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Beautiful Boy

Play trailer 2:05 Poster for Beautiful Boy R 2018 1h 52m Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 265 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Teenager Nicolas Sheff seems to have it all -- good grades, editor of the school newspaper, actor, artist and athlete. When Nic's addiction to meth threatens to destroy him, his desperate father does whatever he can to save his son and his family.
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Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy

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Critics Consensus

Beautiful Boy sees Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell delivering showcase work that's often powerful enough to make up for the story's muted emotional impact.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review I would be lying if I didn't say that I found it moving. Jan 29, 2019 Full Review Ryan Gilbey New Statesman Beautiful Boy has a remorseless emotional integrity... It is frustrating, repetitive and inconclusive, and all the more admirable for it. Jan 26, 2019 Full Review Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard I loved watching it. It's fantastically enjoyable. Rated: 3/5 Jan 20, 2019 Full Review Calum Cooper Source (Scotland) Sadly it’s a case where a lot of its components work in isolation, but not as a whole. Rated: 2/5 Jul 14, 2024 Full Review Ryan McQuade InSession Film Maybe it was the talent behind the camera that brought it down, but we will never know if someone with a little more of a focused eye and pen could have done with the Sheff's story. Rated: D- Apr 3, 2024 Full Review Karen Gordon Original Cin Chalamet conveys all of the necessary contradictory emotions to portray an addict, paradoxically both in love with, and repulsed by, his own tendencies and actions. It's bravura work. Rated: B+ May 2, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sarah H This is a top 5 movie for me on so many levels. It's though provoking and gives a new face to addiction through Steve. I was beyond moved and I think it helps others relate and learn more about having a family member struggle with addiction. Its a movie that I recommend to all of my friends, but one that is a hard second time watch unless you want your heart broken again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/25 Full Review Brooke A genuinely the most beautiful movie ive ever seen. i think both timothee and steve deserve an oscar for this, especially with steve never playing very serious roles. definitely chalamets best movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/15/25 Full Review Danny C A deeply moving and realistic portrayal of a hard addiction, carried by Carell's and Chalamet's depiction of a close and loving father and son who are torn apart. There are not many easy answers in life, and even less so in something like hard drug addiction, so it was fitting that the plot was a bit repetitive even if that could be frustrating to the viewer. How do you save someone? Even when loving that person more than everything in the world forever isn't enough? All that's left in the end is the last scene, a father holding his dying son and hoping for a miracle, but already starting to grieve. Recovery is possible but it's never certain. Beautiful film, four stars only because of a few editing choices which made the timeline a bit confusing in some parts. If you watched this and felt nothing, check your pulse. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review Jon R. Beautiful movie but wow that was one of the most depressing hardest watches I’ve ever endured. Was very tough for me Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/20/25 Full Review Nicole D This is an absolute beautiful movie. this would definitely be the best movie to watch for anyone who has struggled with any addiction. It was an amazing film and it depicted how much drugs can change a person. The acting was incredible, in fact I’ll go as far to say this is the best acting performance I’ve ever seen. This is definitely one of those that is a a must watch! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/15/25 Full Review VEX K. If I had to say, this would definitely be the best movie to watch for anyone who has struggled with any addiction. It was an amazing film and it depicted how much drugs can change a person. The acting was incredible, in fact I’ll go as far to say this is the best acting performance I’ve ever seen. This is definitely one of those that is a a must watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Beautiful Boy

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Movie Info

Synopsis Teenager Nicolas Sheff seems to have it all -- good grades, editor of the school newspaper, actor, artist and athlete. When Nic's addiction to meth threatens to destroy him, his desperate father does whatever he can to save his son and his family.
Director
Felix van Groeningen
Producer
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Screenwriter
Luke Davies, Felix van Groeningen
Distributor
Amazon Studios
Production Co
Plan B Entertainment, Amazon Studios
Rating
R (Drug Content Throughout|Brief Sexual Material|Language)
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 2, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 4, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.6M
Runtime
1h 52m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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