Movie · 1982 · Comedy, Drama, Family · 2h 7m · PG · English
Curator score: 2.4/10 (152.1K ratings)
The movie of 'Tomorrow.'
Overview
An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan, Annie believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks' mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.4/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.37/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
Metacritic: 39
TMDB: 6.6/10
Director
John Huston
Production
Columbia Pictures, Rastar Productions
Cast
Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Geoffrey Holder, Roger Minami, Toni Ann Gisondi, Rosanne Sorrentino, Lara Berk, April Lerman, Robin Ignico, Lucie Stewart, Edward Herrmann, Lois de Banzie, Peter Marshall, Loni Ackerman, Murphy Cross, Nancy Sinclair
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, sentimental musical with a big heart and a few genuinely memorable set pieces, but also a long runtime, uneven tone, and a story that can feel overly broad or stage-bound. Its charm depends heavily on whether you enjoy old-school Broadway spectacle and unabashed optimism.
Best for
fans of classic family musicals
viewers who like big production numbers and theatrical performances
people in the mood for sentimental, feel-good storytelling
audiences curious about 1980s studio musicals
Skip if
you dislike musical theater
you want a tight, modern-paced family film
you’re allergic to broad comedy and heightened performances
you prefer realism over fantasy-tinged sentimentality
Overview
Annie is built on pure uplift: a scrappy orphan, a lonely billionaire, and a fantasy of found family that the movie treats with total sincerity. The result is often charming, especially when the songs land and the production leans into its storybook scale. It has the kind of emotional directness that can feel disarming rather than cynical.
Worth noting
At the same time, it’s a very uneven adaptation. Some sequences feel wonderfully alive, while others are stiff or overextended, and the film’s tonal shifts between hardship, comedy, and spectacle can be jarring. The supporting cast adds color, but the movie’s theatrical roots are always visible, for better and worse.
Bottom line
If you’re receptive to old-fashioned musical extravagance, Annie has enough warmth, energy, and iconic imagery to justify a watch. If you need sharper storytelling or a more contemporary sensibility, it may feel more like a nostalgic artifact than a fully satisfying drama.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Paddington · 3060 likes
I was very impressed by Annie’s optimism, even in such difficult circumstances. She reminds us all that sunny days can arrive when you least expect them.
The songs have been stuck in head all day, which I don't mind one bit. In fact, I think they’re rather splendid.
Ellie ✨ (4.5★) · 1808 likes
annie punching some asshole boys to save a dog was the advent of modern feminism
vi (5★) · 1537 likes
tim curry was wearing a fake mustache over his real mustache
vi (5★) · 1246 likes
anyone who gave this a bad review doesn't know the true meaning of happiness and i don't want you in my life
rhiannon ✿ · 803 likes
easy street one of the best scenes in film history i think