Trailer
Summary
After he and his first wife separate, journalist David Sheff struggles to help their teenage son, who goes from experimenting with drugs to becoming devastatingly addicted to methamphetamine.
Good for
- Friends night
- Thought-provoking
- Adults
Skip it if
- You want something to laugh at
Where to watch
Fingerprint
At a glance
Critics vs audiences
Audiences like it more than critics (+12)
Critics 65Audiences 77GoodWatch 71
Tomatometer67%
Metascore62
Letterboxd · 1.9 M ratings4.1/5
Audience score80%
IMDb7.4
User score7.3
Box office
1.3×its budget
- Budget
- $25 M
- Worldwide
- $32 M
Worldwide it earned $7 M more than it cost.
Running time
2 h 1 min
A typical length for dramas, +12 min on the typical 109
typical 109121Half of all dramas run 98–125 min.
Reach
Streams in 24 countries, rent or buy in 107 more
+14Released
2018
October 12, 2018
8 years ago
Genre
DramaLanguage
English
Original language
Made in
- United States
Rated
- RUnited States
What's in it
- ViolenceMild
- Gore, disturbing imagesMild
- Frightening scenesLittle or none
- Sex, nudityLittle or none
- Dark themesStrong
- Drug useNamed in the advisories
- Strong languageNamed in the advisories
In white: what the content advisories name. Levels from the title analysis.
Viewing guide
AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-ProvokingNot listed for kids or family movie night.
and 31 more34 people
- Steve CarellDavid Sheff
- Timothée ChalametNic Sheff
- Maura TierneyKaren Barbour
- Amy RyanVicki Sheff
- Christian ConveryJasper Sheff
- Oakley BullDaisy Sheff
- Kaitlyn DeverLauren
- Stefanie ScottJulia
Julian WorksGack
Jack Dylan Grazer12-Year-Old Nic Sheff
Zachary Rifkin8-Year-Old Nic Sheff
Kue Lawrence5-Year-Old Nic Sheff
Timothy HuttonDr. Brown
Amy ForsythDiane
Andre RoyoSpencer
Ricky LowDestiny
LisaGay HamiltonRose
Carlton WilbornVince
Amy AquinoAnnie Goldblum
Marypat FarrellJulia's Mother
Brandon James CienfuegosKid
Cheska CoronaKid
Mandeiya FloryKid
Martha T. NewmanFlight Attendant
Directing · 5
- Felix van Groeningen Director, Screenplay
- George Bamber First Assistant Director
- Barry L. Caldwell Script Supervisor
- Adam Cuthbert Second Assistant Director
- Alana Katzner Second Second Assistant Director
Writing · 3
- Luke Davies Screenplay
- Nic Sheff Book
- David Sheff Book
Production · 29
- Sarah Esberg Executive Producer
- Nan Morales Unit Production Manager, Executive Producer
- Brad Pitt Producer
- Jeremy Kleiner Producer
- Dede Gardner Producer
- Francine Maisler Casting
Camera · 15
- Ruben Impens Director of Photography
- Allen Liu Grip
- François Duhamel Still Photographer
- Lonny Danler Digital Imaging Technician
- Jeffrey Greeley "B" Camera Operator
- Parker Shultz Grip
Editing · 6
- Nico Leunen Editor
- Chelsea Dinsdale First Assistant Editor
- David Marks Additional Editing
- Bernie E. Gomez Assistant Editor
- Traci Duran Additional Editing, First Assistant Editor
- Andrey Ragozin Assistant Editor
Sound · 20
- Elmo Weber Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Ulrika Akander ADR Supervisor, Supervising Sound Editor
- Gabe Hilfer Music Supervisor
- Robert Troy Dialogue Editor
- Catherine Harper Foley Artist
- Michael Hertlein Dialogue Editor
Art · 23
- Ethan Tobman Production Design
- Jennifer Lukehart Set Decoration
- Daniel McEldowney Greensman
- Patrick M. Sullivan Jr. Art Direction
- Karen Teneyck Graphic Designer
- John Berger Set Designer
Costume & Make-Up · 15
- Emma Potter Costume Design
- Sara Walbridge Key Costumer
- Jennifer Bell Hairstylist
- Fríða Aradóttir Hair Department Head
- Elisa Marsh Makeup Artist
- Lauren Morelli Costumer
Visual Effects · 4
- Mitchell S. Drain Visual Effects Supervisor
- Karina Benesh Visual Effects Coordinator
- Djochoua Belovarski Visual Effects Coordinator
- Molly Pabian Visual Effects Producer
Lighting · 11
- Jesse Austin Electrician
- Brian Bartolini Gaffer
- Toby LeCheminant Rigging Gaffer
- Josh Allen Electrician
- Brandon Jeffrey Harris Rigging Grip
- Roger Awad Best Boy Electric
Other crew · 21
- Mark Norby Stunt Coordinator
- Clay Cullen Stunt Double
- Kevin Maier Stand In
- John Walek Post Production Assistant
- Nancy Kirhoffer Post Production Supervisor
- Casey Boden Transportation Captain
Tropes
More like this
Similar
Most like Beautiful Boy overall
Nearest on the related map: closest in everything it does to you, not one trait
- Unorthodox (2020)
GoodWatch score 84 - Take Care of Maya (2023)
GoodWatch score 79 - Boy Erased (2018)
GoodWatch score 72 - Boots (2025)
GoodWatch score 80 - 3096 Days (2013)
GoodWatch score 62 - Flee (2021)
GoodWatch score 85 - Under the Bridge (2024)
GoodWatch score 74 - The Sky Is Pink (2019)
GoodWatch score 70 - Sherrybaby (2006)
GoodWatch score 66 - Bully (2011)
GoodWatch score 76 - To the Bone (2017)
GoodWatch score 66 - Honey Boy (2019)
GoodWatch score 79 - Union County (2026)
GoodWatch score 67 - Fruitvale Station (2013)
GoodWatch score 84 - The Act (2019)
GoodWatch score 80 - Conviction (2010)
GoodWatch score 67
Same genre
More drama movies
- Little Women (2019)
GoodWatch score 86 - Ex Machina (2015)
GoodWatch score 77 - Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
GoodWatch score 78 - The Devil's Advocate (1997)
GoodWatch score 67 - Interview with the Vampire (1994)
GoodWatch score 67 - Unbreakable (2000)
GoodWatch score 67 - Warrior (2011)
GoodWatch score 80 - Babel (2006)
GoodWatch score 71