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My Left Foot

Play trailer Poster for My Left Foot R 1989 1h 43m Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
No one expects much from Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), 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 (Brenda Fricker) -- and no shortage of grit and determination -- Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
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My Left Foot

My Left Foot

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Critics Consensus

No doubt most will come to My Left Foot for Daniel Day-Lewis' performance, but the movie's refusal to go downbeat will keep it in viewer minds afterwards.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Sep 11, 2023
This is Jim Sheridan’s first feature film, but he’s an experienced man of the theatre, with a moviemaker’s vision and a grownup’s sense of integrity. Go to Full Review Peter Travers Rolling Stone Jun 12, 2020
It's the kind of role that showoff stars leap at. Luckily for the film and us, an actor got there first. Go to Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times Jun 12, 2020
It is a spellbinding journey. Go to Full Review Sue Heal Radio Times Aug 17, 2024
5/5
A superb movie chronicling the life of writer and artist Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy, portrayed with astonishing passion and sensitivity by Daniel Day-Lewis. Go to Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 9, 2023
4/4
The lives depicted in My Left Foot are full-bodied, flesh and blood dramas of existence. There's no sentimentality in any of the performances. Go to Full Review Bill Cosford Miami Herald Aug 16, 2021
3/4
[Daniel Day-Lewis's] performance is extraordinary for its subtleties over the obvious physical manifestations The direction by Jim Sheridan is tough-edged. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 9, 2025 1 hour and 43 minutes based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Margaret G @RT62106578 Mar 7, 2025 Many scenes are easily brought to mind, more than 35 years since its release. Daniel Day-Lewis vividly brought Christy Brown's talents, accomplishments and flaws to life. Brenda Fricke completely won me over as well. See more Dionisis T @RT41898832 Dec 19, 2024 Could possibly be one of the best things I saw this month! See more Garrett B @gmoney637 Dec 15, 2024 It contains good acting from Day-Lewis and Fricker. Very well done See more Kathryn V @RT32297663 Sep 13, 2024 The most moving movie I've seen since a young Patty Duke portrayed Helen Keller. Daniel Day Lewis has to be the best actor of the era. See more Russ G @RT78760655 Jun 10, 2024 I saw it in the theater at the time it was released and thought it kind'a suxed. See more Read all reviews
My Left Foot

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Cast & Crew

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Jim Sheridan

Director

Daniel Day-Lewis

Christy Brown

Ray McAnally

Mr. Brown

Brenda Fricker

Mrs. Brown

Ruth McCabe

Mary

Fiona Shaw

Dr. Eileen Cole

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Movie Info

Synopsis No one expects much from Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), 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 (Brenda Fricker) -- and no shortage of grit and determination -- Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
Director
Jim Sheridan
Producer
Noel Pearson
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Granada Television
Rating
R
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 10, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.5M
Runtime
1h 43m
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