Beautiful Boy

2011·Movie
1h 41min·R
63
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.6Metacritic916.3Rotten Tomatoes71%56%

Where to watch

PrimePhiloHooplaFandango at Home FreeAmazon Prime Video Free with Ads

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

Beautiful Boy fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace4
  • Violence4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Cringe Humor3
  • Dark Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, family, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Ambiguity6

Craft

Standout characters, performances, and dialogue

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Character Depth9
  • Acting8
  • Dialogue Quality8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Find more like it

Psychological moviesMelancholic moviesAtmospheric movies

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

About

To confront the truth, first they had to face each other.

A married couple on the verge of separation are leveled by the news their 18-year-old son committed a mass-shooting at his college, then took his own life.
Grief and TraumaMass Shooting AftermathFamily DevastationPsychological ImpactMoral AmbiguityBleak RealismIntense DramaCharacter-Driven

Crew

Directed by:
Kari Montgomery, Mark Hansson, Shawn Ku
Written by:
Shawn Ku, Michael Armbruster
Produced by:
Richard Gabai, Todd Williams, Mark Moran
Composed by:
Craig Mann, Joe Dzuban, Joe Dzuban

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about Beautiful Boy

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Beautiful Boy legally?

PrimePhiloHooplaFandango at Home FreeAmazon Prime Video Free with AdsLionsgate+ Amazon ChannelsTubi TV

Beautiful Boy is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, Philo, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, and Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Beautiful Boy worth watching?

63
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 63/100 (IMDb 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes 71%, and Metacritic 91). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Beautiful Boy rated?

RViolenceSuicide themesDisturbing imagery

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

How long is Beautiful Boy?

1 h 41 min

Beautiful Boy runs 1 h 41 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Beautiful Boy?

Critics81
Audiences62

Not quite. Critics rate Beautiful Boy higher (81) than audiences (62). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Beautiful Boy in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Canada, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Beautiful Boy?

12AUBECADKFIGBIENLNONZSEUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Beautiful Boy in 12 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Beautiful Boy use?

Time-Shifted ActorAdaptation DistillationAddled AddictForegone ConclusionDescent into AddictionCasting GagDark and Troubled PastJerkass Has a PointAlliterative TitleShower of LoveOscar Bait"Where Are They Now?" Epilogueand 4 more

TV Tropes lists 16 storytelling tropes for Beautiful Boy, including Time-Shifted Actor, Adaptation Distillation, Addled Addict.

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