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Trailer

Nowhere Boy

2009Movie1 h 38 min

Drama
73
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic677.2Rotten Tomatoes81%74%

A moving, cathartic drama movie about growing up and family.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

As a boy all John Lennon needed was love.

A rebellious teenager, future Beatle John Lennon lives with his Aunt Mimi in working-class mid-1950s Liverpool, England. Mimi's husband suddenly dies, and John spies his mother Julia at the funeral. Despite Mimi's misgivings, John intends to have a real relationship with his mother. Julia introduces him to popular music and the banjo and, though a family conflict looms, young John is inspired to form his own band.

Feels like

  • British Biographical Drama
  • 1950s Liverpool
  • Musical Origins
  • Troubled Youth
  • Complex Family Relationships
  • Coming of Age Story
  • Music Central
  • Rebellious Spirit
  • Working Class England

Cast

21 of 21

Crew

Directed by
Sam Taylor-Johnson
Written by
Matt Greenhalgh
Produced by
Douglas Rae, Kevin Loader, Robert Bernstein
Music by
Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 25, 2009 · 1 h 38 min · Strong Language

Released
December 25, 2009
Runtime
1 h 38 min
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$7 million
Available in
39 countries
Keywords
based on true story

Tropes

Tell Me About My Father, Fire-Forged Friends, Hair-Trigger Temper +9

  • Tell Me About My Father
  • Fire-Forged Friends
  • Hair-Trigger Temper
  • Bookends
  • Wall Bang Her
  • Oop North
  • Missing Mom
  • Mood Whiplash
  • Nobody Loves the Bassist
  • Incurable Cough of Death
  • Jerkass
  • Immodest Orgasm

12 of 31 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Nowhere Boy?"

Questions about Nowhere Boy

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Nowhere Boy?

KanopyHooplaFandango at Home FreeCriterionPlexFawesomeLionsgate+Tubi TV

In the United States, Nowhere Boy streams on Criterion and Lionsgate+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 29 other countries.

Is Nowhere Boy worth watching?

73
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 67).

Is Nowhere Boy good for date night?

and 2 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

Yes: romance is 6 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is Nowhere Boy plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Nowhere Boy a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$7 million

Yes: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $7 million worldwide, 4.4 times its budget.

What tropes does Nowhere Boy use?

Tell Me About My FatherFire-Forged FriendsHair-Trigger TemperBookendsWall Bang HerOop NorthMissing MomMood WhiplashNobody Loves the BassistIncurable Cough of DeathJerkassImmodest Orgasmand 19 more

TV Tropes lists 31 tropes for it, including Tell Me About My Father, Fire-Forged Friends, and Hair-Trigger Temper.