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The Florida Project (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Florida Project (2017) movie poster

The Florida Project is a 2017 drama directed by Sean Baker, starring Brooklynn Prince as Moonee, Bria Vinaite and Aiden Malik. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $10.9 million worldwide on a $2 million budget. It won 1 award from 10 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 92 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating
7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
worldwide gross
$10.9M
award won
1
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The Florida Project (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 51m (111 min)
Director
Sean Baker
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
A24
Budget
$2M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Florida Project About?

The premise of The Florida Project without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

On the edge of the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, six-year-old Moonee and her mother, Halley, live in a budget motel. Moonee embraces a life of adventure with her friends, finding joy in their surroundings. However, Halley faces significant financial challenges, struggling to provide for them. The story explores their resilience and the sacrifices made while navigating difficult circumstances and pursuing hope.

The Florida Project Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • poverty
  • little girl
  • motel manager
  • single mother
  • unfit mother
  • disneyworld
  • child protective services
  • mother daughter relationship
  • setting a building on fire
  • friendship
  • florida
  • innocence
+38 more
  • swimming pool
  • prostitute
  • female nudity
  • social services
  • pedophile
  • friendship between girls
  • prostitution
  • prostitute mother
  • living in a motel
  • cigarette smoking
  • place in title
  • pizza
  • bathtub
  • blowing out candles on a birthday cake
  • crying girl
  • best friend
  • waitress
  • flipping the bird
  • friendship between women
  • kissimmee florida
  • eviction
  • disney's magic kingdom
  • topless sunbathing
  • making ends meet
  • walt disney world
  • spitting on someone
  • reference to justin bieber
  • female protagonist
  • ice cream
  • birthday
  • abandoned house on fire
  • child sleeps with parent
  • theft
  • black eye
  • colored hair
  • summer vacation
  • starting a fire
  • running away
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Cast & crew

The Florida Project Cast & Characters

Brooklynn Prince leads the cast as Moonee, with Bria Vinaite as Halley and Aiden Malik as Dicky. Directed by Sean Baker; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Sean Baker

More films directed by Sean Baker, best-rated first: Anora, Red Rocket, Tangerine and Starlet.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Florida Project Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Florida Project 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 92 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).

80 /100

The Florida Project Echo Score Breakdown

The Florida Project’s most striking quality is its evocative portrayal of marginalized lives through an unvarnished, child-centered lens. Critics praise the film’s determined optimism and unfiltered intimacy, noting how its episodic structure and vivid production design immerse viewers in Moonee’s world. While some audiences find the pacing slow and the lack of a conventional narrative arc testing, many applaud the film’s emotional authenticity and thematic depth. On balance, the movie delivers a poignant and resonant experience that remains impactful beyond its runtime.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s visual design and direction stand out for their vibrant color palette and measured composition. Critics note the child’s-eye framing and luminous production design, while users praise the immaculate image quality and bright hues of the motel. The editing’s episodic rhythm underlines slice-of-life authenticity. Overall, the craftsmanship is exceptional.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character and emotion, the cast elicits nuanced authenticity despite occasional range limitations. Reviews highlight Brooklynn Prince’s natural presence and Bria Vinaite’s intense portrayal alongside Dafoe’s grounded support. While a few critics note stereotypical traits and moments of screeching energy, the interactions consistently convey emotional stakes and human warmth. Overall, the performances anchor the film’s poignant resonance.

  • Story & Flow 75

    The story unfolds in an episodic, slice-of-life manner that emphasizes lived reality over conventional narrative. Many reviewers commend its originality and the gradual build toward a devastating climax, while others find the pacing slow and the events sparse. The film’s structure serves a purpose in reflecting the characters’ rhythms, though it may test patience. Ultimately, the narrative’s authenticity sustains engagement for invested viewers.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In sensory terms, the film’s vibrant visual style is a notable strength, with an understated color palette that underscores both whimsy and hardship. The cinematography captures the sunlit motel setting in crisp detail, and the soundtrack’s ambient textures reinforce the realism. At times, however, the unfiltered noise of child play can feel overwhelming. Overall, the sensory design is immersive and cohesive.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    Regarding rewatchability, the film delivers a memorable single viewing with its poignant climax and authentic performances. Many viewers find its emotional impact and vivid imagery linger long after the credits, suggesting lasting appeal. However, the slow pacing and heavy themes may limit the desire for multiple viewings. Overall, it offers a strong, albeit selective, replay value.

Plot

The Florida Project Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Florida Project from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the vibrant town of Kissimmee, Florida, young Dicky, portrayed by Aiden Malik, excitedly brings his friends, six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and Scooty (Christopher Rivera), to explore the nearby seedy motel known as Future Land. Their day begins mischievously as they climb to the second-floor balcony, engaging in playful antics by spitting on a car. This attracts the attention of the car’s owner, Stacy (Josie Olivo), who promptly reprimands them, especially when Moonee targets Stacy’s granddaughter, Jancey (Valeria Cotto).

Stacy swiftly heads to the adjacent Magic Castle Motel, where the trio resides, and alerts the manager, Bobby (Willem Dafoe). Bobby approaches Halley, Moonee’s young mother played by Bria Vinaite, about the children’s behavior. Consequently, Moonee and her friends are coerced into cleaning up the mess they made on Stacy’s car.

Full summary

The whole story of The Florida Project, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Florida Project Box Office & Budget

The Florida Project grossed $10.9 million worldwide on a $2 million budget, 5.4 times what it cost. $5.9 million came from the US and Canada and $5 million (46%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$10.9M

5.4× its budget

US & Canada
$5.9M
International
$5M
Budget
$2M
US & Canada 54% Rest of the world 46%
Awards

The Florida Project Awards & Nominations

The Florida Project won 1 award from 10 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2018, with 1 win from 3 nominations.

1 win10 nominations7 ceremonies

Show all 7 ceremonies
Videos

The Florida Project Trailers & Videos

18 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 6 clips, 9 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 18 videos
The Florida Project | Official Trailer HD | A24
  • Teaser THE FLORIDA PROJECT premieres 27 October on Rialto Channel
  • Clip The Florida Project | No Harm No Fowl | Official Clip HD | A24
  • Clip "One Drip, And You're Out!" | THE FLORIDA PROJECT | Altitude Films
  • Clip Power Outage At The Purple Place | THE FLORIDA PROJECT | Altitude Films
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Florida Project?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who are the main children characters in 'The Florida Project'?

Cars

Cars in The Florida Project

69 cars on screen, including the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier and the E-Z-Go TXT.

All 69 cars
  • 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier in The Florida Project 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier Minor role
  • E-Z-Go TXT in The Florida Project E-Z-Go TXT Minor role
  • 2003 Ford E-350 in The Florida Project 2003 Ford E-350 Minor role
  • 1996 Honda Civic in The Florida Project 1996 Honda Civic Minor role
Details

The Florida Project Also Known As

35 alternative titles, including “Проект "Флорида"” and “佛罗里达廉租房”.

Also known as
  • Проект "Флорида"
  • 佛罗里达廉租房
  • 佛罗里达项目
  • 佛罗里达计划
  • El proyecto Florida
  • แดน (ไม่) เนรมิต
  • Mon royaume en Floride
  • 플로리다 프로젝트
  • フロリダ・プロジェクト 真夏の魔法:2017
  • 迪士尼的夏天
  • 佛罗里达公租乐事
  • 佛罗里达工程
+23 more
  • 佛罗里达贫民区
  • Ֆլորիդա Նախագիծը
  • 歡迎光臨夢幻樂園
  • 歡迎光臨奇幻城堡
  • Проект «Флорида»
  • Florida Projesi
  • Floridai álom
  • Проектът "Флорида"
  • Projekt Floryda
  • Projeto Flórida
  • Un sogno chiamato Florida
  • 佛罗里达乐园
  • Floridos projektas
  • פרוייקט פלורידה
  • Proiectul Florida
  • フロリダ・プロジェクト 真夏の魔法
  • Proyecto Florida
  • Ævintýri í Flórída
  • Floridas projekts
  • Dự Án Florida
  • Пројекат Флорида, პროექტი "ფლორიდა"
  • Projekt Florida
  • Florida projekt

Seen The Florida Project?

FAQ

The Florida Project FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Florida Project, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Florida Project?

The Florida Project runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

When was The Florida Project released?

The Florida Project was released on October 6, 2017.

Who directed The Florida Project?

The Florida Project was directed by Sean Baker.

More films by Sean Baker

Who is in the cast of The Florida Project?

The Florida Project stars Brooklynn Prince as Moonee, Bria Vinaite as Halley and Aiden Malik as Dicky, among 15 credited actors.

How much did The Florida Project make at the box office?

The Florida Project grossed $10.9 million worldwide ($5.9 million domestic, $5 million international) on a budget of $2 million.

How is The Florida Project rated?

The Florida Project has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.

What awards did The Florida Project win?

The Florida Project won 1 award from 10 nominations, including Best Young Actor/Actress at the Critics' Choice 2018.

Does The Florida Project have a post-credit scene?

No. The Florida Project has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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