Four single-site metallocene catalyst based polyethylenes (mPEs), one ultra low density polyethylene, one conventional linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and one low density polyethylene (LDPE) were selected to characterize the effect of side chain branches on physical and mechanical properties. Rheological experiments were carried out to extract complex viscosity and elasticity as a function of frequency. Elongational viscosity tests were also performed to assess long chain branching. For some mPEs, sparse long chain branching improved shear thinning and elasticity of the chains in melt state. During elongation, mPEs with a narrow linear chain distribution showed initially greater melt strength whereas for longer elongation, the mPEs with long chain branching lead over in strength. Cast films were produced from the mPEs and their physical (such as crystallinity, crystal size) and mechanical properties were tested. A double melting peak was observed in the differential scanning calorimetry thermograms of the mPE films. A relatively sharp strain hardening behavior in tensile tests was observed for the mPEs films when compared to LLDPE. Fourier transform infrared was used as an effective and fast method to investigate side chain length. It was found that the positioning of side chain, co-monomer length, and content influence the melting behavior of mPE films. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers