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The Florida Project is Sean Baker’s 2017 drama about six-year-old Moonee, her mother Halley, and the precarious life they lead at a budget motel near Walt Disney World. The film sees that world largely through a child’s playful perspective while showing the strain surrounding her—and leaves its ending deliberately open rather than resolving every uncertainty.
What is The Florida Project about?
Moonee spends a summer making adventures with other children around the Magic Castle motel, where she and Halley live week to week. The motel’s manager, Bobby, tries to maintain order while showing compassion for the people staying there. As Moonee plays, Halley struggles to provide for her daughter in unstable circumstances.
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The Florida Project [Blu-ray] | $18.30 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Florida Project | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The film’s perspective matters: it does not treat Moonee’s childhood as simply carefree, or reduce Halley to a symbol of hardship. Play and vulnerability coexist. A24 describes the film as “a deeply moving and unforgettably poignant look at childhood”—the distributor’s own characterization of the movie.
Why is the motel near Disney World important?
The Magic Castle’s proximity to Walt Disney World sets up a contrast between the theme park’s promise of happiness and the limits of daily life for families living in nearby motels. Moonee’s imagination makes her surroundings feel expansive, even as the adults around her face material instability.
#1 Best Overall
The title refers to an early development name for Walt Disney World, according to the American Film Institute (AFI). That connection gives the title an additional tension: the film is set beside a place associated with fantasy, but follows people whose lives do not share in that promise.
What does the ending mean?
The ending is intentionally ambiguous, AFI says. Rather than spelling out a definitive resolution, the film closes in a way that leaves viewers weighing Moonee’s experience and Halley’s situation.
Rank #2
AFI attributes the ending’s emphasis to Baker, who described it as “really about finding empathy” for Halley. Baker connected that perspective to Halley’s own history: she experienced teenage pregnancy and was denied a childhood of her own. This context encourages empathy without requiring viewers to treat the ending as a clear answer about what happens next.
How was the film made, and where was it shot?
The Florida Project was directed by Sean Baker and written by Baker and Chris Bergoch. Protagonist Pictures identifies June Pictures, Che Film, and Freestyle Pictures Company among the production companies and says the film was shot in 2016 in neighborhoods around Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Rank #3
AFI gives more specific production detail: filming took place mainly at the real Magic Castle Inn & Suites in Osceola, Florida, which remained open during production, and some residents appeared as background actors. AFI reports that the film was shot on 35mm, while Baker filmed the Disney World scenes on an iPhone 6 over two days. The film premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cast and recognition
A24 lists Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria Cotto, and Bria Vinaite among the film’s stars. Its selected awards include:
Rank #4
- 2017 New York Film Critics Circle awards for Best Director for Sean Baker and Best Supporting Actor for Willem Dafoe.
- 2017 National Board of Review Best Supporting Actor for Dafoe.
- 2018 Critics’ Choice Award for Best Young Performer for Brooklynn Prince.
AFI also records an AFI Award for the film and Dafoe’s Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Where can you watch The Florida Project?
A24’s film page lists digital viewing destinations and links to Amazon for DVD and Blu-ray. Those links are starting points, not guarantees of current access: listings, stock, editions, and availability can vary by territory and change over time. Check the retailer or service directly for your region, and confirm the edition if you want a physical copy.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
