PG-13

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Life is a terrible thing to sleep through.

1993 • 118 min • Romance · Drama

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Synopsis

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.

Our family guide

Best from age 13

Movie Knight Score

4369 reviews

77 Audience · 4369 · 100%

Gilbert Grape shoulders the weight of caring for his morbidly obese mother and his younger, developmentally disabled brother, Arnie, in their small Iowa town. His life shifts with the arrival of free-spirited Becky, prompting him to re-evaluate his responsibilities and desires amidst family challenges.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 3/10
Romance & sensuality: 4/10
Scary moments: 2/10

Heads up

Discreet depiction of an affair
Focus on obesity and its health impacts
Challenging family dynamics

What it models well

Family loyalty and responsibility
Empathy and understanding
Embracing change and self-discovery

Talk about it after

Caring for family members with special needs
Dealing with grief and loss
Finding your own path

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