It's 1952 New Jersey. Mitzi Fabelman (Michelle Williams) and Burt Fabelman (Paul Dano) bring their son Sammy to his first movie, The Greatest Show on Earth. He is mesmerized by the train crash scene and works to recreate it. It's the start of a filmmaking career. Friend Uncle Bennie Loewy (Seth Rogen) works under Burt and is a constant fixture around the family.

This is a semi-autobiography by Steven Spielberg. It's fine as a childhood recollection. Spielberg has the cinematic skills to create another one of his childhood adventure. Except, the adventure is his life. It is elevated by Williams and Dano's performances. They don't miss a beat. There is a noticeable barrier to the material and his parents. The story is told from a child's point of view. His parents remain somewhat above him. At the end of the day, none of us can ever be more than a child to our parents.