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Obvious Child

Play trailer Poster for Obvious Child R 2014 1h 23m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 165 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
An immature, newly unemployed comic (Jenny Slate) must navigate the murky waters of adulthood after her fling with a graduate student (Jake Lacy) results in an unplanned pregnancy.
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Obvious Child

Obvious Child

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Critics Consensus

Tackling a sensitive subject with maturity, honesty, and wit, Obvious Child serves as a deeply promising debut for writer-director Gillian Robespierre.

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Critics Reviews

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Jordan Hoffman Times of Israel Jan 4, 2018
Beyond the identity politics and humor, Obvious Child goes the extra mile to represent a seldom voiced, moderate position about a hot button topic. Go to Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Sep 2, 2017
B+
It doesn't overtly try to be anything more than what it is, which makes it that much more cool to watch. Go to Full Review Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Jan 5, 2015
Robespierre's direction of the many fine actors she assembled is assured, her sense of pacing nicely loose-limbed. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 16, 2026
3/4
Donna Stern proves to be a mirror reflection of the movie surrounding her: intelligent, spirited, honest, and more than a little awkward. Go to Full Review Christopher Llewellyn Reed Hammer to Nail May 19, 2022
In its refusal to judge Donna even as she struggles to earn our respect, OBVIOUS CHILD may just be the most radical film of 2014. Of course, it’s also a raunchy sex farce which never feels like it’s preaching to you. What more could you want? Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Mar 4, 2021
Obvious Child is as successful a comedy as it is an argument for its cause. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jonathan K @aFIREintheattic Aug 22, 2026 Cute! Jenny Slate is great in this, very funny and charming. The abortion part of the story is handled with a lot of care and tenderness. The chemistry between the two leads is pretty good, it's a cute little relationship. It hits the emotional beats it's going for and stays pretty well balanced, doesn't swing too hard in one direction or the other, comedy or the emotional/romantic syrup or anything like that. It's measured, but also pretty sweet. Would recommend. See more Los G @RT08187295 Aug 6, 2026 A strong lead performance can't hide a rather peculiarly positioned film, which suggests it may go hard, but then turns into fairly typical romcom slush See more Vevo The S @RT04252823 Mar 20, 2026 Horrid. She plays a comedian who apparently can't tell a funny joke. They treat a "sensitive subject" as a joke. If there was some angst or second guessing but not to be. See more Nov 2, 2024 nah bad acting dumb plot See more Jared P @RT09161856 Mar 19, 2024 Unsatisfying. They stretched a 23 minute short to an 83 minute movie without really adding much. See more Gareth v @geewah Jun 20, 2023 A touching and at times nuanced look at what is a difficult issue. While far from perfect it is entertaining. See more Read all reviews
Obvious Child

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Cast & Crew

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Gillian Robespierre

Director

Jenny Slate

Donna Stern

Jake Lacy

Max

Gaby Hoffmann

Nellie

Gabe Liedman

Joey

Polly Draper

Mrs. Stern

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Obvious Child

Obvious Child (2014) Jenny Slate as Donna Stern and Jake Lacy as Max in "Obvious Child." Jenny Slate as Donna Stern and Jake Lacy as Max in "Obvious Child." Jake Lacy as Max in "Obvious Child." (L-R) Gaby Hoffmann as Nellie and Jenny Slate as Donna Stern in "Obvious Child." (L-R) Jake Lacy as Max, Jenny Slate as Donna Stern and Gaby Hoffmann as Nellie in "Obvious Child." Jake Lacy as Max and Jenny Slate as Donna Stern and in "Obvious Child." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An immature, newly unemployed comic (Jenny Slate) must navigate the murky waters of adulthood after her fling with a graduate student (Jake Lacy) results in an unplanned pregnancy.
Director
Gillian Robespierre
Producer
Elisabeth Holm
Screenwriter
Gillian Robespierre
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Rooks Nest Entertainment, Sundial Pictures
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 6, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
1h 23m
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