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Boys Don't Cry

Play trailer 1:32 Poster for Boys Don't Cry R,  1999,  1h 59m,  Biography/ Drama/ LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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Watchlist 90% 79 Reviews Tomatometer 87% 50,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 79 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena leaves his hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female. Resettling in the small town of Falls City, Nebraska, Brandon falls for Lana, an aspiring singer, and begins to plan for their future together. But when her ex-convict friends, John and Tom, learn Brandon's secret, things change very quickly.
Boys Don't Cry

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Harrowing yet stirring, Boys Don't Cry powerfully commemorates the life -- and brutally unjust death -- of transgender teen Brandon Teena.

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Critics Reviews

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David Gritten Daily Telegraph (UK) Feb 6, 2026
Peirce has crafted a bold, engaging film from unlikely material. Boys Don't Cry may be set in a heartland peopled by loser, but it finally and unexpectedly achieves epic, then tragic dimensions. Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Nov 29, 2024
3.5/4
It’s not a stretch to say that director Kimberly Peirce’s 1999 Academy Award-winning debut Boys Don’t Cry helped save my life. Go to Full Review
Janet Maslin New York Times Jan 1, 2000
4.5/5
Stunning. Go to Full Review
Savina Petkova A Good Movie To Watch Nov 24, 2023
86/100
The film features fantastic performances aplenty and very raw storytelling, visualized by neorealist style and low lighting. Go to Full Review
Jennifer & Marty Alabama Forum May 5, 2023
With this movie, Brandon's memory lives on forever. Go to Full Review
Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) Dec 16, 2022
Kimberly Peirce's film is unarguably one of the finest adult dramas of the year, and arguably one of the best examples of independent filmmaking in recent memory. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Theodore M Apr 23, 2019 One trick pony Kimberly Peirce has created one of the most heart-wrenching spectacles ever released. Hilary Swank delivered the performance of her life, portraying the character of Brandon Teena to absolute certainty. All of the other performances were terrific as well. The script was great, the story was interesting, and the directing was spot on. A real life film adaptation about someone's wish to be what they've always wanted, couldn't have been anymore breathtakingly saddening that what we got here. A fantastic work of art that I guarantee, will leave you in tears. See more
Kylo P Feb 2, 2019 Cry Your Heart Out. Boys Don't Cry Pierce's heartbreaking biography is an uncompromising quest of finding the truth, and just like it, it is hard to swallow, amazing to experience and leaves you shook at the brisk of your seat. The film feels documented than it feels performed. The wallop of drama it whirls you around with is no entertainment, the sincerity of the material in its mannerism can easily be filtered, it definitely narrows itself down to those hard facts and figures that will question humanity. The entire script is dipped into that very idea and yet is beyond that, and even though Pierce keeps his world surrounded by pathos ideologies, it never grows manipulative. Addition to that, the film feeds itself on elements rather than antics. These elements breeds the character into their incongruent surrounding instead of the other way around, which is something what the real life based characters went through with their lives. Swank, arguably, at the ignition of her career, snatches away the film from any other. Her riveting performance is testament to her hard work and commitment to such a complex character. The boyishness charm that she adores in front of a mirror or when she flirts blatantly with conviction, is something very vulnerable and mesmerizing to experience. Supporting her thoroughly is Sevigny in her portrayal that has the potential to challenge her on screen with a half crooked smile and, yes, sanity. Both these figures on screen, creates a fragile emotionally fueled scene around this edgy world, that almost seemed impossible, even a first touch is glorified with high stakes hanging in balance that makes you smile with a cathartic feeling in this not-so-questionable world. Boys Don't Cry will prove you wrong, it still rubbles me down whenever there is a recognition of reality in Swank's eyes, it is a rare cinematic art. See more
Draco S Dec 26, 2018 I haven't seen this movie, but I am EXTREMELY disappointed that they cast a cisgender woman to play the role of a trans man. There are PLENTY of trans actors that I'm sure would be more than happy to fill the role, but they instead cast a woman, and she even won an academy award for it, no less. I'm not trying to attack the actress here, but rather the casting director for making such an ignorant choice. -A Disappointed Trans Guy See more
Albus M Dec 18, 2018 A heartbreaking thrilling film based on real life incident, even after 20yrs this film is still a slap to the society.
George W Nov 23, 2018 Boys Don't Cry was released six years after the assault and murder of Brandon Teena, a stealth trans man who was attacked when friends realised he was not a cis man. It was intended both as a testament to his life and identity, as well as a protest against hate crimes and trans bashings. Where it fails is in the depiction of horrific violence and sexual assault, which is shown not with transgender audiences in mind, but rather cisgender audiences, evidencing a voyeuristic quality so common in queer films. It was a very important film to be made at the time of release, but should be understood as an outdated relic that should not set an example of prime representation in the media from now on. Also inappropriate is the unchallenged reactions of audiences who insist on referring to Brandon as a woman. It makes sense for it to have been critically acclaimed when it came out, but I would never, ever recommend a trans person go and see this film. See more
Sep 16, 2018 It was one a let down in the way the story was told, and left me feeling empty and sad. It would have been great had they actually gave us a glimpse into the true Teena mind See more
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Boys Don't Cry

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena leaves his hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female. Resettling in the small town of Falls City, Nebraska, Brandon falls for Lana, an aspiring singer, and begins to plan for their future together. But when her ex-convict friends, John and Tom, learn Brandon's secret, things change very quickly.
Director
Kimberly Peirce
Producer
Eva Kolodner, John Hart, Christine Vachon, Jeff Sharp
Screenwriter
Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen
Distributor
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Fox
Production Co
Killer Films, Independent Film Channel, Hart-Sharp Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.5M
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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