Nowhere Boy

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Nowhere Boy

R

Released Oct 8, 2010

1h 37m

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

146 Reviews

74%

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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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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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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

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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

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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

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Alejandro E

Those who are devoted fans of Liverpool's Fantastic Four will be pleased with this film, which tells the story of John Lennon's youth, which was pivotal to his career as a musician. The performances are noteworthy, especially that of Taylor Johnson.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

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Azlynn D

This film simply leaves a horrible taste in your mouth when you register how young Aaron Johnson is here, and his current wife was 42 while directing this. My dislike for her is not solely prompted because Aaron is attractive, but he was so unbelievably young, and he still is. I wish this absolutely pathetic woman was blacklisted from the industry and this film was burned from the brains of any poor soul that had to sit through such disgusting person's movie. He was a victim, and it hurts my heart everyday that this situation happened right in front of the world and she's not getting outcasted from the industry.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

Kevin F

The pre- fame Beatles in which the central character is John Lennon. The acting here Is first rate , and the film is the best I have seen about the Beatles.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Blinky B

Dire , Dull and Discomfiting .

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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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

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Sam Taylor-Johnson

Director

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

John Lennon

Kristin Scott Thomas

Mimi Smith

Anne-Marie Duff

Julia Lennon

David Threlfall

George Smith

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Paul McCartney

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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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