Year: 1982
Runtime: 124 min
Language: English
Director: Alan Parker
Marcy’s life is falling apart, and she sees a chance for a fresh start through a national game show offering a substantial prize. As she competes, the pressure tests her relationship with her daughter Alice, revealing the challenges of pursuing wealth and the importance of family connections. She must ultimately decide what she’s willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of a better future.
Get a spoiler-free look at Shoot the Moon (1982) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a sun‑kissed Californian suburb, Marcy finds her world slipping through her fingers—her marriage is strained, her job is on shaky ground, and the future feels like a thin line she’s about to lose. The everyday hum of a quiet neighborhood is punctuated by the glossy promise of a national game show that rolls across televisions, offering a life‑changing prize to anyone daring enough to step into its bright lights. The premise is simple, yet it opens a doorway to a world where ordinary worries collide with extraordinary temptation.
Marcy’s teenage daughter, Alice, is navigating the tumult of adolescence, trying to carve out her own identity while watching her mother teeter on the edge of desperation. Their bond, already fragile from the pressures of daily life, becomes a delicate fulcrum as the allure of the game show’s jackpot looms. The series balances the intimate, almost claustrophobic domestic scenes with the soaring, larger‑than‑life spectacle of the competition, creating a rhythm that feels both grounded and aspirational.
The tone swings between hopeful optimism and quiet melancholy, underscored by a soft, naturalistic soundtrack that mirrors the characters’ internal beats. As Marcy steps onto the polished stage of the televised contest, the camera lingers on the tension in her eyes, hinting at the sacrifices she might be forced to weigh. The show’s bright, manufactured world contrasts sharply with the muted, lived‑in spaces of her home, emphasizing the pull between public triumph and private responsibility.
At its heart, the story is a character study of a mother and daughter confronting the costs of ambition and the true meaning of success. It invites viewers to wonder how far one will go for a fresh start, and what quiet, unspoken promises might be left behind in the pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:11
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where simmering family tension erupts into raw, emotional confrontations.If you were captivated by the raw emotional turmoil in Shoot the Moon, this collection features similar movies about marital crisis and family breakdown. Find other tense dramas with high emotional weight, volatile characters, and bittersweet endings that explore the painful cost of dissolving a family.
The narrative typically follows a linear escalation of conflict within a family, often centered on infidelity or irreconcilable differences. Character journeys are defined by emotional cause-and-effect, where actions lead directly to explosive confrontations, culminating in a state of painful, unresolved separation that leaves everyone scarred.
Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the intensely raw and emotional experience of a family in crisis. They match a specific mix of high intensity, tense tone, heavy emotional weight, and a steady pacing that builds relentlessly towards a climactic, often devastating, family rupture.
Character-driven stories where difficult choices test the bonds of family.For viewers who appreciated the moral dilemmas in Shoot the Moon, this list features similar drama movies where characters are tested by difficult choices. Discover films with steady pacing, high emotional stakes, and a focus on the consequences of sacrificing family for a chance at a new future.
The narrative pattern follows a protagonist's pursuit of a goal—often financial or personal freedom—that directly conflicts with their family responsibilities. The story unfolds with a steady pace, escalating the tension as their choices create a rift, forcing a final reckoning that highlights what was truly lost or gained in the pursuit.
These films are connected by their core thematic focus on sacrifice and consequence within a family unit. They share a similar emotional journey: a tense, steady build-up of pressure as a character's decisions lead to a heavy, emotionally charged climax and a final bittersweet reflection on the outcome.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Shoot the Moon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Shoot the Moon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Shoot the Moon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Shoot the Moon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Shoot the Moon. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Shoot the Moon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Shoot the Moon that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Shoot the Moon (1982) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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