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Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy

A true story of addiction, survival and family.

2018120 minRMidcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Director
Felix van Groeningen
Starring
Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Maura Tierney, Amy Ryan

After he and his first wife separate, journalist David Sheff struggles to help their teenage son, who goes from experimenting with drugs to becoming devastatingly addicted to methamphetamine.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Beautiful Boy?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Beautiful Boy streaming on Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Beautiful Boy?

Beautiful Boy earns 12 badges, led by Top 5% of films and Universally Loved.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Beautiful Boy worth watching?

Beautiful Boy's Midcredits score is the 95th percentile of all films, from 2M ratings across 6 sources. 84% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

95th percentile

Better received than 95% of films

93rd percentile among Biography96th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)93rd
Approval (how many liked it)94th

76 /100

93rd percentile of all films

93rd percentile among Biography93rd percentile among 2010s

Critics 62 · Audience 78

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 7.6 — people broadly agree on this one.

84% liked it

94th percentile of all films

91st percentile among Biography95th percentile among 2010s
84% rated it 7–1016% rated it 1–6

Critics 67% · Audience 80%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 9 wins / 31 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  • NominatedBAFTA Awards· Best Supporting Actor

99th percentile

2M ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Biography99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$25M
Opening weekend$219K
Domestic gross$7.6M
Worldwide gross$32M

Returned 1.3× its budget — 83rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A well-acted, earnest drama that captures the repetitive cycle of addiction and recovery but struggles to deliver a cohesive narrative arc.

Fans praised

  • Lead performances are Oscar-worthy, especially Chalamet and Carell
  • Authentic, unglamorous portrayal of addiction's cycle and family impact
  • Emotionally raw and heartbreaking, effectively conveys parental helplessness

Detractors panned

  • Emotionally distant and fails to build real connection despite heavy subject matter
  • Overuses flashbacks in a confusing, repetitive structure
  • Soundtrack is distracting and overpowers the drama

What stands out

Acting88

Both leads deliver standout, emotionally powerful performances

Cinematography72

Beautifully shot, especially contrast of idyllic past and dark present

CharactersDivisive70

Father-son dynamic is compelling but son's perspective feels sidelined

Atmosphere68

Gloomy, immersive tone but sometimes feels detached

Emotional impactDivisive60

Devastating for some viewers; others find it hollow

Plot and story45

Repetitive cycle of relapse without new insight; predictable narrative

Pacing35

Repetitive structure and overlong runtime wear thin

Sound and musicDivisive35

Score and needle drops often distract or feel manipulative

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 14 points higher than critics.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Beautiful Boy like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It is intense, takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
MelancholicHopefulTenseCathartic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Frame story · 5% of films: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.
ToneThe film treats its subject with grave seriousness and emotional honesty, never undercutting the drama with irony.
The rideThe film sustains a heavy emotional pressure from start to finish, swinging between the pain of relapse and glimpses of hope, without a single dominant stretch.
StructureOpens in a doctor's office then flashes back a year, and continues to jump between present and past to mirror the cyclical nature of addiction.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with the painful reality of addiction alongside a fragile hope for recovery.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3% (this title)
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Crushed by fate: Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.

9% of films fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film follows a father's helpless struggle against his son's meth addiction, a repeating cycle of relapse and recovery that feels like fate closing in; the postscript hint of long-term sobriety adds a rebirth arc.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfAddictionSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% (this title) · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% (this title) · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

Addiction · 1% of filmsGrief · 6% of filmsFamily bonds
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the devastating cycle of addiction and its impact on family relationships, exploring the grief of repeated loss and the enduring bond between father and son.
StanceThe film explores the nature of addiction and its toll on a family without offering easy answers, questioning whether recovery is possible while affirming the bond between father and son.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · hybrid
SettingA suburban American home and rehabilitation centers over the course of many years
MusicThe score likely blends melancholic orchestral pieces with folk songs to underscore the emotional journey.

Content guide

Is Beautiful Boy okay for kids?

R

Beautiful Boy is rated R: “Rated R for drug content throughout, language, and brief sexual material” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (41/100), sexual content at moderate (44/100), language at intense (69/100), drug and alcohol content at severe (96/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). Overall it is heavier than 73% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 22 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18A
  • AustraliaMA15+
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland15A
  • South Korea15
  • Belgium18
  • Czechia12+
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • Hungary16
  • MexicoC
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • Poland16
  • RO18+
  • Russia18+
  • SK15
  • Spain18
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland14
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 84% of all filmsHeavier than 73% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 21%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 42%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 55%
Alcohol & Drugs
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 99%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 57%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is drug and alcohol content, language, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Beautiful Boy have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Beautiful Boy?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Steve Carell
as David Sheff
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Timothée Chalamet
as Nic Sheff
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion PictureTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Maura Tierney
as Karen Barbour
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Amy Ryan
as Vicki
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Christian Convery
as Jasper Sheff
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Oakley Bull
as Daisy Sheff
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kaitlyn Dever
as Lauren
Stefanie Scott
as Julia
Julian Works
as Gack
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jack Dylan Grazer
as Nic Sheff (12 Years Old)
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Beautiful Boy?

Movies like Beautiful Boy include Things We Lost in the Fire (2007), Candy (2006) and I Smile Back (2015). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Luke Davies, and several are father-son stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its subject: addiction. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Beautiful Boy?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: journalist. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.