What Maisie Knew

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What Maisie Knew

R

2013

1h 38m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

80%

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

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.

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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.

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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...

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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!"

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M D

@RT82513945 Dec 4, 2025

Good acting, but the movie was slow.

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KOOKLA C

@Kookla49 Nov 14, 2024

best movie I've seen in ages!

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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.

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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.

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colin m

@RT35044827 Mar 19, 2022

The early years of Maisie Beale. A great movie.

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Scott McGehee

Director

David Siegel

Director

Julianne Moore

Susanna

Alexander Skarsgård

Lincoln

Onata Aprile

Maisie

Joanna Vanderham

Margo

What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - Lincoln

1:32

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - Don't You Want to Come?

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - Don't Take Her

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - I'm Taking My Daughter

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - Locked Out

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - Back to England

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - A Day at the High Line

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - She's a Child

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - You're What?

1:33

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What Maisie Knew: Official Clip - Beale Meets Lincoln

1:13

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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)

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