Boy

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Boy

2012

1h 28m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A New Zealand youth (James Rolleston) finds that his father (Taika Waititi) is a far cry from the heroic adventurer he's imagined the man to be.

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Critics Consensus

Boy possesses the offbeat charm associated with New Zealand film but is also fully capable of drawing the viewer in emotionally.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

10/13/2017

4/5

It's a disarmingly lovely, big-hearted film, and hilarious in places.

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John Barber

Globe and Mail

07/13/2012

3/4

Even the inevitable flaws of the low-budget production are winning, showcasing as they do the narrative artistry that makes Boy so distinctive amid current factory-written studio productions.

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Linda Barnard

Toronto Star

07/12/2012

2.5/4

A simple story of coming of age and the bitter failings of hero worship that succeeds thanks to the impressive skills of its young star.

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Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

07/21/2023

Waititi’s deft acting and comedy skills straddle the line between ironically funny and lovably pathetic.

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Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

09/03/2021

As with all great comedy, there's some sadness and grit at its core that grounds the laughs in a relatable drama.

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Danny Brogan

Common Sense Media

05/18/2021

4/5

A beautiful, heart-warming film that will be relatable to teens and will remind anyone older of a time when they too were trying to make sense of the world.

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Harsh C

@H_A_R_S_H 04/19/2025

Quirky Kiwi family drama set in the 80s. Most of the story, including the violence, is sanitised to the point of cartoonishness, helping to keep a positive vibe rather than sinking into despair and helplessness.

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Les N

@Vegas628 03/27/2025

Reading between the lines it's more like Once Were Warriors.

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Zackary T

@RT53613456 01/28/2025

This has all the hallmarks of a great Hal Ashby film. It's absolutely heartbreaking, heartwarming and incredibly hilarious. All in equal measure. This is an incredibly hard feat to pull off

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DYLANZS W

@RT72238365 08/22/2023

Boy is a great example of what you can achieve with less

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Jeremy R

@Jembot 03/15/2023

Boy is a charming comedy film. The New Zealand locations are beautiful and home to very real characters. Good deep laughs and emotion in this genius film.

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jacob h

@RT75082373 08/27/2022

maybe in house humour for those "down-under" but a funny quirky well made movie that taika nailed !

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Synopsis

A New Zealand youth (James Rolleston) finds that his father (Taika Waititi) is a far cry from the heroic adventurer he's imagined the man to be.

Director: Taika Waititi
Producer: Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis, Emanuel Michael
Distributor: Paladin
Production Co: New Zealand Film Production Fund, New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Unison Films
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $255.2K
Runtime: 1h 28m