Bugsy Malone

Every year brings a great movie. Every decade a great movie musical!

1976 • 93 min • Drama · Action · Comedy · Music · Family

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Synopsis

New York, 1929, a war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan. Dan is in possession of a new and deadly weapon, the dreaded "splurge gun". As the custard pies fly, Bugsy Malone, an all-round nice guy, falls for Blousey Brown, a singer at Fat Sam's speakeasy. His designs on her are disrupted by the seductive songstress Tallulah who wants Bugsy for herself.

Our family guide

Best from age 7

Movie Knight Score

323 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
66 Audience · 322 · 49%

In 1920s New York, an all-child cast portrays rival gangsters Fat Sam and Dandy Dan in a musical comedy. Bugsy Malone gets caught in a gang war featuring "splurge guns" and custard pies, while navigating romance and club life.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 2/10
Scary moments: 2/10

Heads up

Playful "gun" violence using cream pies and splurge guns
Flirtatious behavior among child characters
Depiction of speakeasies and adult themes like gambling

What it models well

Friendship and loyalty
Resourcefulness in tough situations
Creative problem-solving

Talk about it after

The fantasy aspect of child actors playing adult roles
Dealing with conflict peacefully
The history of the 1920s and Prohibition

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Bugsy Malone. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

Country

Free

Kanopy

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Top billed cast

Director: Alan Parker • Crew: Alan Parker

Trailers & clips

The Bugsy Malone cast reunite for the musical's 50th anniversary, part 1 | BFI Q&A

The Bugsy Malone cast reunite for the musical's 50th anniversary, part 2 | BFI Q&A

Karyn Kusama on BUGSY MALONE

14 Year Old Jodie Foster win Supporting Actress BAFTA in 1977

Bugsy Malone After They Were Famous - Part 3

Bugsy Malone After They Were Famous - Part 2

Bugsy Malone After They Were Famous - Part 1

Bugsy Malone - Down & Out

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
There is something cartoon-like about this gangster spoof. The characters are all played by children and instead of spraying their rivals with bullets, they find themselves being creamed to death. The plot centres around the turf wars between "Dandy Dan" (Martin Lev) and "Fat Sam" (John Cassisi) and the shrewd manoeuvrings of the eponymous character (Scott Baio).…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community