Billy the Kid

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Billy the Kid

2020

1h 25m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Filmmaker Jennifer Venditti follows a teenager from a small town in Maine as he grapples with the challenges of adolescence.

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Critics Consensus

Jennifer Venditti's doc Billy the Kid turns "special" into a double edged sword, forging a sharply honest film around a strangely enigmatic -- if awkward -- kid named Billy.

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

Billy the Kid refreshingly reminds us what a big, fat lie most depictions of teenagers are in American movies and TV.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 24, 2011

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John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

The best documentaries take you places you don't normally have access to.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 29, 2008

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Carina Chocano

Los Angeles Times

Billy's resilience, though, is nothing short of amazing. Not to mention part of growing up.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 8, 2008

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

While the teenager is the film's focus, an assortment of personalities enters the picture in an atypical way.

Mar 5, 2021

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

If you think your adolescence was painful, you may feel better about it after watching this sympathetic but supremely squirm-inducing portrait.

Oct 10, 2020

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

The first 15 minutes of the film are exemplary. An interesting subject - Billy. ... But despite this effort by Jennifer Venditti, BILLY THE KID falls a bit short.

Nov 6, 2019

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Audience Member

Can't wait to see the last episode. Great development of character. Interesting watching how he becomes an outlaw.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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dave d

Billy P. or 'Billy the Kid' just may be the most genuine person ever put to film. While it's never discussed in this 2007 documentary, it appears Billy is autistic in some way. Whatever the condition he is sweet, hopeful, and honest. He cares and the more we see him, the more the viewer will realize that part of us wants to be Billy. Innocence combined with optimism is a fantastic combo. Final Score: 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

My new favorite coming of age movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Very honest documentary film which I enjoyed watching. Be sure to watch the bonus materials on the DVD to learn about the backstory to this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

I needed a shot of tequila after watching this movie. It is incredible, but if you can sit through it without being as uncomfortable as you've ever been in your life, you're a stronger person than I am. WATCH HIS EYES. I don't think I've ever seen such an up-front kid, unafraid to express what's really going on inside himself. Only in the bonus materials do we learn what's "wrong" with him. Although, I'd argue there's nothing at all wrong with him. If more kids were like him, high school would not be such a cluster f--k experience. I hope there's a follow up, so we can see how Billy grows up.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

it's basically a documentary about a 15 yrs old teenage kid. but there's more than just that. It captures the real life situation that most teenager have to face.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Jennifer Venditti

Director

Billy P.

Actor

Bob Alexander

Executive Producer

Barnet Liberman

Executive Producer

Lubov Azria

Executive Producer

Chiemi Karasawa

Producer

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Billy the Kid: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Jennifer Venditti follows a teenager from a small town in Maine as he grapples with the challenges of adolescence.

Director: Jennifer Venditti
Producer: Chiemi Karasawa, Jennifer Venditti
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: isotopefilms, Eight Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Runtime: 1h 25m

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