The Legend of Johnny Lingo

The Legend of Johnny Lingo

What if you were born a king and didn't know it?

Directed by Steven Ramirez

Produced by Turtles Crossing, Morinda, Inc

200391 min6.9 / 10

A heartfelt coming-of-age adventure about self-discovery and redemptive love, set against a lush South Pacific backdrop where an outcast boy learns his true worth.

When a storm washes a canoe bearing an infant boy ashore upon a small South Pacific island, he is at first well-received as a gift from the heavens, even to the point of the tribal chief adopting him as a successor. However, with time as hardships are blamed upon Tama (as he is named), he is finally outcast to live with the poorest people on the island, Mahana and her drunken father. Mahana is considered homely and undesirable, but Tama feels differently, so when he is old enough to build a craft to sail away, he vows to return for her one day. A lucky stroke brings him to land upon the island of the legendary Johnny Lingo, the wealthiest trader in the islands, and after years of service to him, Tama has learned much about life and himself as he dreams of honoring his pledge to Mahana.

Questions people ask

  • Does The Legend of Johnny Lingo end with hope? Yes. More hopeful than 85% of films.

  • Is The Legend of Johnny Lingo easy watching? Yes. More comforting than 77% of films.

  • Is The Legend of Johnny Lingo scary? Barely. Less frightening than 76% of films.

  • Is The Legend of Johnny Lingo violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

  • Is The Legend of Johnny Lingo sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

61/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity51

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise68

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love65

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Legend of Johnny Lingo

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Legend of Johnny Lingo

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Legend of Johnny Lingo, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Legend of Johnny Lingo, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Legend of Johnny Lingo, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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