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Billy Elliot

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Billy Elliot

R

Released Oct 13, 2000

1h 50m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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