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Boyhood

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Boyhood R 2014 2h 45m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 330 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
The joys and pitfalls of growing up are seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his parents (Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke) and his sister (Lorelei Linklater). Vignettes, filmed with the same cast over the course of 12 years, capture family meals, road trips, birthday parties, graduations and other important milestones. Songs from Coldplay, Arcade Fire and other artists capture the time period. Directed by Richard Linklater.
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Boyhood

Boyhood

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Critics Consensus

Epic in technical scale but breathlessly intimate in narrative scope, Boyhood is a sprawling investigation of the human condition.

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 01/27/2025
5/5
Filming twice a year while sculpting the details of the screenplay, Linklater somehow captured the fundamental grief of the parenting experience. Go to Full Review Shadow and Act Staff Shadow and Act 09/15/2022
...it’s hyperbolic in its minimalism and boring in spots and its overall narrative reach often exceeds its grasp. Even still, it’s one of the most important movies of the decade so far and you should experience it just to say you did. Go to Full Review Chris Nashawaty Entertainment Weekly 10/11/2018
A
Like Michael Apted in his Seven Up! documentary series, Linklater makes you feel as if you're watching a photograph as it develops in the darkroom. Go to Full Review JD Duran InSession Film 08/19/2024
A
Boyhood was an incredibly risky project but the end product feels so genuine... Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 02/16/2024
5/5
What makes Boyhood this extraordinary experience and achievement is the opposite of that adjective: the ordinary. Linklater and company sought to deliver a genuine interpretation of a life experience without flashy movie bells and whistles. Go to Full Review Paul Kanieski KSQD Community Radio 07/24/2023
Boyhood captures the importance of the commonplace and how it’s the endless procession of relatively inconsequential events that most shape our lives. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Eric Aug 4 Great to see this in theaters. Very unique coming of age story by having the same actors over a 12-year period. Alas, I thought (and Cinemark advertised) that it would have the Q&A from the Austin showing at the end but it did not — Cinemark what gives? Others in the theater were disappointed not to see the W&A too. But well worth watching. See more rashmi P @rp2025 6d The best tribute to growing up, growing, passage of time, family See more Jacqueline R @Stuff503 Aug 5 Yawned until my mouth got sore See more Nicolas J @RT04474315 Aug 3 As a child of divorced parents, I know about mom-blaming, and sometimes it's a bit unfair, as all kids can be. See more Jarrin R Aug 2 o think this is one of the most realistic coming of age stories I have seen. Watching the actual transformation of the actors overtime instead of different people playing them at different ages really makes a difference. Both parent roles shine and Mason's character is very grounded in the quintessential teen experience. I recommend this as a watch for anyone. very dynamic and original concept for a film. See more Albert G @RT62941283 Jul 31 This movie’s primary appeal seems to be in the gimmick of the cast. It has a few moments early on. See more Read all reviews
Boyhood

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Linklater

Director

Ellar Coltrane

Mason

Patricia Arquette

Olivia

Ethan Hawke

Mason Sr.

Lorelei Linklater

Samantha

Tamara Jolaine

Tammy

Movie Clips

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Boyhood

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Boyhood

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Movie Info

Synopsis The joys and pitfalls of growing up are seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his parents (Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke) and his sister (Lorelei Linklater). Vignettes, filmed with the same cast over the course of 12 years, capture family meals, road trips, birthday parties, graduations and other important milestones. Songs from Coldplay, Arcade Fire and other artists capture the time period. Directed by Richard Linklater.
Director
Richard Linklater
Producer
Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss
Screenwriter
Richard Linklater
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Detour Filmproduction
Rating
R (Sexual References|Language|Teen Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 18, 2014, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.4M
Runtime
2h 45m
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