The Kid

1921 Directed by Charlie Chaplin

6 reels of Joy.

A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.

Charlie Chaplin Jackie Coogan Edna Purviance Carl Miller Albert Austin Beulah Bains Nellie Bly Baker Henry Bergman Edward Biby F. Blinn Kitty Bradbury Frank Campeau Bliss Chevalier Frances Cochran Elsie Codd Jack Coogan Sr. Estelle Cook Lillian Crane Dan Dillon Philip D'Oench Robert Dunbar Sadie Gordon Lita Grey Jules Hanft Kathleen Kay Raymond Lee Clyde McAtee John McKinnon Lew Parker Show All…

Alternative Titles

Le gosse, Charlie Chaplin - The Kid, El Pibe, Хлапето, Charlies plejebarn, Mališan, Dzieciak, Brzdąc, 키드, 寻子遇仙记, Малыш, キッド, Το Χαμίνι, Het Jochie

comedy drama

53 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Todd Gaines ★★★★ 32

A Tramp and Uncle Fester share a special bond in this timeless classic from Charlie Chaplin. Burned photograph. Crying babies scare gangstas. Pimpin' cigarette box. The way Charlie Chaplin tips his hat. Umbrella beatdown. The letter. Bootleg baby bottle. Street hustling like a boss. Rocks break windows. Charlie's giggle. The little kid runs faster than a jaguar. Smooth lobby boy. Charlie Chaplin's mustache is crooked. Booger picker. I'm still cracking the fuck up because the little kid grew up to be Uncle Fester from the Addams Family. Bully beatdown. The even bigger badder bully's muscles. Brick knockout. Ass kick. Quack doctor. The way Charlie Chaplin pushes a motherfucker. The kid is crying and I want to cry. Such passion. Such…
Review by CinemaClown ★★★★★ 3

Charlie Chaplin's first feature-length theatrical is one of the greatest achievements of silent era of filmmaking that paints one of the most heartfelt portrait of father-son relationship on the silver screen, presents the gifted talent at the prime of his creativity, and despite being nearly a century old classic, can still put most comedies of today to shame.
A comedy with a smile & perhaps a tear, The Kid tells the story of a tramp who after coming across an abandoned baby takes him under his care after which the film jumps five years in the span of which the grown child now works as his father's sidekick, helping his glazing business by breaking windows around the town. But an unfortunate…
Review by Siegel™ ★★★★ 5

It's a rugged, filthy, hard-knock life for Charlie Chaplin's Tramp, who barely has the means to keep himself fed and under a roof at night, much less to provide for the abandoned infant he's just stumbled across in an alleyway. Circumstance has put the two together, though, and after using his wit to get through the child's early years, the Tramp's put him to work as part of a slightly-shady window replacement scheme. They aren't exactly living above the board, and the policeman always seems to stumble by at precisely the wrong moment, but they're happy and the care they have for one another shines bright despite the absence of a voice track. Chaplin, of course, was already an expert…
Review by Neil Bahadur ★★★★½ 1

In many ways, perhaps the sweetest film ever made. But The Kid still, like all of Chaplin's films, is a very sad one. There's still barely enough to eat, authorities still antagonize only the proletarian classes, the "proper care and attention" of an orphanage only causes social disruption. Even as charming as the window breaking sequence is, the Tramp and the Kid have to resort to illegal work in order to make enough money to afford to eat. The Welfare Officer refuses to even speak to the Tramp, and speaks to him through a surrogate, in the Tramp's own home.
The ending is a deus-ex machina; the Tramp's look of bewilderment towards the camera as he's put incredulously into a…
Review by sydney ★★★★★

in heaven, all beds are free
Review by Mads Ej ★★★★

This is my first silent comedy and my first Charlie Chaplin movie and I enjoyed it.
It is only my second silent movie and I am still not completely used to the lack of sound, since it is so different from what I am used to, but luckily the movie was full of timeless physical comedy, while also not having too much dialogue, so we didn’t have to read too much text, since it probably could have slowed the pacing down a bit.
The movie had a sweet story about a man finding an abandoned child, who he takes care of until his mother wants him back years later.
Chaplin did a great job with the physical comedy and he…
Review by ScreeningNotes ★★★★ 16

Insert Here: Standard opening about how I don't deal well with silent films and how impressive it is that my fascination with Chaplin's comedies continues. These films are a great access point for audiences looking to broaden their horizons beyond sound film.
The Kid is easily the most melodramatic of Charlie Chaplin's work. This isn't particularly strange since despite their roots in slapstick comedy, Chaplin's films have always had a deeper side grounded in sympathetic emotionalism. But The Kid has a sad side which is darker than most.
It opens with a young mother abandoning her newborn baby played over a melancholic string arrangement that will make your heart wrench before you even know what's happening. The Tramp takes the…
Review by josh lewis ★★★★ 1

very cute and one of the earliest examples of a personal fav subgenre that's been repopularized recently: destitute cleverness. also includes a stellar rooftop chase scene which i always love.
Review by Ryan Daniel ★★★★½ 4

I am floored at how ahead of its time this film is. The restoration (which looks incredible by the way) could easily pass as having been made 20-30 years later than it actually was.
A lot of the humor still holds up really well, too. There were some shockingly dark jokes and gags in there that I never would have thought would be in a movie from the 1920’s.
Really beautiful story with a lot of charm.
Review by san ★★★★½

Short, sweet, and charismatic, Charlie Chaplin’s debut feature-length easily shows how respected he will become as a director. Jackie Coogan as the titular role brings a timeless performance by conveying an impressive emotion at such a young age. Precisely, it’s what you would expect from its first title card: “A picture with a smile — and perhaps, a tear.”
Review by lauren ★★★★½

charlie chaplin, hear me out: i am 21 and you are dead -- but those are the only stipulations preventing you from adopting me, so why not?
Review by ✨Moviesfan123✨ ★★★★½ 10

95%
Happy 100th anniversary The Kid!
The Kid is such a charming and sweet silent comedy/drama from Charlie Chaplin. This is just a delight. It’s funny. It’s a bit sad. It’s heartwarming. It’s fun. It’s so adorable. Might be my favorite Chaplin film not sure. Contemplating giving this 5 stars. Not sure I will though. I liked it a lot more on rewatch I must say. I’m really glad I watched it for it’s 100th anniversary which is crazy by the way. I can’t believe this is that old. Like wow. The comedy really works well. Not all of it lands but a lot. I guess I’m a sucker for silent humor. Chaplin is a great silent actor. He is…

Recent reviews

Review by Rohan ★★★★

This film is 100 years old and still understands more about the art of filmmaking than most of what comes out today. True to its promise, it brings a smile and even a tear.
Review by Cait Jones ★★★★

For a supposed tramp, this man was eating better meals than I do
Review by Pearlishme ★★★★

“Please love and care for this orphan child”
Review by Lotrfan ★★★★½

Criterion Channel, TSPDT #306
The campaign to include the Tramp as a playable character in the next Super Smash Bros. or Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat or whatever starts here
Review by John ★★★★

The most affecting drama I’ve seen from Chaplin yet - and by god what a child performance from Jackie Coogan. Plus this is still chock-full of wonderful silent comedic scenes.
It is hard to watch the dreamland sequence knowing how much of a creepy fuck Chaplin was though.
Review by 𝖓𝖆𝖔𝖒𝖎 ★★★★★

53 minutes of pure joy.🥺 if this film does not touch you then you have no heart.
Review by Greg Salvatore ★★★★½

Chaplin's first feature has an adorable Jackie Coogan, an extraneous dream sequence, pathos, and a happy ending.
Review by Blazers_03 ★★★★★

I was not expecting this from this film. I’ve been watching a lot of Chaplin movies recently and I didn’t think it could get better than Modern Times but this was such a great watching experience. With these films I been shocked by their maturity and relevance, but this film in particular was just so gorgeous and heartwarming. It was the funniest I’ve see so far and was so efficient and effective in telling its story. I am super excited to watch more.
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A+
Review by Big Uncle ★★★★

I'm a bit late since Chaplin's birthday was YESTERDAY, but anyway this was pretty great. It's the second Chaplin film I've seen so far along with City Lights, and both of them have been really funny, enjoyable, and timeless. This is probably my 3rd or 4th favorite silent film I've seen so far, and I highly recommend it.
The short length of the film is perfect in my opinion, as it never drags on and it kept me entertained the entire time. I really liked the "dreamland" sequence, and there are even a couple of emotional moments in this. But anyway as I said, this film is absolutely timeless. It's WAY ahead of its time, and I love how much…
Review by lexgarcia ★★★★

this shits 100 years old and it still slaps. gah damn.
rlly sweet and kinda simple but rlly creative. normalize major films being 60 minutes long.
chaplin’s da goat. it’s been a century and no ones been able to do physical stuff quite like him. also a little alarmed that we have the same duck feet.
also all the fits go hard asf in this movie. i want the bedspread/poncho hybrid sm and it’s insane urban or zara haven’t sold it yet.
Review by 𝐌𝐮𝐱𝐢𝐱 ★★★★

A picture with a smile - and perhaps, a tear
Review by Joseph Pitard

Of the Chaplin silent films, this one takes the bait as the most wholesome.