Finding Neverland
Rent & Buy
During a writing slump, playwright J.M. Barrie meets a widow and her four children, all young boys—who soon become an important part of Barrie’s life and the inspiration that lead him to create his masterpiece. Peter Pan.
What critics thought
Finding Neverland lands in a curious middle ground: warm and emotionally effective on a first viewing, but critics disagreed sharply over whether that feeling holds up to scrutiny or collapses into tasteful, well-costumed sentiment. Depp's performance was the main flashpoint — some found it graceful restraint, others found it vague and self-indulgent — while Kate Winslet consistently drew praise as the film's grounded, beating heart.
“ends so beautifully, so poignantly and so aptly that there's a big temptation to forget that most of what precedes the ending is tiresome drivel, that Johnny Depp's performance... is precious and uninsightful, and that almost all the movie's magic derives directly from scenes lifted from Barrie's play”
Mick LaSalle·San Francisco Chronicle
“A first viewing of Finding Neverland was tear-inducing and completely satisfying. Seeing it again was a mistake, less of my own than Forster's, who didn't make a movie that can sustain its magic beyond first impressions”
Steve Persall·St. Petersburg Times
“glorious entertainment... magical, not mush”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“gently seductive, genuinely tender and often moving without being maudlin”
Carina Chocano·Los Angeles Times
Accolades
Genres
Biography, Drama, Family
Cast & Crew
Marc ForsterDirector
Johnny DeppSir James Matthew Barrie
Kate WinsletSylvia Llewelyn Davies
Julie ChristieMrs. Emma du Maurier
Dustin HoffmanCharles Frohman
Freddie HighmorePeter Llewelyn Davies
Radha MitchellMary Ansell Barrie
Kate MaberlyWendy
Joe ProsperoJack Llewelyn Davies
Nick RoudGeorge Llewelyn Davies
Luke SpillMichael Llewelyn Davies
Eileen EssellMrs. Snow
Ian HartSir Arthur Conan Doyle
Jan A. P. KaczmarekComposer
David MageeWriter
Roberto SchaeferCinematographyFinding Neverland
During a writing slump, playwright J.M. Barrie meets a widow and her four children, all young boys—who soon become an important part of Barrie’s life and the inspiration that lead him to create his masterpiece. Peter Pan.
What critics thought
Finding Neverland lands in a curious middle ground: warm and emotionally effective on a first viewing, but critics disagreed sharply over whether that feeling holds up to scrutiny or collapses into tasteful, well-costumed sentiment. Depp's performance was the main flashpoint — some found it graceful restraint, others found it vague and self-indulgent — while Kate Winslet consistently drew praise as the film's grounded, beating heart.
“ends so beautifully, so poignantly and so aptly that there's a big temptation to forget that most of what precedes the ending is tiresome drivel, that Johnny Depp's performance... is precious and uninsightful, and that almost all the movie's magic derives directly from scenes lifted from Barrie's play”
Mick LaSalle·San Francisco Chronicle
“A first viewing of Finding Neverland was tear-inducing and completely satisfying. Seeing it again was a mistake, less of my own than Forster's, who didn't make a movie that can sustain its magic beyond first impressions”
Steve Persall·St. Petersburg Times
“glorious entertainment... magical, not mush”
Peter Travers·Rolling Stone
“gently seductive, genuinely tender and often moving without being maudlin”
Carina Chocano·Los Angeles Times
Accolades
Genres
Biography, Drama, Family
Cast & Crew
Marc ForsterDirectorJohnny DeppSir James Matthew BarrieKate WinsletSylvia Llewelyn DaviesJulie ChristieMrs. Emma du MaurierDustin HoffmanCharles FrohmanFreddie HighmorePeter Llewelyn DaviesRadha MitchellMary Ansell BarrieKate MaberlyWendyJoe ProsperoJack Llewelyn DaviesNick RoudGeorge Llewelyn DaviesLuke SpillMichael Llewelyn DaviesEileen EssellMrs. SnowIan HartSir Arthur Conan DoyleJan A. P. KaczmarekComposerDavid MageeWriterRoberto SchaeferCinematographyRent & Buy