American Honey (2016)
Before 'The Florida Project', director Andrea Arnold’s sprawling road trip movie gave audiences a similarly immersive look at forgotten youth. The film follows Star (Sasha Lane), a teenager who escapes a troubled home by joining a traveling magazine sales
crew. Like Baker's film, 'American Honey' uses a documentary-like style to capture the raw, chaotic energy of kids living on the margins. It's less about a tight plot and more about a feeling—the fleeting joys, the harsh economic realities, and the formation of a 'found family' among a group of outcasts searching for their own version of the American Dream, even if it’s just a paycheck and a party.
Aftersun (2022)
While tonally gentler, Charlotte Wells' 'Aftersun' shares a crucial piece of DNA with 'The Florida Project': it tells a story of adult struggle through the fragmented, not-quite-understanding perspective of a child. The film, which follows 11-year-old Sophie on a Turkish holiday with her loving but melancholic father, uses a minimalist narrative. Critics noted the parallel in how both films find profound emotion in small, seemingly plotless moments. We don't get a full picture of the father's pain, just as Moonee doesn't grasp the depth of her mother's desperation. Instead, both films masterfully capture a child’s-eye view of a world they are too young to fully comprehend.
Scrapper (2023)
This British debut from director Charlotte Regan was frequently compared to 'The Florida Project' for its vibrant, imaginative take on a tough subject. The film centers on 12-year-old Georgie, who lives alone happily after her mother's death until her estranged father (Harris Dickinson) suddenly appears. Like Baker's film, 'Scrapper' rejects a bleak, desaturated look for its working-class setting, instead opting for bright colors and a playful energy that reflects its protagonist's resilience. Both films focus on a resourceful child navigating a world of adult problems, finding moments of joy and magic amidst the neglect and grief.
Red Rocket (2021)
The most direct comparison comes from Sean Baker himself. His follow-up to 'The Florida Project' continues his exploration of life on the fringes of the American economy. 'Red Rocket' follows a washed-up adult film star who returns to his small Texas hometown, and it features many of Baker’s signature techniques: casting non-professional actors, a realist style, and a non-judgmental look at characters making desperate choices. While its protagonist is an adult, the film shares a similar setting of economic ruin and captures the subcultures that exist just out of sight of mainstream society, blending dark comedy with undeniable humanity.
Nomadland (2020)
Chloé Zhao’s Oscar-winning film occupies a similar cinematic space, examining a subculture born from economic precarity. The film, starring Frances McDormand alongside real-life American nomads, has been praised for its cinéma vérité style that blurs the line between documentary and fiction. Critics drew parallels to 'The Florida Project' for its documentary-esque feel and its focus on a community existing on the periphery. Both films find a quiet dignity and resilience in their subjects, painting a portrait of modern America that is rarely seen on screen, using the vast landscapes of the West in the same way Baker used the pastel-colored motels of Florida.
