The Kid (1921)
Kernel Score: 92% · 2,322 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Released: 1921-01-21
Runtime: 68 minutes
Is The Kid worth watching?
Must-watch. Chaplin's tramp raises an abandoned child in a silent film that's funny, touching and short at 68 minutes. It's an easy introduction to silent cinema, with surprisingly real emotion.
Watch it if you
- want an easy first silent film
- like comedy with heart
- enjoy stories about found family
Skip it if you
- dislike silent or black-and-white films
- want modern pacing
Best for: Classic family viewing
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Kid
- Stream: Fubo, Philo, YouTube TV, MGM+, Pure Flix, FlixFling
- Free with ads: JustWatch TV Free, Darkroom, Public Domain Movies, Fawesome, Pluto TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.
The Kid parents' guide: ages 5+
Parents need to know that The Kid is a 1921 silent classic about a tramp raising an abandoned child, featuring some emotional and mildly intense moments but nothing graphic.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Includes a slapstick fistfight and a suicide attempt subplot, handled in the gentle, comedic style typical of silent-era Chaplin films.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Kid
If you liked The Kid, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Gold Rush (1925) — 90%: Chaplin's tramp in his funniest, most iconic adventure.
- City Lights (1931) — 91%: Chaplin's tramp in a tender romance.
- Modern Times (1936) — 90%: Chaplin's tramp versus the modern world.
- The Circus (1928) — 88%: Another Chaplin comedy with great physical gags.
- The Great Dictator (1940) — 91%: Chaplin's sharp, ambitious comedy.
- Philomena (2013) — 82%: Moving story of a lost child and a mother.
Director
Cast
- Charlie Chaplin as A Tramp
- Jackie Coogan as The Kid
- Carl Miller as The Man
- Edna Purviance as The Woman
- Albert Austin as Car Thief / Man in Shelter (uncredited)
- Beulah Bains as Bride (uncredited)
- Nellie Bly Baker as Slum Nurse (uncredited)
- Henry Bergman as Professor Guido / Night Shelter Keeper (uncredited)
- Edward Biby as Orphan Asylum Driver (uncredited)
- B.F. Blinn as Assistant (uncredited)
The Kid FAQ
Is The Kid worth watching?
Must-watch. Chaplin's tramp raises an abandoned child in a silent film that's funny, touching and short at 68 minutes. It's an easy introduction to silent cinema, with surprisingly real emotion.
Where can I watch The Kid?
In the US you can stream The Kid on Fubo, Philo, YouTube TV, MGM+, Pure Flix and FlixFling, watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV Free, Darkroom, Public Domain Movies, Fawesome and Pluto TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home and FlixFling.
Is The Kid OK for kids?
The Kid is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 5+. Parents need to know that The Kid is a 1921 silent classic about a tramp raising an abandoned child, featuring some emotional and mildly intense moments but nothing graphic.
What movies are like The Kid?
If you liked The Kid, try The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times and The Circus.