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Billy Elliot

Play trailer Poster for 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.
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Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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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 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

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
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 Blu B I wondered how it would fill the entire runtime with such a simple premise especially since it sets up the story so quick as well. It turns out it's much more than a boy learning to dance but a coming of age story as well and it adds so much. The acting is amazing with so many touching scenes with his family, especially his Dad, and his dance teacher who all sacrifice and come together so he can have a future and follow his dreams. It masterfully flows and is filled with moving and tender scenes. The soundtracks rocks and is an amazing mix of rock and ballet which is so unique. Masterfully executed across all levels. Everyone should give this a try once and follow your dreams no matter what! All Time Classic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Like Electricity Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Like Electricity 1:52 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Private Lessons Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Private Lessons 2:10 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Pirouette Practice Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Pirouette Practice 2:10 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Why Don't You Join In? Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Why Don't You Join In? 2:10 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Royal Ballet Audition Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Royal Ballet Audition 1:36 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy’s Acceptance Letter Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy’s Acceptance Letter 3:00 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - You're Not Concentrating Billy Elliot: Official Clip - You're Not Concentrating 2:09 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Not For Lads Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Not For Lads 2:43 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy Says Goodbye Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy Says Goodbye 2:15 Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Dancing for Dad Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Dancing for Dad 1:53 View more videos
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Movie Info

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
Studio Canal, Working Films, BBC, Tiger Aspect Pictures, Arts Council of England, WT²
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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