck, In America, Radio and Oasis.