What Maisie Knew

Play trailer

What Maisie Knew

R

2013

1h 38m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The offspring of a hot-headed musician (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan), little Maisie (Onata Aprile) learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection -- but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

It's undeniably difficult to watch at times, but What Maisie Knew ultimately rises on the strength of its solidly sourced script, powerful performances, and empathetic direction.

Read Critics Reviews

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Sep 5, 2018

I don't know where the directors (Scott McGehee and David Siegel) discovered Miss Aprile, or how they elicited her performance but, my God, she knocks it out the court. Over and over.

Go to Full Review

Philip Horne

Sight & Sound

Jul 31, 2018

Soft-centred and bland though it is as a version of [Henry] James, the McGehee-Siegel What Maisie Knew is worth seeing for the performances.

Go to Full Review

Emma Myers

Film Comment Magazine

Nov 4, 2013

Scott McGehee and David Siegel's adaptation commendably preserves the book's child perspective even if it doesn't quite match the characteristically dark shades of the author's moral fare.

Go to Full Review

Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

23 hrs ago

A

With phenomenal acting across the board, tender directing and a gem in little Onata Aprile, this is a film worthy of respect that, like its lead character, should be appreciated and cherished.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 27, 2020

3.5/4.0

The performance from newcomer Onata Aprile is astounding precisely because it's not astounding.

Go to Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Jun 18, 2020

The directing duo of Scott McGehee and David Siegel may have finally found their masterpiece in this deft update of Henry James' Victorian-era novel...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Barbie S

@agntamiko Dec 27, 2025

This is a drama, therefore if it seems slow it's because the movie focuses on the characters NOT situations like most American movies. This was an excellent drama from the perspective of the little girl Maisie. Onata Aprile played a character who was mature for her age; it seemed little Maisie was empathetic to each person who was a part of her life. Onata was on point, spot on in the entire movie, very natural with all of her reactions and responses, and Maisie's relationship with Lincoln was absolutely precious! Julianne Moore, well what can you say? She played her character brilliantly! I loved this movie and I occasionally watch it to be reminded of innocence (and lost innocence), and the idea that we're all searching for love, happiness, and peace, but sometimes in order to do so we must not "miss the boat!"

See more

M D

@RT82513945 Dec 4, 2025

Good acting, but the movie was slow.

See more

KOOKLA C

@Kookla49 Nov 14, 2024

best movie I've seen in ages!

See more

isla s

@RT89656869 Sep 3, 2022

I liked this film as it did well at showing things from the childs point of view. Of course the subject of child custody battles is far from new ground in terms of Hollywood films but I felt the subject was handled very well and the young girl, Maisie, played by Onata Aprile, gave a compelling performance. She really did seem genuinely confused/upset and tired by the various twists and turns of the plot. The parents do seem rather petty and I felt very sorry for Maisie. I'd recommend this film.

See more

Jul 6, 2022

Despite multiple layers of cliché, the film is quite touching and escapes the corniness through good performances. I liked it more than I would expect.

See more

colin m

@RT35044827 Mar 19, 2022

The early years of Maisie Beale. A great movie.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Scott McGehee

Director

David Siegel

Director

Julianne Moore

Susanna

Alexander Skarsgård

Lincoln

Onata Aprile

Maisie

Joanna Vanderham

Margo

View more videos

We Need to Talk About Kevin

74%

78%

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Watchlist

How I Live Now

65%

55%

How I Live Now

Watchlist

Answers to Nothing

9%

35%

Answers to Nothing

Watchlist

Rust and Bone

81%

80%

Rust and Bone

Watchlist

The Burning Plain

38%

56%

The Burning Plain

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Now Streaming: Top Five, Falling Skies, And More

Digital Multiplex: Cockneys vs Zombies, Olympus Has Fallen and More

Critics Consensus: Iron Man 3 is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Synopsis

The offspring of a hot-headed musician (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan), little Maisie (Onata Aprile) learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection -- but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.

Director: Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Producer: William Teitler, Charles Weinstock, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Daniel Crown
Screenwriter: Nancy Doyne, Carroll Cartwright
Distributor: Millennium Entertainment
Production Co: 10th Hole Productions, Weinstock Productions, Red Crown Productions, Filmax
Rating: R (Some Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 3, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings