Runtime : 2hr 31min

Genre : Drama

Language : English

IMDb : 7.5/10

Rotten Tomatoes : 92%

Letterboxd : 4.0/5

Metacritic : 85%

Wikipedia : Link

Director : Steven Spielberg

Cast

Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Judd Hirsch, Julia Butters

Plot

The Fabelmans is a semi-autobiographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, inspired by his own childhood. The story centers on Sammy Fabelman, a young boy growing up in post–World War II Arizona, who discovers a passion for filmmaking after his parents take him to see his first movie. Encouraged by his artistic mother, Mitzi, Sammy begins experimenting with a camera, capturing moments of his family’s life and staging amateur films with friends. However, his father, Burt, a practical-minded engineer, struggles to understand his son’s creative ambitions. As Sammy’s talent grows, he uncovers difficult truths within his family, including hidden tensions and secrets that challenge his perception of love, loyalty, and dreams. Through joy, heartbreak, and discovery, Sammy learns that storytelling can shape not only how he views the world but also how he survives it. The film is both a coming-of-age journey and a heartfelt love letter to cinema itself.