Happy Valley

Released Nov 19, 2014

1h 38m

Documentary

Drama

List

89%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 2011, longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of child sex abuse, rocking the small town of State College, Pa.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Aug 11

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Happy Valley on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Sober, even-handed, and quietly devastating, Happy Valley illuminates the wreckage of a tragedy while leaving viewers room to draw their own conclusions.

Read Critics Reviews

David Lewis

San Francisco Chronicle

It's not a groundbreaking thesis, but we still get a fascinating tour of a town that may never be the same again.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 4, 2014

Full Review

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

The film could've benefited from another 15 or 20 minutes of detail and nuance. What's there, though, is strong, thoughtful and disturbing.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 27, 2014

Full Review

David Edelstein

New York Magazine/Vulture

Here it is, folks, in your face. Will you look or return to your own private Happy Valley?

Nov 21, 2014

Full Review

Bob Strauss

Los Angeles Daily News

Bar-Lev's cameras prowl the streets of State College, Penn. to not only expose the details of the crimes, but uncover a hero-worshiping, sometimes ferociously self-justifying, culture.

Feb 3, 2015

Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

... manages to craft a mostly even-handed examination of hero worship, football fanaticism and the power of conviction in the court of public opinion.

Dec 31, 2014

Full Review

Shawn Hazelett

Under the Radar

Happy Valley ... is less interested in assigning blame than using the scandal as a template to explore mob mentality and the perils of idol worship.

Rated: 6/10

Dec 16, 2014

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

not bad. was actually expecting a deeper insight into Sandusky's background to be honest. instead it focuses mostly on the whole Joe Paterno - Penn State Univ. fiasco.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

**** Good Jerry Sandusky's unspeakable acts sent shockwaves in the Penn State campus. Jerry Sandusky is no longer part of society, and that is a very good thing, because his disgusting acts preyed upon young children is as horrific as it gets. Amir Bar-Lev's documentary "Happy Valley" focuses on how the Sandusky crimes impacted the Penn State campus and its "happy valley" society. Sandusky was a former Penn State football assistant coach who opened up a camp for disadvantaged children. Penn State society thought the world of Jerry, which included his boss the infamous Joe Paterno. Then when Sandusky's child molestation charges came into the limelight- a whirlwind of controversy, divisiveness, and shame soon followed to the campus and its city. Paterno was in the middle of the controversy as he was a central figure blamed for not reporting when he was aware of Sandusky's acts. By no means "Happy Valley" is an easy watch, but an important watch no doubt on how one man's despicable acts could have profound impact on first the victims, but also on an entire society; Bar-Lev excels in bringing that to the forefront. "Happy Valley" will in no means make you happy, but it is recommended for its societal focus at how one man's crime impacts an entire community & university.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting take on the whole situation. There are no winners.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This will always be a cloud that hangs over State College.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Informative, but not very interesting. People go too far when looking for blame.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well shot, beautifully put together, and most of all emotionally investing (especially for sports fans), Happy Valley brilliantly demonstrates the destruction of Jerry Sandusky and the heartwrenching end to football legend Joe Paterno.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Amir Bar-Lev

Director

Joe Posnanski

Actor

Amir Bar-Lev

Writer

Molly Thompson

Executive Producer

Robert DeBitetto

Executive Producer

David McKillop

Executive Producer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

92%

53%

The Seventh Fire

TRAILER

for The Seventh Fire

97%

85%

The Overnighters

73%

68%

The Age of Stupid

93%

88%

For the Birds

TRAILER

for For the Birds

98%

89%

Call Me Kuchu

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on DVD & Blu-Ray: A Most Violent Year, The Immigrant, and More

Critics Consensus: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 Is Short On Action but Well Acted

View more photos

Synopsis

In 2011, longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of child sex abuse, rocking the small town of State College, Pa.

Director: Amir Bar-Lev
Producer: Molly Thompson, Robert DeBitetto, David McKillop
Screenwriter: Amir Bar-Lev
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Asylum Entertainment, Passion Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.7K
Runtime: 1h 38m

Most Popular at Home Now