Beginners

R

Now Playing

1 hr. 45 min.

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

86%

162 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After his mother dies, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is stunned when his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, comes out of the closet. When Hal passes away a few years later, Oliver grows depressed, struggling with his failing career as an artist while constantly remembering his childhood and time spent with his dad. Oliver's loneliness is eased when he meets actress Anna (Mélanie Laurent), but their relationship is threatened by their mutual fear of commitment.

Read More

Read Less

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Beginners on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Wearing its twee heart on its sleeve, Beginners explores the depths of modern, multi-generational romance with wit and depth.

Read Critics Reviews

PridePosterStudios

Arthur the Jack Russell: ally, dog of few words, Oscar-winner.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

tomato S

brilliant.. loved the movie soo much.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

Full Review

KEVIN C

Beautiful film about a father and son relationship starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer. Plummet's character comes out of the closet after his wife of 40 plus years passes on, and begins living the life he longed for his whole life but his advanced age and health don't give him too much time. Meanwhile McGregor's character has his own struggles finding love. Really wonderful performances from the leads as well as Melanie Laurent. Touching, funny and the style of storytelling is quite enjoyable and whimsical.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Anita P

I was interested in every scene - each had a different emotional temperature, and yet the story held together thanks to having very good leading characters. It was sad but had a sense of humor. How better to reflect life itself. MacGregor and Plummer formed a believable relationship.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

dave s

With a past shrouded in sorrow, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is having difficulty finding joy and satisfaction in life. After his mother's death from a terminal illness, his father Hal (Christopher Plummer) decides to pursue his personal happiness by coming out of the closet, only to be diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly afterwards. Oliver finds solace in the arms Anna (Melanie Laurent) and his father's dog Arthur (who steals every scene), but finds that overcoming emotional hurdles is no easy task. As always, director Mike Mills provides the audience with fresh insights into relationships and gives us characters that feel like they should be difficult to relate to, but somehow aren't. It is fresh, original, and no where near as depressing as it all sounds.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Writer/Director Mike Mills' family-centric drama carefully treads familiar territory in this stirring multi-generational heart-warmer.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Mike Mills

Director

Ewan McGregor

Oliver

Christopher Plummer

Hal

Mélanie Laurent

Anna

Goran Visnjic

Andy

Kai Lennox

Elliot

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

93%

66%

Love Is Strange

86%

81%

A Single Man

50%

67%

A Home at the End of the World

92%

91%

Dallas Buyers Club

90%

69%

My Summer of Love

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Awards Tour 2012: Gotham Independent Film Awards Winners Announced

Critics Consensus: X-Men: First Class is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

It's OK, I suppose, and quite sweet. But I couldn't love it for proper, probably because its characters are always more interested in themselves than we are in them, plus it's just too self-consciously tricksy.

Aug 31, 2018

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

... at its core, Beginners is about finding happiness, even at the end.

Rated: A

Sep 8, 2017

Full Review

Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

Mike Mills treats love and loss with a disarming tenderness and a refusal of sentimentality that make Beginners, his second feature, something of an anomaly among male identity flicks. What a finely wrought, wryly funny, transcendently sad movie this is.

Jul 12, 2013

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mills has delivered a moving film worth celebrating, one whose idiosyncrasies are nothing short of charming, and whose small story is eclipsed by its considerable heart.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 6, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

In any other movie, the key character of Arthur, a soulful Jack Russell terrier, would draw all the attention away from the two-legged protagonists, but the performances by the three leads are so superb that everyone is able to share in the glory.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 15, 2023

Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

Lovely. Graceful. Finely tuned into those characters, warts and all

Jul 2, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

After his mother dies, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is stunned when his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, comes out of the closet. When Hal passes away a few years later, Oliver grows depressed, struggling with his failing career as an artist while constantly remembering his childhood and time spent with his dad. Oliver's loneliness is eased when he meets actress Anna (Mélanie Laurent), but their relationship is threatened by their mutual fear of commitment.

Director: Mike Mills
Executive Producer: Joan Scheckel
Screenwriter: Mike Mills
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Parts & Labor
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M

Most Popular at Home Now