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Beasts of No Nation

2015·Movie
2h 17min·R
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.7Metacritic798.1Rotten Tomatoes91%92%
IMDb7.7Metacritic798.1Rotten Tomatoes91%92%

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Beasts of No Nation fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Brutally violent and tense

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence9
  • Tension8
  • Fast Pace8

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Pathos9
  • Coming of Age9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, war, and growing up

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic movies

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

About

Child. Captive. Killer.

Based on the experiences of Agu, a child fighting in the civil war of a West African country. Follows Agu's journey as he's forced to join a group of soldiers. While he fears his commander and many of the men around him, his fledgling childhood has been brutally shattered by the war raging through his country, and he is at first torn between conflicting revulsion and fascination.
Child SoldierCivil WarWest AfricaViolenceLoss of InnocencePsychological TraumaBleakSocial Commentary

Crew

Directed by:
Cary Joji Fukunaga, Zorinah Juan-Lieber
Written by:
Cary Joji Fukunaga, Uzodinma Iweala
Produced by:
Idris Elba, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Riva Marker
Composed by:
Dan Romer, Tracy McKnight

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Beasts of No Nation

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Beasts of No Nation legally?

Netflix

Beasts of No Nation is included with a subscription to Netflix in the United States. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Beasts of No Nation worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83/100 (IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, and Metacritic 79). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Beasts of No Nation rated?

RViolence

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is Beasts of No Nation?

2 h 17 min

Beasts of No Nation runs 2 h 17 min.

Is Beasts of No Nation based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on Beasts of No Nation?

Critics85
Audiences83

Yes. Critics average 85 and audiences 83 out of 100, so both groups see Beasts of No Nation much the same way.

Was Beasts of No Nation a box office hit?

Budget$6 million
Box office$9 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $6 million to make and earned $9 million worldwide, 1.5 times its budget.

What language is Beasts of No Nation in?

EnglishAkan

It was made in English, with some Akan. Produced in Brazil, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Beasts of No Nation?

131ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBGBH+117

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Beasts of No Nation in 131 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Beasts of No Nation use?

Camera AbuseLa RésistanceBulungiBittersweet EndingGory Discretion ShotGreater-Scope VillainVillain with Good PublicityRiddle for the AgesTime-Compression MontageScrew This, I'm Outta Here!Rape Is a Special Kind of EvilKarma Houdiniand 35 more

TV Tropes lists 47 storytelling tropes for Beasts of No Nation, including Camera Abuse, La Résistance, Bulungi.