The Children of Times Square

The Children of Times Square is a 1986 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Curtis Hanson. The film is about an alienated teenager who runs away from home and travels to New York City where he falls in with a cocaine dealer using street children as drug dealers. It aired on ABC on March 3, 1986.

Plot
14-year-old Eric lives with his divorced mother Sue in Pennsylvania. Feeling unwanted by his stepfather Peter, Eric runs away to New York City. He ends up in Times Square where he meets up with Luis, a Hispanic youth looking to help his mother and kid sisters make ends meet after losing their apartment to a fire. Luis introduces Eric to Skater, who brings him into a gang of street kids who work as drug runners for a cocaine dealer named Otis. Drawn to the allure of what looks like easy money, Eric and Luis go to work for Otis, but find themselves sinking deeper into a world of gang violence and crime. Meanwhile, Sue drives to Manhattan in search of her son, frantically ignoring police advice to search around Times Square.

Critical reception
John J. O'Connor of The New York Times wrote "As The Children of Times Square skips from scene to scene, it becomes increasingly clear that the film is more interested in a bit of sensationalism here, a dab of standard violence there." He said the film comes close to being pure exploitation, adding, "For some impressionable youths, it might even serve as an advertisement for alternative styles of life."

Diane Holloway of the Austin American-Statesman said, "Rollins is terrific as the slimy Otis, and Cassidy is heartbreaking as the distraught but determined mother. In fact, there is little fault to be found with anyone in the cast", but said the film doesn't rise above standard after school special material and has an implausible ending.

Home media
The film was released on DVD in Region 1 NTSC Format on June 25th, 2012 via MGM's Limited Edition Collection.

It has also been made available for digital purchase on Amazon Prime Video.