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Trailer

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2012Movie1 h 43 minPG-13

Drama
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Letterboxd4.0/5Metacritic678.3Rotten Tomatoes85%89%

A nostalgic, deeply moving drama movie about growing up and everyday modern life, with standout performances and score.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares or adrenaline.

Movies with

Story

We are infinite.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.

Feels like

  • Nostalgic Coming-of-Age Drama
  • Emotional Trauma & Healing
  • Iconic Indie Soundtrack
  • Teenage Alienation
  • Bittersweet Romance
  • Found Family Dynamics
  • Melancholic Atmosphere
  • Literary Adaptation
  • Youthful Rebellion
  • Psychological Realism

Cast

24 of 28

Crew

Directed by
Stephen Chbosky
Written by
Stephen Chbosky
Produced by
John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Lianne Halfon
Music by
Michael Brook

Everyone

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

Facts

September 20, 2012 · 1 h 43 min · PG-13

Released
September 20, 2012
Runtime
1 h 43 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Drug Use, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$13 million
Box office
$33 million
Available in
129 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Anachronism Stew, Bungled Suicide, Abusive Parents +9

  • Anachronism Stew
  • Bungled Suicide
  • Abusive Parents
  • Armored Closet Gay
  • Curb-Stomp Battle
  • Wanton Cruelty to the Common Comma
  • Gayngst
  • Pretty Boy
  • Would Hit a Girl
  • Epistolary Novel
  • Gay Cruising
  • Adaptation Distillation

12 of 90 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Perks of Being a Wallflower?"

Questions about The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Perks of Being a Wallflower?

HBO MaxThe CWKanopyMovieSphere+

In the United States, The Perks of Being a Wallflower streams on HBO Max and MovieSphere+, and it is free with ads on The CW and Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 119 other countries.

Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.9, Letterboxd 4.0 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 67).

Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower okay for kids?

PG-13Drug useSexual contentStrong languageDisturbing imagery

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for drug use, sexual content, strong language, and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

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

Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower good for date night?

and 3 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightIntergenerational

Yes: romance is 8 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

What tropes does The Perks of Being a Wallflower use?

Anachronism StewBungled SuicideAbusive ParentsArmored Closet GayCurb-Stomp BattleWanton Cruelty to the Common CommaGayngstPretty BoyWould Hit a GirlEpistolary NovelGay CruisingAdaptation Distillationand 78 more

TV Tropes lists 90 tropes for it, including Anachronism Stew, Bungled Suicide, and Abusive Parents.