My Girl

"When your Dad's an undertaker, your Mom's in heaven, and your Grandma's got a screw loose...it's good to have a friend who understands you. Even if he is a boy."

1991 1h 43m EN

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 2,371

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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...

“When your Dad's an undertaker, your Mom's in heaven, and your Grandma's got a screw loose...it's good to have a friend who understands you. Even if he is a boy.”

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Cast

Anna Chlumsky
Vada Sultenfuss
Macaulay Culkin
Thomas J. Sennett
Dan Aykroyd
Harry Sultenfuss
Jamie Lee Curtis
Shelly DeVoto
Richard Masur
Phil Sultenfuss
Griffin Dunne
Mr. Jake Bixler
Ann Nelson
Gramoo Sultenfuss
Peter Michael Goetz
Dr. Welty

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Howard Zieff
Writers: Laurice Elehwany
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.5× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "My Girl Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Howard Zieff, shot by Paul Elliott. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by James Newton Howard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Wendy Greene Bricmont shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin and Dan Aykroyd carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "When your Dad's an undertaker, your Mom's in heaven, and your Grandma's got a screw loose...it's good to have a friend who understands you. Even if he is a boy.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Howard Zieff directs. Paul Elliott behind the camera. James Newton Howard scores. Wendy Greene Bricmont cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 3.5× over at the box office.
235 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "My Girl Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Howard Zieff, shot by Paul Elliott. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by James Newton Howard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Wendy Greene Bricmont shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin and Dan Aykroyd carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "When your Dad's an undertaker, your Mom's in heaven, and your Grandma's got a screw loose...it's good to have a friend who understands you. Even if he is a boy.".
9IMDB entry: tt0102492 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 16 themes, including "friendship", "1970s", "melancholy", "beehive".
11Released under 12 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Paul Elliott
Original score: James Newton Howard
Editing: Wendy Greene Bricmont
Production design: Joseph T. Garrity
Costume design: Karen Patch
Makeup / hair: Allen Weisinger
Runtime: 103 min · 1h 43m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $17,000,000
Box office: $59,490,000
Return: 350% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: My Girl (1991)

Part of

My Girl Collection

In My Girl, young Vada's life was turned upside down by a first kiss, a first crush and the painful first step down the path to growing up. Then in My Girl 2, Vada found herself in that awkward time between being a kid and becoming an adult.

Also by

Howard Zieff

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Community reviews

What people are saying

RalphRahal2025-02-15
★ 7/10
My Girl (1991) is one of those movies that lingers long after the credits roll. At its core, it's a coming-of-age story that beautifully captures childhood innocence, friendship, and the tough lessons that come with growing up. The plot unfolds naturally, taking its time to let you connect with the characters, making the emotional moments hit even harder. It balances lighthearted humor with deeper themes without ever feeling forced, making it more than just a typical family drama. The directing by Howard Zieff keeps everything grounded, allowing the story to breathe and feel real. The cinematography leans into a nostalgic, warm aesthetic that perfectly complements the film's tone. There's a sense of comfort in the way it's shot, almost like flipping through old childhood memories. The script feels natural, with dialogue that flows effortlessly, making the characters feel genuine rather than overly scripted or dramatic. The score is subtle but effective, never overpowering the story but enhancing the emotions in just the right moments. When it comes to performances, Anna Chlumsky shines in her first major role, delivering a performance that feels authentic and heartfelt. Macaulay Culkin, fresh off his Home Alone success, takes on a very different role and does it with quiet charm. The supporting cast also does a great job, adding depth to the story without overshadowing the leads. Overall, My Girl is a beautifully crafted film that sticks with you. It’s emotional without being manipulative, nostalgic without being cliché, and tells a story that feels personal even decades later.

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