The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

PG-13

Released Nov 7, 2008

1h 34m

Drama

History

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Popcornmeter

65%

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145 Reviews

85%

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100,000+ Ratings

During World War II, 8-year-old Bruno (Asa Butterfield) and his family leave Berlin to take up residence near the concentration camp where his father (David Thewlis) has just become commandant. Unhappy and lonely, he wanders out behind his house one day and finds Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish boy of his age. Though the barbed-wire fence of the camp separates them, the boys begin a forbidden friendship, oblivious to the real nature of their surroundings.

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Critics Consensus

A touching and haunting family film that deals with the Holocaust in an arresting and unusual manner, and packs a brutal final punch of a twist.

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

A child’s-eye view of the Holocaust, this family film is likely to trigger big questions from younger viewers.

Nov 4, 2022

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

[Director] Mark Herman knows how to milk the melodrama from every scene, but viewers may feel a little icky about the experience.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

We are left in no doubt about the brutality of what's going on there but it's almost entirely off-screen. Still, the film is terribly confronting.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 1, 2009

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

[The film] touches on important questions about the costs of human life and the dangers of hatred in a stirring, heart-wrenching tale.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 7, 2024

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” asks several powerful questions about war, family, and morality. It also gives us a glimpse into a part of our world’s history that is still hard to look at but should be reckoned with.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A valiant attempt to tell a small scale story about an unimaginably huge period in our history, and while it may drag in places, it has its heart in the right place and a devastating ending that will take your breath away.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 31, 2021

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Larry K

Insane ending! I don't think anyone was expecting that.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

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Micah H

Absolutely devastating.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

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Rihannna H

I heard of it so long ago but just didn’t know where to watch it and I finally watched it today. It was honestly really good but so sad I cried at the end. I recommend!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

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Lanfranco C

Symbolic, but extreme and exagerated

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

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Connor S

Haunting, moving, shocking world where kids are the most adultlike in a demonically run society. The ending gives an element of peace as the 2 beautiful souls soar into a better world together. God bless the victims, never forgotten...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Garrett B

A sad drama that you should probably see only once, but very good film nonetheless

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/24

Full Review

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Mark Herman

Director

David Thewlis

Father

Vera Farmiga

Elsa

Rupert Friend

Lieutenant Kotler

Asa Butterfield

Bruno

Jack Scanlon

Shmuel

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Synopsis

During World War II, 8-year-old Bruno (Asa Butterfield) and his family leave Berlin to take up residence near the concentration camp where his father (David Thewlis) has just become commandant. Unhappy and lonely, he wanders out behind his house one day and finds Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish boy of his age. Though the barbed-wire fence of the camp separates them, the boys begin a forbidden friendship, oblivious to the real nature of their surroundings.

Director: Mark Herman
Producer: David Heyman
Screenwriter: Mark Herman
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Heyday Films, Miramax Films, BBC Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Mature Thematic Material|Involving the Holocaust)
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.0M
Runtime: 1h 34m

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