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Electrick Children

Electrick Children

A movie about miracles...

201296 minRMidcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Director
Rebecca Thomas
Starring
Julia Garner, Rory Culkin, Liam Aiken, Bill Sage

Rachel is a rambunctious girl from a polygamist colony in southern Utah. On Rachel’s 15th birthday, she finds a forbidden cassette tape. Having never seen anything like it before, Rachel plays the cassette tape, and finds glorious rock & roll thereupon. Weeks later, Rachel realizes a miracle has occurred - and the cassette tape must have something to do with it. She leaves her family and runs away to the closest city: Las Vegas. There she searches for the singer of the band on the cassette tape.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Electrick Children?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Electrick Children streaming on Lionsgate+ via Prime Video, Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Electrick Children?

Electrick Children earns 6 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Electrick Children worth watching?

Electrick Children's Midcredits score is the 75th percentile of all films, from 24K ratings across 6 sources. 66% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

75th percentile

Better received than 75% of films

77th percentile among Drama75th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)73rd
Approval (how many liked it)74th

68 /100

73rd percentile of all films

76th percentile among Drama72nd percentile among 2010s

Critics 60 · Audience 69

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.0 — solid but not unanimous.

66% liked it

74th percentile of all films

75th percentile among Drama74th percentile among 2010s
66% rated it 7–1034% rated it 1–6

Critics 88% · Audience 72%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 2 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

77th percentile

24K ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Drama79th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 22% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$137K

38th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps acknowledge the film is a well-intentioned but uneven indie debut that succeeds best when focused on Rachel's perspective.

Fans praised

  • Julia Garner's performance — naive, ethereal, determined
  • Visually striking cinematography and vibrant lighting
  • Sweet, sincere tone with genuine emotional warmth

Detractors panned

  • Implausible contrivances and logical gaps in Vegas section
  • Unsatisfying, abrupt ending that leaves key questions dangling
  • Poorly improvised dialogue in second half

What stands out

Cinematography80

Beautifully shot; stark contrast between Utah landscapes and Vegas neon, Terrence Malick-like style

ActingDivisive77

Julia Garner praised as breakout, Rory Culkin and Liam Aiken also effective; some call performances uneven when dialogue is poor

OriginalityDivisive75

Unique premise of music-induced immaculate conception; some call it derivative of The Graduate

Atmosphere72

Immersive contrast between isolated Mormon community and gritty Las Vegas; dreamy, nostalgic feel

Emotional impactDivisive65

Sweet and touching coming-of-age story; some find it genuinely moving, others find it flat

CharactersDivisive60

Rachel well-developed but supporting cast underdeveloped, brother's arc confusing

Plot and storyDivisive40

Strong premise but execution uneven; third act contrived and logistically implausible

EndingDivisive30

Abrupt and unsatisfying resolution; leaves major questions unanswered

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 21 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 17 points higher than over-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Electrick Children like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

No single mood: browse every movie of this kindNo one kind of watch fits it, so it is described by how heavy it is.

Watch this when you want something light and affecting.

It takes its time and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeMelancholicHopeful
Heaviest: middle
Register
Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats Rachel's unusual belief with sincerity and emotional gravity, never winking at the material.
The rideThe middle section, with Rachel adrift and searching, likely carries the most emotional weight before any resolution.
StructureThe story follows Rachel in a straightforward chronology from her community to the outside world.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

Thought-provokingWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film lingers as a meditation on belief, innocence, and the cost of leaving a closed world, leaving a gentle ache and open questions.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Quest
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1% (this title)
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Pilgrimage: The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeRachel leaves her sheltered community to search for the origin of her pregnancy by music, a journey that transforms her understanding of herself and the world.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfComingof age
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% (this title) · Faith 3% (this title) · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Coming of age · 5% of filmsDisplacement · 1% of filmsFaith · 3% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Rachel's passage from sheltered religious childhood into a bewildering adult world, driven by her pregnancy and her search for its origin.
StanceThe film seems to present Rachel's journey without overt judgment, letting her experience and the contradictions of her faith speak for themselves.

The world

ContemporaryRuralIn transitUrbanRealistic
FolkRockSupportive music · hybrid
SettingA fundamentalist Mormon community in the American West, then the road and a gritty urban fringe.

Content guide

Is Electrick Children okay for kids?

R

Electrick Children is rated R: “Rated R for language including brief sexual references” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (17/100), sexual content at moderate (38/100), language at mild (33/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (42/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • UK15
  • Netherlands12
  • Russia16+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (18 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Electrick Children have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Electrick Children?

Cast

Julia Garner
as Rachel
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Rory Culkin
as Clyde
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Liam Aiken
as Mr. Will
Bill Sage
as Tim
Cynthia Watros
as Gay Lynn
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Billy Zane
as Paul
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Patrick Amedori
as Johnny
Rachel Pirard
as Sara
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Cassidy Gard
as Snow
Scott Chamberlain
as Baby Scott

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Electrick Children?

Movies like Electrick Children include The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), Ten Thousand Saints (2015) and Yes, God, Yes (2019). Of the 8 closest matches, most are teen dramas, and two are films about displacement.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 8 share its subject: coming of age. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Electrick Children?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: teen drama. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.