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Trailer

Boyhood

2014Movie2 h 45 minR

Drama
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Letterboxd3.8/5Metacritic1007.6Rotten Tomatoes97%80%

A nostalgic, slow-burning drama movie about everyday modern life and growing up, with standout direction and performances.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, adrenaline or brutality.

Movies with

Story

12 years in the making.

The film tells a story of a divorced couple trying to raise their young son. The story follows the boy for twelve years, from first grade at age 6 through 12th grade at age 17-18, and examines his relationship with his parents as he grows.

Feels like

  • Real-Time Coming-of-Age
  • Intimate Family Drama
  • Nostalgic Time Capsule
  • Melancholic & Reflective
  • Naturalistic Performance
  • Slow-Burn Narrative
  • Observational Character Study
  • Emotionally Resonant
  • Slice of Life

Cast

24 of 40

Crew

Directed by
Richard Linklater
Written by
Richard Linklater
Produced by
Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss
Music by
Miles Foster-Greenwood, Randall Poster, Susan Fitz-Simon

Everyone

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

Facts

June 5, 2014 · 2 h 45 min · R

Released
June 5, 2014
Runtime
2 h 45 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content, Drug Use
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Spanish
Made in
United States
Budget
$4 million
Box office
$48 million
Available in
82 countries

Tropes

Can't Get Away with Nuthin', Dashed Plot Line, Actually Pretty Funny +9

  • Can't Get Away with Nuthin'
  • Dashed Plot Line
  • Actually Pretty Funny
  • Call-Back
  • The Talk
  • Cool Car
  • Reveal Shot
  • Sliding Scale of Idealism vs. Cynicism
  • So Proud of You
  • Random Events Plot
  • Jerkass
  • Ambiguously Brown

12 of 54 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Boyhood?"

Questions about Boyhood

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Boyhood?

PhiloAMC+The RokuKanopySundance NowPluto TVPlexTubi TV

In the United States, Boyhood streams on AMC+ and Sundance Now, and it is free with ads on Philo, The Roku, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Plex, 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 14 other countries.

Is Boyhood worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 7.9, Letterboxd 3.8 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 100). Critics rate it higher (99 out of 100) than audiences (78).

Is Boyhood okay for kids?

RStrong languageSexual contentDrug use

Yes: it's rated R in the United States for strong language, sexual content, and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Boyhood plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

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

Is Boyhood good for date night?

and 4 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

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

Was Boyhood a box office hit?

Budget$4 million
Box office$48 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $4 million to make and earned $48 million worldwide, 12.0 times its budget.

What tropes does Boyhood use?

Can't Get Away with Nuthin'Dashed Plot LineActually Pretty FunnyCall-BackThe TalkCool CarReveal ShotSliding Scale of Idealism vs. CynicismSo Proud of YouRandom Events PlotJerkassAmbiguously Brownand 42 more

TV Tropes lists 54 tropes for it, including Can't Get Away with Nuthin', Dashed Plot Line, and Actually Pretty Funny.