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Showbiz Kids

  • 2020
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Showbiz Kids (2020)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:53
1 Video
7 Photos
Documentary

A documentary about the highs and lows of children in show business, featuring interviews and examinations of the lives and careers of the most famous former child actors in the world.A documentary about the highs and lows of children in show business, featuring interviews and examinations of the lives and careers of the most famous former child actors in the world.A documentary about the highs and lows of children in show business, featuring interviews and examinations of the lives and careers of the most famous former child actors in the world.

  • Director
    • Alex Winter
  • Writer
    • Alex Winter
  • Stars
    • Cameron Boyce
    • Todd Bridges
    • Baby Peggy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alex Winter
    • Writer
      • Alex Winter
    • Stars
      • Cameron Boyce
      • Todd Bridges
      • Baby Peggy
    • 15User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:53
    Official Trailer

    Photos6

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Cameron Boyce
    Cameron Boyce
    • Self
    Todd Bridges
    Todd Bridges
    • Self
    Baby Peggy
    Baby Peggy
    • Self
    • (as Diana Serra Cary)
    Rohith Kalavacharla
    • Self
    Marnie Cooper
    Marnie Cooper
    • Self
    Milla Jovovich
    Milla Jovovich
    • Self
    Tricia Miranda
    • Self
    Jada Pinkett Smith
    Jada Pinkett Smith
    • Self
    Demi Singleton
    Demi Singleton
    • Self
    Jeff Slater
    • Self
    Marc Slater
    Marc Slater
    • Self
    Melanie Slater
    Melanie Slater
    • Self
    Todd Thaler
    Todd Thaler
    • Self
    Henry Thomas
    Henry Thomas
    • Self
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Self
    Mara Wilson
    Mara Wilson
    • Self
    Evan Rachel Wood
    Evan Rachel Wood
    • Self
    Sue Lyon
    Sue Lyon
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Alex Winter
    • Writer
      • Alex Winter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    7.02.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7Jack_Brock

    Very good, but could be better

    I found this movie quite interesting as it interviewed several former child stars as they discussed their experiences in show biz at a young age.

    The documentary covers a lot of familiar territory we have heard before. It does a great job of pointing out some stage parents who may have pushed their kids into show biz to live vicariously through them, how the constant interviews consume so much of the family's free time and how odd it seems that the kids would spend most of their time working instead of having a childhood.

    It goes further discussing the pitfalls of fame and the effect it had on many young stars such as the uncomfortable invasion of privacy and problems finding true friends. It mentions briefly the exploitation that young stars could be exposed to. It mentions the effect that negative film reviews have on the child star as criticism can be taken personally. The film doesn't use this example, but think of Star Wars - The Phantom Menace and how Jake LLoyd was personally pointed out as the cause of the film's failure. The movie could also have mentioned the effect of overly positive reviews - i.e. When the stars believe their own press.

    There are a few points where the film could have gone further that would have improved the movie; why do some become successful adult actors while others don't (think Freddie Highmore vs Corey Feldman)? The movie points out many child actors who run into problems later in life. The film could have addressed the issue of how Hollywood might, or might not be the cause of these kids problems. They don't bring up other factors, such as familly life, that would have an effect. Many child star's families had serious issues before getting in to show business, which the film doesn't touch on (when it could have gone in to more detail). Corey Feldman details this in his autobiography, which isn't covered in the film.

    The interview with Todd Bridges mentions his family got torn apart by greed over the money coming in. I'm sure there could have been many other examples of how the money from show business and its influence on the family and young star could have helped the movie quite a bit.

    A final topic could have been brought up - what about former child stars who felt it was a more positive than negative effect ?

    Otherwise, the film is a somewhat insightful look at child stardom.
    8alhurley03

    Very good documentary but kind of depressing

    This film really shows the emotional toll that child acting takes on people.
    7KOOLAIDBRO

    Not exactly groundbreaking

    It was still interesting to hear some of the stories. I think Evan Rachel Wood, Mara Wilson, and Milla Jovovich were probably the most interesting because I'm the same age as Milla and I remember when she first came on the scene. She was gorgeous and to hear her talk about older men coming at her was not a surprise, but still sickening that they would take advantage of a young girl. Mara Wilson there was something different about than the others with how she talked. Then Evan Rachel Wood doesn't give AF. She is brutally honest. They all had stories like film critics and such trashing on the performance of a child which made me think of Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker in the phantom menace and the way people unfairly piled on bashing a young kid when yeah he was not great, but he was far from the issue with that movie. So you're not going to get a finding Neverland experience and thank god because that was hard to take. You will get a inside look at many different views on how they were treated by family, fans, critics, etc. I enjoyed it. I also had no idea that Cameron Boyce died over a year ago. I didn't know who he was, but he did seem like a positive guy so that was depressing to learn. Bottom line is this. I never felt like shutting it off. It kept my interest.
    7interactbiz

    Early pursuit of success, helpful or harmful?

    Reality is that some children live in the Hollywood experience and emerge as capable, accomplished, and happy adults. Others do not. However, the same can be said about youngsters pushed toward high-level sports. Or music. Or dance. Or academics.

    Reaching maturity successfully depends on numerous factors but thoughtful, unselfish, and caring adult influences might be the most important.

    Alex Winter spent his life in the entertainment business, so it was reasonable for him to focus on experiences of people who worked as child actors. Winter understands the risks and rewards of the entertainment business but his documentary would have been more complete had he taken a wider view.

    Another documentary could examine the processes of very young people chasing "success" in other fields. I would bet the adults that emerge are a similar mix of happy and troubled people.
    9asc85

    Pretty excellent!

    This really was a pleasant surprise, and I found it to be quite insightful. With the exception of Jada Pinkett Smith, I found the former Showbiz kids who participated to be very direct and forthcoming without all the drama. I was particularly impressed by what Evan Rachel Wood had to say, and she was extremely articulate. I really wonder how many former child stars were initially interviewed for this movie, but were then cut because they weren't very forthcoming about their experiences. It can't be that these were the only people they interviewed, and they all just happened to be so interesting and forthcoming.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was released one year after the death of Cameron Boyce.
    • Goofs
      The clip of Resident Evil (2002) is marked as being from 2012, when the film was actually released in 2002.
    • Connections
      Features The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
    • Soundtracks
      if I Ever Was a Child
      Written by Jeff Tweedy

      Performed by Wilco

      Courtesy of BMG Platinum Songs US (BMI) O/B/O Words Ampersand Music (BMI)

      From the album Schmilco

      Courtesy of Anti-

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Showbiz Kids?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 14, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Site coming soon
      • Official Twitter
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los niños de Hollywood
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO Documentary Films
      • Trouper Productions
      • Zipper Bros Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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