IMDb > Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Little Miss Sunshine
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Little Miss Sunshine (2006) More at IMDbPro »

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Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- Frank and Dwayne talk about what makes life worth living as Olive gets ready for her beauty pageant.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- "Little Miss Sunshine" actress Abigail Breslin appears in a new film that encourages animal conservation. The film is partnered with Animal Planet. Harry Smith talks to Jeff Corwin and friends.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 35% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writer (WGA):
Michael Arndt (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Little Miss Sunshine on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 AUGUSZTUS 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
Where's Olive? more
Plot:
A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 41 wins & 48 nominations more
User Comments:
Probably the best comedy of 2006. more (806 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Abigail Breslin ... Olive Hoover

Greg Kinnear ... Richard Hoover

Paul Dano ... Dwayne

Alan Arkin ... Grandpa Edwin Hoover

Toni Collette ... Sheryl Hoover

Steve Carell ... Frank Ginsberg
Marc Turtletaub ... Doctor #1
Jill Talley ... Cindy

Brenda Canela ... Diner Waitress
Julio Oscar Mechoso ... Mechanic

Chuck Loring ... Convenience Store Proprietor

Justin Shilton ... Josh
Gordon Thomson ... Larry Sugarman

Steven Christopher Parker ... Teen Boy #1

Bryan Cranston ... Stan Grossman

John Walcutt ... Doctor #2

Paula Newsome ... Linda

Dean Norris ... State Trooper McCleary

Beth Grant ... Pageant Official Jenkins

Wallace Langham ... Kirby

Lauren Shiohama ... Miss California

Mary Lynn Rajskub ... Pageant Assistant Pam
Jerry Giles ... Funeral Home Worker

Geoff Meed ... Biker Dad

Matt Winston ... Pageant MC

Joan Scheckel ... Judge

Casandra Ashe ... Girl in Hallway

Mel Rodriguez ... Officer Martinez
Alexandria Alaman ... Pageant Contestant

Alissa Anderegg ... Pageant Contestant
Brittany Baird ... Pageant Contestant
Cambria Baird ... Pageant Contestant
Brenae Bandy ... Pageant Contestant
Kristen Holaas ... Pageant Contestant
Maliah Hudson ... Pageant Contestant
Destry Jacobs ... Pageant Contestant
Lindsey Jordan ... Pageant Contestant
Shane Murphy ... Pageant Contestant
Annabelle Roberts ... Pageant Contestant
Sydni Stevenson-Love ... Pageant Contestant
Nicole Stoehr ... Pageant Contestant
Lauren Yee ... Pageant Contestant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Terry Bolo ... Pageant Worker (uncredited)

Erik David ... Photographer (uncredited)
Marc De'Antone ... Seminar class (uncredited)
Tara Dawn Holland ... Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ksenia Jarova ... Pretty Girl (uncredited)

Robert O'Connor ... Pageant Judge #1 (uncredited)

Regis Philbin ... Himself (voice) (uncredited)
Matthew W. Tate ... Funeral Worker #2 (uncredited)
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Directed by
Jonathan Dayton 
Valerie Faris 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Michael Arndt (written by)

Produced by
Albert Berger .... producer
Michael Beugg .... executive producer
Jeb Brody .... executive producer
David T. Friendly .... producer
Bart Lipton .... associate producer
Peter Saraf .... producer
Marc Turtletaub .... producer
Ron Yerxa .... producer
 
Original Music by
Mychael Danna 
DeVotchKa 
 
Cinematography by
Tim Suhrstedt (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Pamela Martin 
 
Casting by
Justine Baddeley 
Kim Davis  (as Kim Davis-Wagner)
 
Production Design by
Kalina Ivanov 
 
Art Direction by
Alan E. Muraoka 
 
Set Decoration by
Melissa M. Levander  (as Melissa Levander)
 
Costume Design by
Nancy Steiner 
 
Makeup Department
Susan Carol Schwary .... key hair stylist (as Susan Carol-Schwary)
Janis Clark .... hair department head
Dugg Kirkpatrick .... key hair stylist (as 'Dugg' Kirkpatrick)
Angel Radefeld .... key makeup artist
Nicole Sortillon .... makeup assistant (as Nicole Sortillion)
Torsten Witte .... makeup department head
 
Production Management
Michael Bergyl .... unit production manager
Bob Dohrmann .... production supervisor
Michael Toji .... post-production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Heather Anderson .... additional second second assistant director
Kate Greenberg .... second second assistant director
Joe May .... additional second second assistant director
Gregory J. Smith .... second assistant director (as Gregory Smith)
Thomas Patrick Smith .... first assistant director
Thomas Robinson Harper .... second unit director (uncredited)
Bart Lipton .... second second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Ellis J. Barbacoff .... assistant property master
Tony Bonaventura .... property master
Andrea Cantrell .... assistant props
Jill Deibler .... buyer
Joseph K. Garcia .... swing gang
Theresa Greene .... art department coordinator
Michael Klingerman .... leadman
David Marple .... swing gang
Rich Murray .... assistant art director
Christopher Pappas .... on-set dresser
Christopher Pappas .... props
Rion Waller .... swing gang
 
Sound Department
Rick Ash .... sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Barbanell .... foley artist
Kerry Ann Carmean .... foley editor
Patrick Cusack .... assistant sound editor
Andrew DeCristofaro .... supervising sound editor
Craig Dollinger .... boom operator
Bill Henderson .... sound re-recording engineer
Stacey Michaels .... adr mixer
Sterling Moore .... boom operator: additional photography
Steven Morrow .... sound mixer
Steve Nelson .... sound effects editor (as Steven F. Nelson)
Nancy Nugent .... supervising adr editor (as Nancy Kyong Nugent)
Buck Robinson .... sound mixer: additional photography
Stephen P. Robinson .... supervising sound editor
Terry Rodman .... sound re-recording mixer
Robert Sharman .... utility sound technician
Christopher Sidor .... sound mix technician
Greg Steele .... adr mixer
John C. Stuver .... dialogue editor
Greg Zimmerman .... adr recordist
 
Special Effects by
Ian Eyre .... special effects technician
 
Visual Effects by
Adam Avitabile .... visual effects supervisor
Chad Buehler .... digital compositor
Joshua D. Comen .... visual effects producer (as Josh Comen)
Jenny Foster .... visual effects coordinator
Rob Ostir .... digital effects artist
Steve Rodriguez .... colorist
 
Stunts
Kenny Anderson .... assistant stunt coordinator
Kacie Borrowman .... stunt double: Abigail Breslin
Riley Harper .... stunt double
Thomas Robinson Harper .... stunt coordinator (as Tom Robinson Harper)
Traci Richelle Harrison .... stunts
Christie Hayes .... stunt double
Michael Hugghins .... stunt double
Mark Kubr .... stunts and water safety
Larry Rippenkroeger .... stunts
Matthew Taylor .... stunt double: Greg Kinnear
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Bango .... first assistant camera
Matt Bardocz .... best boy electric
Clint Borden .... dolly grip: "b" camera
Tom Boyd .... underwater camera operator
Brian Cantrell .... electrician
Jack Carpenter .... camera car grip
Theda Cunningham .... first assistant camera: "a" camera
Greg Dellerson .... assistant camera
Josh Denering .... grip
Carlos M. Gallardo .... dolly grip
Paul Goodstein .... key grip
Jeffrey Greeley .... camera operator
Keith A. Hascher .... lighting technician
Jimi Johnson .... video assist operator
Lawrence Karman .... Steadicam operator
Rick Lawrence .... grip
Heather Lea .... first assistant camera
Eric Lee .... still photographer
Christopher Mack .... first assistant camera
Paul McIlvaine .... gaffer
Alan Morier .... lighting technician
Tony Olivieri .... first assistant Steadicam
Michelle Pizanis .... clapper loader
Chris J. Rossi .... best boy grip
Rigney Sackley .... assistant camera
Atom Vyvial .... grip
 
Casting Department
Barbara Harris .... adr voice casting
Kelly Hunt .... extras casting
Rich King .... extras casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bethany Bernhard .... set costumer
Lisa Hyde .... set costumer
Robin McMullan .... costume supervisor
Jennifer Starzyk .... key costumer
 
Editorial Department
Ian Elias .... post-production assistant
Joe Fineman .... post-production consultant
Terel Gibson .... first assistant editor
Jessica Otto .... post-production assistant: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Nick Wenger .... post-production assistant
Lee Wimer .... color timer
 
Music Department
Elliott Goldkind .... assistant music editor
Brad Haehnel .... music mixer
Brad Haehnel .... scoring mixer
Susan Jacobs .... music supervisor
Anne Litt .... music supervisor
Rob Simonsen .... assistant to composer
Tony Tisdale .... additional music contributor
Joshua Winget .... music editor (as Josh Winget)
 
Transportation Department
Joseph Aroesti .... transportation co-captain
Mike Belt .... mechanic
Angel Desanti .... transportation co-captain
Dillan Esco .... driver
J. Armin Garza II .... driver: camera car
Geno Hart .... transportation coordinator
Marty Osborne .... picture cars
John Pellegrino .... transportation
Adam Pinkstaff .... transportation captain
William Smallwood .... driver: production van
 
Other crew
Sebastian Arocha-Morton .... source cues
Mike Artimo .... medic
Erik Bright .... unit publicist
Cecilia Cardwell .... studio teacher
Ed Casares .... video artist
Richard Cody .... key craft services
Molly Cooper .... assistant to producers
William Cusick .... office production assistant
Michael Dericks .... choreographer
Thomas Farr .... payroll accountant
Jennifer Zolten Freed .... post-production accountant
Shaun Greenspan .... production assistant
Francis Hadinoto .... production assistant
Jennifer L. Hamilton .... assistant choreographer (as Jennifer Hamilton)
Traci Richelle Harrison .... stand-in: Abigail Breslin
James Kaplan .... assistant: Mr. Dayton & Ms. Faris
Ashley Kravitz .... script clearance
Joe Lewis .... assistant: Mr. Dayton & Ms. Faris
Christopher Licata .... production assistant
Felipe Linz .... assistant to producers
Kevin Maier .... stand-in: Steve Carell
Jason Mandel .... production assistant
Joshua Mandel .... production assistant
Lyn Matsuda .... script supervisor
Charissa McLain .... assistant production coordinator
Emily McMaster .... assistant to producers
Dauv McNeely .... computer and video playback technician
Christopher Miller .... location manager
Dan Milner .... location scout
Dan Murbarger .... computer/video playback operator
Zack Neuman .... office intern
Lyn Norton .... script supervisor
Jessica Otto .... assistant: Ms. Collette
Sara Pollack .... production executive
Marguerite Pomerhn Derricks .... choreographer (as Marguerite Derricks)
Michyl-Shannon Quilty .... production coordinator
Mike Revell .... production accountant
Jennessa Rose .... additional voices
Julianna Rose .... additional voices
Negar Saddigh .... production assistant
Rocsana Saddigh .... production assistant
Jessie Hope Salka .... unit publicist
Suzanne C. Swindle .... script supervisor
Katie Taylor .... production assistant
Nate Taylor .... key assistant location manager
Cori Uchida .... assistant to producers
Jenny Worman .... stand-in: Toni Collette
Bryan Yaconelli .... first assistant accountant
Paul Young .... production assistant
Andrea Katherine Taylor .... intern (uncredited)
 
Thanks
James Everett Dayton .... thanks
Joan Scheckel .... the directors wish to thank: Joan Scheckel Lab
Jocelyn Towne .... special thanks
 

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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language, some sex and drug content.
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R (certificate #42333) | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Italy:T | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:6 | Sweden:7 | New Zealand:R13 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Brazil:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Japan:PG-12 | Chile:TE | Norway:10 (TV rating) | Iceland:L
Filming Locations:
Chandler, Arizona, USA more
Company:
Fox Searchlight Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
All of the girls acting as participants in the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant, except Abigail Breslin, were veterans of real beauty pageants. They wore the same costumes, including hair and makeup, and performed the same talent routines as they had in their real-life pageants. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When they are in the hotel, and you see Dwayne and Frank open the door and enter the main event after being outside on the pier, you see a girl in yellow dancing. A few moments later you see a different girl finishing up with the same song playing. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Richard: There are two kinds of people in this world, winners and losers.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Tu Abandono more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
97 out of 156 people found the following comment useful.
Probably the best comedy of 2006., 9 DECEMBER 2006
8/10
Author: P Carr (pavel@fan.com) from Topeka, KS

Comedies about families usually come in one of two genres. Often featuring dysfunctional families (are those two words redundant?), they are either broad and goofy ("Cheaper by the Dozen") or dark and abstruse ("The Royal Tenenbaums"). Driving its Volkswagon bus down the middle of these two extremes is "Little Miss Sunshine", a comedy both inclusive and exclusive, one that some will get entirely, while others will whiff on to the same degree.

The title stems from a beauty pageant in which seven-year old Olive (Abigail Breslin of "Signs") competes. For a good portion of the film, the contest serves as a MacGuffin of sorts, putting an already odd mix of family members on the road in bizarre situations that call Vegas Vacation to mind.

But "Sunshine" is far more than the slapstick of "Vacation". It mixes humor both broad and subtle humor into a strange brew of comedy, poignancy, lessons, and life. Huge and deep issues are addressed, topics like death, dreams, and failure. Yet somehow the movie doesn't feel heavy. You'll walk out with a smile on your face because the movie sensibly touches on these issues, realizing that stuff happens and life continues, that the handling of adversity is often what defines people. And above all, there is family, which you're stuck with, for better and worse.

"Sunshine" may not grab you right away, which is part of its power. It burns slowly, introducing the family members to the viewing outsiders through observation, then putting the viewers in the bus with them as they enter a foreign world. All this is done without lapsing into melodrama and without losing steam as the movie chugs toward the climactic final scene, continuously building momentum along the way, before promptly getting out on top.

Rather crude at times, "Sunshine" is not a movie for children, nor is it for anyone who takes life or movies too seriously. But if you excel at finding the askance humor in life and film, then you will relish this offbeat look at a collection of family dynamics perhaps only slightly stranger than most, although definitely more extreme.

Bottom Line: One of the year's best, and likely its best comedy. 8 of 10.

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Based on how he taught Olive to dance, was Grandpa a pedophile? garydiamond
Strangest Movie I Have Ever Seen Paul2614
LMS vs. Slumdog vs. Juno vs. Sideways Elimination Game coding_magician
The grandpa was awesome! wiredmonk
Did this film make you cry? kissme-12
not at all funny? maxpowers20
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