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Trailer

Half Nelson

2006Movie1 h 47 minR

Drama
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic857.3Rotten Tomatoes91%82%

A melancholic, moving drama movie about everyday modern life and the mind, with standout characters.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

Secrets don't let go.

Despite his dedication to the junior-high students who fill his classroom, idealistic teacher Dan Dunne leads a secret life of addiction that the majority of his students will never know. But things change when a troubled student Drey makes a startling discovery of his secret life, causing a tenuous bond between the two that could either end disastrously or provide a catalyst of hope.

Feels like

  • Addiction
  • Teacher-Student Relationship
  • Inner Turmoil
  • Social Commentary
  • Contemporary Realism
  • Psychological Drama
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Urban
  • Redemption

Cast

24 of 26

Crew

Directed by
Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Written by
Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Produced by
Anna Boden, Lynette Howell Taylor, Alex Orlovsky
Music by
Kevin Drew

Everyone

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

Facts

August 11, 2006 · 1 h 47 min · R

Released
August 11, 2006
Runtime
1 h 47 min
Age rating
R
Content
Drug Use, Strong Language
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$700,000
Box office
$5 million
Available in
26 countries

Q&A

3 questions, like "Where can I stream Half Nelson?"

Questions about Half Nelson

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Half Nelson?

PrimefuboTVPeacockThe RokuKanopyHooplaFandango at Home FreePluto TV

In the United States, Half Nelson streams on Prime, fuboTV, Peacock, and Shout! Factory, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store. It also streams in 21 other countries.

Is Half Nelson worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, and Metacritic 85). Critics rate it higher (88 out of 100) than audiences (75).

Is Half Nelson plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.