Boys Don't Cry

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1:32

Boys Don't Cry

R

Released Sep 2, 1999

1h 59m

Biography

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena leaves his hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female. Resettling in the small town of Falls City, Nebraska, Brandon falls for Lana, an aspiring singer, and begins to plan for their future together. But when her ex-convict friends, John and Tom, learn Brandon's secret, things change very quickly.

Critics Consensus

Harrowing yet stirring, Boys Don't Cry powerfully commemorates the life -- and brutally unjust death -- of transgender teen Brandon Teena.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

It’s not a stretch to say that director Kimberly Peirce’s 1999 Academy Award-winning debut Boys Don’t Cry helped save my life.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 29, 2024

Full Review

Louis B. Parks

Houston Chronicle

Powerful and unpretentious.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mark Caro

Chicago Tribune

A stirring, emotionally true testament to foolish bravery as well as shameful evidence of the severity with which it is so often punished.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

The film features fantastic performances aplenty and very raw storytelling, visualized by neorealist style and low lighting.

Rated: 86/100

Nov 24, 2023

Full Review

Jennifer & Marty

Alabama Forum

With this movie, Brandon's memory lives on forever.

May 5, 2023

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Kimberly Peirce's film is unarguably one of the finest adult dramas of the year, and arguably one of the best examples of independent filmmaking in recent memory.

Dec 16, 2022

Full Review

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Eddie O

Don’t pretend your something your not their are consequences. Also there is no such thing as cis gender. Your either male or female no such thing as being able to change your sex.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

Levon H

Kimberly Peirce's film is unarguably one of the finest adult dramas of the year, and arguably one of the best examples of independent filmmaking in recent memory.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

Gina R

Yes, then-unknown Hilary Swank won the Oscar for her performance as Brandon after going full method for a whole month (living like a man) while 22 herself, but it is Chloë Sevigny who now stands out the most. Sevigny auditioned for the lead role as well, but was found unconvincing—as a man—by director Kimberly Peirce, so she got the second most important part, that of Brandon's sweetheart, Lana. A woozy 19 year old, Lana is effortlessly charismatic, but with the seriousness of face bestowed on young people forced to grow up way too early. Fresh out of Last Days of Disco, Sevigny pivots to a more quiet, devoted, and tender role, for Lana and Brandon's love story sits at the heart of Boys Don't Cry: their impossible relationship that lasted merely two weeks illuminates the lesser known part of this tragic narrative and affirms the value of love in a touching last shot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

Full Review

kim hang l

the movie is so good, it's so real, many scenes are so heartbreaking that I had to skip them, I was so moved when I watched this movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Truly one of the best films ever made

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/25

Full Review

Gianvito A

Amazing movie, great story, great acting, very emotional just wow

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

Full Review

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Kimberly Peirce

Director

Hilary Swank

Teena Brandon

Chloë Sevigny

Lana Tisdel

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Boys Don't Cry: Trailer 1

1:32

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Synopsis

Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena leaves his hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female. Resettling in the small town of Falls City, Nebraska, Brandon falls for Lana, an aspiring singer, and begins to plan for their future together. But when her ex-convict friends, John and Tom, learn Brandon's secret, things change very quickly.

Director: Kimberly Peirce
Producer: Eva Kolodner, John Hart, Christine Vachon, Jeff Sharp
Screenwriter: Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Fox
Production Co: Killer Films, Independent Film Channel, Hart-Sharp Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 2, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.5M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)