The Great Gilly Hopkins (2015)

12-year-old wisecracking Gilly Hopkins finds herself shuffled from foster home to foster home until she meets Maime Trotter.

Director:

Stephen Herek

Writers:

David Paterson (screenplay by), Katherine Paterson (based on the book by)

Stars:

Sophie Nélisse, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Nélisse	...	Gilly Hopkins
Kathy Bates	...	Maime Trotter
Glenn Close	...	Nonnie
Octavia Spencer	...	Ms. Harris
Julia Stiles	...	Courtney
Bill Cobbs	...	Mr. Randolph
Billy Magnussen	...	Ellis
Zachary Hernandez	...	W.E.
Clare Foley	...	Agnes
Sammy Pignalosa	...	Rajeem
Toby Turner	...	Ticket Agent
Richard Topol	...	Principal Evans (as Richard Topal)
Cara Cooper	...	Woman with Book
Salvatore Rossi	...	Stevie
Cameron Clifford	...	Ed

Storyline

A feisty foster kid's outrageous scheme to be reunited with her birth mother has unintended consequences in The Great Gilly Hopkins, an entertaining film for the entire family. Gilly Hopkins (Sophie Nélisse) has seen more than her share of foster homes and has outwitted every family she has lived with. In an effort to escape her new foster mother Maime Trotter's (Kathy Bates) endless loving care, Gilly concocts a plan that she believes will bring her mother running to her rescue. But when the ploy blows up in Gilly's face it threatens to ruin the only chance she's ever had to be part of a real family. Based on the award-winning young-adult novel by Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia), The Great Gilly Hopkins stars Sophie Nélisse, Kathy Bates, Julia Stiles, Bill Cobbs, Billy Magnussen, with Octavia Spencer and Glenn Close.

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Plot Keywords:

social worker | female protagonist | brother sister relationship | grief | mourning | 

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Taglines:

Finding where you belong isn't always easy.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Fabulosa Gilly Hopkins

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate Premiere, Latium Films, Arcady Bay Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Danny Glover was originally cast to the role of Mr. Randolph but replaced due to scheduling conflicts.

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Goofs

This movie is set in Maryland during the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays, yet all of the trees and lawns are in full summer splendor.

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Connections

Features Sesame Street (1969)

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Soundtracks

SYMPHONY NO. 40 MOLTO ALLEGRO
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Courtesy of FirstCom Music

User Reviews

Involing and moving little movie

This is an involving story that is defiantly worth watching. Even though it was a long time ago when I was a teen this movie was still captivating and surprising.

At first I was expecting Gilly's character to be more obnoxious, but she turns out to be a fairly normal child with just a smattering of issues. At this point I thought I knew where the move was going, but it throws in a few surprises, which I won't disclose.

Whilst it never really breaks free of the "bad person turned good" mold the move is well acted and well cast, it manages to stay involving and keep my interest and was quite moving in places.

Maybe not a classic, but not a waste of time either. I would watch it again.