The Beach

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2:21

The Beach

R

Released Feb 11, 2000

2h 0m

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

123 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

The desire to find something real -- to connect with something or someone -- is what drives Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American backpacker who arrives in Thailand with adventure on his mind. Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) join him on an adventure to "The Beach," a mystical paradise. However, this paradise is less than perfect.

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Critics Consensus

Critics say The Beach is unfocused and muddled, a shallow adaptation of the novel it is based on. Points go to the gorgeous cinematography, though.

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Victoria Luxford

BBC.com

An intriguing mystery with a great soundtrack. I think Leonardo DiCaprio has had such an interesting career, and this is a great example of what he does so well.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 6, 2023

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

A narrative that tries to juggle thriller elements, tons of pop culture imagery, and way too much philosophical baggage.

Apr 6, 2010

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The Beach is nothing to write home about, though the landscapes are ravishing. The movie itself is neither fish nor fowl.

Mar 31, 2008

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Despite some visual flourishes and DiCaprio putting some effort into his expressive deliriums, I have a sneaking suspicion that Boyle's exotic adventure is perpetually dull. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/10

Jun 18, 2025

Full Review

Danny Brogan

Common Sense Media

Sun, sea, and observations on how Richard (a young DiCaprio) survived the world without a smartphone, make this 2000 film a satisfying title to reflect on with families.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 13, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

the beach featured in The Beach was soon ruined by visitors, a detail that fits in with the reductive, wrong-headedness of the whole enterprise

Rated: 2/5

Mar 30, 2022

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Natasha R

This movie started out with a fun premise, but it turned. The idea of protecting your peace and secrecy at ANY cost is a little extreme. If you are wanting to build a genuine community, you will. Allowing your community members to slowly and painfully die is sadistic. The way that they end it, not allowing anymore people because they were protecting a marijuana grow seemed like an easy out. No, we the white people who are here in Thailand aren’t the problem, it’s the local marijuana growers… I enjoyed the ending quote about paradise, that it is how you feel when you are a part of something, even if that is just a moment in your life. But that single quote does not redeem the entire movie.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

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Zahara G

I want to re-watch it everyday it's so amazing, so thought provoking and left a serious mark on me. Leonardo DiCaprio does such an amazing job connecting to his role, he beautifully displays the emotional change and character growth Richard goes through.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

Audience Member

The book was a page turner. I read it from start to finish in one sitting. The movie was a pretty good adaptation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

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Chas S.

Interesting Leo movie. Not my fave but still a goodie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Robert H

Quick Leo; destroy all the copies before it destroys your career!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

Full Review

Dawna C

I recently read the book “ The beach” So I was intrigued about how it was adapted into a movie. The rating seemed low on rotten tomatoes. I personally enjoyed the movie quite a bit. The performances were good. It was interesting when they deviated from the book and imo better in some ways. I had several lol moments. It kept me very much interested .Some reviews compared it to Lord of the flies. I don’t agree at all. To me it was a story about people seeking a better, safe community away from the insanity of the world. And how fragile a good thing can be. The fear of loosing it and the lengths some will go to preserve it only to have an unfortunate decision destroy it. Even how it was wrapped up was well adapted. I’m sorry so many people gave it a lower rating than it deserved. Don’t know what I would have thought if I hadn’t read the book first. I found the changes to the movie made more sense than the book. The book reminded me more of the Tom Hanks movie Wilson.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

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Richard

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The Beach: Trailer 1

2:21

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Synopsis

The desire to find something real -- to connect with something or someone -- is what drives Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American backpacker who arrives in Thailand with adventure on his mind. Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) join him on an adventure to "The Beach," a mystical paradise. However, this paradise is less than perfect.

Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: Alex Garland, John Hodge
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Figment Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 11, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.8M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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