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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

2008·Movie
1h 34min·PG-13

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension6
  • Spectacle5
  • Violence5

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Pathos10
  • Melancholy9
  • Catharsis8

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Dark Humor2
  • Wit & Wordplay1
  • Cringe Humor1

World

History, society, and politics

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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You want something to laugh atYou need an uplifting mood

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Lines may divide us, but hope will unite us.

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls.
Holocaust DramaTragedy of InnocenceHistorical PerspectiveChildhood NaiveteDevastating ConsequencesMoral ExaminationSomber ReflectionWorld War II

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, and Apple TV Store. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas worth watching?

68
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 69/100 (IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 65%, and Metacritic 55). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas rated?

PG-13ViolenceDisturbing imagerySuicide themes

It's rated PG-13 in the United States. Content advisories: violence, disturbing imagery, and suicide themes.

How long is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas?

1 h 34 min

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas runs 1 h 34 min.

Is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas?

Critics60
Audiences77

Not quite. Audiences rate The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas higher (77) than critics (60). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas a box office hit?

Budget$13 million
Box office$20 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $13 million to make and earned $20 million worldwide, 1.6 times its budget.

What language is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in?

EnglishGerman

It was made in English, with some German. Produced in United Kingdom, United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas?

112ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+98

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in 112 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas use?

Hoist by His Own PetardHypocritical HumorEveryone Has StandardsWhy Couldn't You Be Different?Children Are InnocentArtistic License – HistorySay My NamePerson with the ClothingStepford SmilerOdd FriendshipTogether in DeathFrom New York to Nowhereand 39 more

TV Tropes lists 51 storytelling tropes for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, including Hoist by His Own Petard, Hypocritical Humor, Everyone Has Standards.