The New Boy

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1:58

The New Boy

2025,

1h 56m,

Drama/

History

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77%

70 Reviews

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Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

Popcornmeter

From acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton, The New Boy takes place in 1940s Australia at a remote monastery with a mission for Aboriginal children run by a renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett). A new charge (Aswan Reid) is delivered in the dead of night – a boy who appears to have special powers. However, the boy's Indigenous spiritual life does not mesh with the mission's Christianity and his mysterious power becomes a threat. Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy, in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

Critics Consensus

The New Boy bites off more than it can comfortably chew, but this heady exploration of faith and cultural tensions has an ethereal allure.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

May 30, 2025

3/4

What happens instead propels both on a spiritual, existential journey that challenges their beliefs. “The New Boy” explores those big questions but leaves it to us to find out the answers.

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Jourdain Searles

RogerEbert.com

May 23, 2025

3/4

Newcomer Reid perfectly embodies the spirit of the film, making us feel his confusion and share his joy in the small moments where he’s allowed to be himself.

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Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

May 22, 2025

Thornton, who briefly attended a Christian boarding school when he was a child, brings a textured perspective to this story of cultural violence and white guilt.

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Norah Masige

ScreenHub

Sep 15, 2026

3/5

The New Boy is an enchanting film and an intriguing exploration of Aboriginal spirituality through the innocent eyes of a curious child.

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Andy Hazel

The Saturday Paper

Sep 3, 2026

Warwick Thornton boldly examines spiritual curiosity and iconography uses magic realism and Thornton’s aureate cinematography to tell a story that feels utterly unique from a perspective rarely considered.

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John Serba

Decider

Dec 13, 2025

An understated, fascinating drama, The New Boy seeps into your psyche, and you’ll be nun the wiser. With apologies.

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Warwick Thornton

Director

Cate Blanchett

Sister Eileen

Aswan Reid

New Boy

Deborah Mailman

Sister Mum

Wayne Blair

George

Shane McKenzie-Brady

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Synopsis

From acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton, The New Boy takes place in 1940s Australia at a remote monastery with a mission for Aboriginal children run by a renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett). A new charge (Aswan Reid) is delivered in the dead of night – a boy who appears to have special powers. However, the boy's Indigenous spiritual life does not mesh with the mission's Christianity and his mysterious power becomes a threat. Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy, in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

Director: Warwick Thornton
Producer: Cate Blanchett, Georgie Pym, Kath Shelper, Andrew Upton
Screenwriter: Warwick Thornton, Warwick Thornton
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: First National Pictures, Dirty Films
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 23, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 30, 2025
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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