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Nowhere Boy

Play trailer Poster for Nowhere Boy R Released Oct 8, 2010 1h 37m Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 146 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A rebellious teenager, future Beatle John Lennon (Aaron Johnson) lives with his Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) in working-class Liverpool, England. Mimi's husband suddenly dies, and John spies his mother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), at the funeral. Despite Mimi's misgivings, John intends to have a real relationship with his mother. Julia introduces him to popular music and the banjo and, though a family conflict looms, young Lennon is inspired to form his own band.
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Nowhere Boy

Nowhere Boy

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Critics Consensus

Don't expect any musical insights, but this look at John Lennon's early life benefits from its restrained, low-key approach and some fine acting from Aaron Johnson.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator It is perfectly accomplished, and pleasing enough, but it's not going to blow your socks off, even though the combination of Ms Taylor Wood and such a compelling story would give you every reason to think it might. Aug 30, 2018 Full Review Trevor Johnston Sight & Sound This is a very decent effort for a first-time director, but given the auteurist expectations created by Taylor-Wood's track record in the art world, it's hard to discern a distinctively personal take on the material, or indeed the medium. Jul 6, 2018 Full Review Nick James Sight & Sound The acting all round is pretty good, but the story itself is given to a sense of drift, as if the film itself doesn't know any better than Lennon what it wants. Apr 6, 2017 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Nowhere Boy, with all its quirky vagueness, at least offers a nostalgic charge reminiscent of the old Liverpool of Penny Lane. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 20, 2022 Full Review Bianca Garner In Their Own League For any massive fans of The Beatles then this is a must-see. The filmmakers also manage to carefully and effectively replicate the lates 50s and early 60s era in great attention to detail. Feb 3, 2021 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row A film of image over substance, something Lennon himself spent a lifetime rejecting. The film not only ignore that, it betrays it. Rated: 2/4 Aug 5, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Seth K I thought this was a good film and particularly liked Aaron Johnson and KST's performances. As other reviewers have pointed out, the incestual take on Lennon and his mother was a bit much. Still, all in all, a worthwhile watch, particularly for Beatles fans. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review Bear P Very generic directing and script. Runs 90 minutes and delivers zero points (except for KST acting). Lennons' upbringing is portrayed as a cliche of a cliche of a dysfunctional family. The implied incest seems very questionable and one cannot help but wonder is in the movie only because of the affair between director and lead actor who was (barely) 18 at the time. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Katarina H Why is the implied incest between John Lennon and his mother the focal point of the movie? Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/24 Full Review Nahum C John Lennon's first steps explained perfectly. It could be simple and, if you're a fan, predictable. But she is so inspiring that she deserves your vote. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that where I come from Nowhere Land is full of geniuses like Lennon and maybe me. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/23/24 Full Review Tyler S This was so much better than I expected. Did not realize how impactful this film was and what John's teenage life was like. Kinda wished it was a little longer, but they covered everything I was hoping for. Also really enjoyed Aaron Taylor Johnson's portrayal as Lennon here. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/19/24 Full Review Funny Not F It's enjoyable. The thing is how John and Julia seem like they want to fuck, which I did not want to see in this movie. I was hoping it was just me exaggerating, but plenty of other people have talked about this. I know John had said a few things about his mother that were gross (which I would not like to talk about anymor), but it was terrible to see Julia look like she thinks the same. Another thing I didn't like is the scene where John punches Paul. If you didn't know, this never happened. John had a history of being violent with people he cared about, but as of what we know not with Paul. Another thing is the casting, a lot of the actors (especially Paul) do not look accurate at all. I don't really mind that, but if you are the kind of person that doesn't like that you will not enjoy it as much. I like it though, because the funniest part of this Movie is that the guy who played John looks a lot (in my opinion) like the YouTuber Danny Gonzalez. I couldn't stop laughing at the thought of Danny Gonzalez as John Lennon. (Also the friend who gave me this movie to watch said "Tge guy who played Paul looked like the casting director just googled 'British twink actor' "and I think of that everytime I see him.) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Nowhere Boy

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Nowhere Boy

Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Banjo Lesson Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Banjo Lesson 1:48 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - The Quarrymen Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - The Quarrymen 2:14 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Buddy Holly Look Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Buddy Holly Look 2:32 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Where's Daddy, Mommy? Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Where's Daddy, Mommy? 2:37 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Off to Hamburg Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Off to Hamburg 2:23 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Paul's Audition Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Paul's Audition 2:13 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - In Spite of All the Danger Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - In Spite of All the Danger 2:44 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - I Put a Spell on You Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - I Put a Spell on You 2:05 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Sex & Rock 'n' Roll Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Sex & Rock 'n' Roll 2:20 Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Meet George Nowhere Boy: Official Clip - Meet George 1:50 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis A rebellious teenager, future Beatle John Lennon (Aaron Johnson) lives with his Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) in working-class Liverpool, England. Mimi's husband suddenly dies, and John spies his mother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), at the funeral. Despite Mimi's misgivings, John intends to have a real relationship with his mother. Julia introduces him to popular music and the banjo and, though a family conflict looms, young Lennon is inspired to form his own band.
Director
Sam Taylor-Johnson
Producer
Robert Bernstein, Kevin Loader, Douglas Rae
Screenwriter
Matt Greenhalgh
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Production Co
Lipsync Productions, Ecosse Films, UK Film Council, Film4, North West Vision
Rating
R (Language|A Scene of Sexuality)
Genre
Drama, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 8, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 9, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.4M
Runtime
1h 37m
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