Billy Elliot

Play trailer

Billy Elliot

R

Released Oct 13, 2000

1h 50m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

119 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Billy Elliot is a charming movie that can evoke both laughter and tears.

Read Critics Reviews

Charlotte O'Sullivan

Independent (UK)

It's as raw a slice of escapism as you could wish for.

Nov 15, 2017

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Terrific story of young ballet dancer has strong language.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 19, 2002

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Billy Elliot is not a masterpiece, but it is a work, in the first place, driven by considerable feeling.

Mar 5, 2021

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Take a twirl with Billy and you won't be disappointed.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2020

Full Review

Eve Tushnet

Patheos

Billy Elliot almost always makes the wrong choice, for the saccharine over the convincing.

Mar 19, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Joshua m

I usually end up watching Marvel or Jason Statham since I have 2 sons. This unlikely film was a masterpiece in my opinion.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

NONE BUT C

ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES EVER MADE. PERIOD.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

Dionisis T

Felt representative and totally inspirational for such a film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

C M

Treat yourself to this wonderful movie. You will laugh, maybe hold back some tears, maybe feel like dancing yourself at the end. This movie is a winner!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/24

Full Review

Susan J

I don't get it - supposed to be about ballet and 5,000 kids auditioned for the part but Jamie Bell got it because...? He's better than the script, direction, and music--all of which feels so drippy, syrupy and maudlin (I skipped this film when in the theatres because I had a hunch it would be like this--and it is just what I intuited 20+ years ago)--but he is a terrible dancer. And the weird thing that no one says that anywhere. Maybe because he was a kid when this was filmed, and the character is a kid, but many boys of 13 can dance so much better than this. When he does dance, it's this gangly, spastic, clogging, sort of tap-dancey traditional Irish step dancing, with some weirdly bad jumps with arms and legs bent, going in different directions. I have the hunch this movie has a cult following---in the way that The Wizard of Oz did with a certain demographic. Maybe that's why it typically is met with uncritical praise? I don't know....but I do know it was a struggle to get through.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

Jess S

A glimpse into Billy's world offers tears, laughter, the gruelling realities of the miner's strikes, the painstaking confusion and joy of discovering who you are, red lipstick and t rex. A masterpiece in which I discover new perspective and food for thought every time I watch. I am weeping!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/29/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Stephen Daldry

Director

Julie Walters

Mrs. Wilkinson

Jamie Bell

Billy

Jamie Draven

Tony

Gary Lewis

Dad

Jean Heywood

Grandma

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Like Electricity

1:52

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Private Lessons

2:10

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Pirouette Practice

2:10

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Why Don't You Join In?

2:10

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Royal Ballet Audition

1:36

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy’s Acceptance Letter

3:00

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - You're Not Concentrating

2:09

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Not For Lads

2:43

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy Says Goodbye

2:15

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Dancing for Dad

1:53

View more videos

Vulgar

22%

41%

Vulgar

Watchlist

The Deep End

82%

59%

The Deep End

Watchlist

High Art

76%

77%

High Art

Watchlist

Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her

80%

64%

Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her

Watchlist

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

51%

65%

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.

Director: Stephen Daldry
Producer: Greg Brenman, Jonathan Finn, Luc Besson
Screenwriter: Lee Hall, Jessica Kaplan
Distributor: Universal Pictures, USA Films
Production Co: Arts Council of England, Working Films, BBC, Studio Canal, WT², Tiger Aspect Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 13, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.0M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now