• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Being Flynn

Play trailer Poster for Being Flynn R,  2012,  1h 42m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 49% 81 Reviews Tomatometer 41% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
49% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Nick Flynn (Paul Dano) is a young writer trying to define himself. He misses his mother, who recently died, but his father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro), has been out of his life for 18 years. When Jonathan is in danger of losing his job and apartment, he reaches out to his son. Overwhelmed, Nick nonetheless prepares to welcome his father back into his life, then Jonathan quickly disappears again. When Nick later finds the man at a homeless shelter, he must make a big decision.
Being Flynn

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Robert De Niro gives a sincere, gripping performance, but Being Flynn is an uneasy mix of drama and comedy that fails to emotionally resonate as a whole.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Mar 23, 2012
2.5/5
On the whole, the film feels detached and morose, just like its characters. Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Mar 17, 2012
2.5/4
It's captured a corner of a my imagination, getting me to think like I haven't in ages, and for all my mixed feelings those are traits I'll happily celebrate now and until the end of time. Go to Full Review
Joe Williams St. Louis Post-Dispatch Mar 16, 2012
3/4
He might be guilty of showboating, but De Niro's knockout performance is a declaration that the star of "Raging Bull" isn't ready to hang up his gloves. Go to Full Review
David Bax Battleship Pretension Mar 16, 2021
Despite all this, Weitz and his camera are infatuated with DeNiro, who is performing more than he is acting in a film that only he and the director don't understand is more suited to the latter... Go to Full Review
Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Jan 31, 2021
3/5
A bleak character study that scrapes by on the strength of its performances. Go to Full Review
Brent McKnight The Last Thing I See Jul 11, 2020
B+
a film that plumbs the depths of addiction, poverty, family, and ultimately identity, doesn't pull any punches, and approaches all of these themes from a personal angle that makes them accessible. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Finn R Sep 14, 2018 This movie moves fast but is very relatable to the fast pace of life. Robert is amazing as always.
Finn G May 28, 2018 Loved this movie. very sensitive acting, and the story is by no means banal or hackneyed.
George S Nov 26, 2017 The creators of Being Flynn would like it to be considered a deep and insightful look at both mental illness and substance abuse, but it comes up hollow. Maybe if the filmmakers could decide on a single main character, instead of focusing on two, then something could have been salvaged from this one. Also, the lack of focus is exasperated by the poor story telling aesthetic, which constantly switches from one narrator to the next as if hey are jostling for our attention. See more
Draco S Nov 4, 2017 I liked it! Serious matters in unsentimental ways. Loved Danas very low key character and de Niro being too much without being too much. See more
Rey L Jun 18, 2017 It had alot of promise and some good acting, but it is not a very good or entertaining movie.
Read all reviews
Being Flynn

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Paul Weitz

Director

Robert De Niro

Jonathan Flynn

Paul Dano

Nick Flynn

Julianne Moore

Jody Flynn

Olivia Thirlby

Denise

Eddie Rouse

Carlos

More Like This

View All
Therese 41% 34% Therese Watchlist The Rebound 42% 46% The Rebound Watchlist Adult Beginners 49% 31% Adult Beginners Watchlist The D Train 54% 25% The D Train Watchlist Z for Zachariah 80% 44% Z for Zachariah Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
View All

Being Flynn

Robert De Niro as Jonthan Flynn in "Being Flynn." Paul Dano as Nick Flynn in "Being Flynn." (L-R) Paul Dano as Nick Flynn and Robert De Niro as Jonathan Flynn in "Being Flynn." Paul Dano as Nick Flynn in "Being Flynn." Robert De Niro as Jonathan Flynn and Julianne Moore as Jody Flynn in "Being Flynn." Lili Taylor as Joy in "Being Flynn." (L-R) Robert De Niro as Jonthan Flynn and Paul Dano as Nick Flynn in "Being Flynn." Robert De Niro as Jonathan Flynn in "Being Flynn." Julianne Moore as Jody Flynn in "Being Flynn." Paul Dano as Nick Flynn and Olivia Thirlby as Denise in "Being Flynn." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Nick Flynn (Paul Dano) is a young writer trying to define himself. He misses his mother, who recently died, but his father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro), has been out of his life for 18 years. When Jonathan is in danger of losing his job and apartment, he reaches out to his son. Overwhelmed, Nick nonetheless prepares to welcome his father back into his life, then Jonathan quickly disappears again. When Nick later finds the man at a homeless shelter, he must make a big decision.
Director
Paul Weitz
Producer
Paul Weitz, Andrew Miano, Michael Costigan
Screenwriter
Paul Weitz
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Community Films, Depth of Field, Tribeca Productions, Focus Features
Rating
R (Drug Use|Brief Nudity|Language Throughout|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$526.3K
Runtime
1h 42m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings