Joey Norton, a seven-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, feels left out of his older brother Lennie's activities with his friends. One summer day, Lennie and his friends decide to play a prank on Joey and convince him that he has accidentally shot and killed Lennie with a real gun. Joey runs away from home, taking the subway to Coney Island, where he spends the next two days wandering around the amusement park and beach.
While on the boardwalk, Joey meets a teenager named Midget who takes him under his wing and shows him around. Midget helps Joey win prizes at carnival games and takes him on various rides, including the Ferris wheel.
Meanwhile, Lennie and his friends search for Joey, feeling guilty about their prank that has gone too far. They team up with a local police officer to track Joey down, and eventually find him on the beach at Coney Island.
Upon Joey's return home, Lennie and his friends apologize for their prank and promise to never leave Joey out again. The film ends with Joey contentedly playing with his friends in the local playground.
Little Fugitive, released in 1953 and directed by Ray Ashley, Morris Engel, and Ruth Orkin, is noted for its naturalistic and observational style, and for its use of non-professional actors and handheld cameras. It was a major influence on the French New Wave, with director François Truffaut calling it the "beginning of modern cinema." The film was also one of the first independent American films to gain international recognition and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Story.