The Beach

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2:21

The Beach

R

2000

2h 0m

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

122 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

The desire to find something real -- to connect with something or someone -- is what drives Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American backpacker who arrives in Thailand with adventure on his mind. Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) join him on an adventure to "The Beach," a mystical paradise. However, this paradise is less than perfect.

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Critics Consensus

Critics say The Beach is unfocused and muddled, a shallow adaptation of the novel it is based on. Points go to the gorgeous cinematography, though.

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Victoria Luxford

BBC.com

Apr 6, 2023

3/5

An intriguing mystery with a great soundtrack. I think Leonardo DiCaprio has had such an interesting career, and this is a great example of what he does so well.

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Apr 6, 2010

A narrative that tries to juggle thriller elements, tons of pop culture imagery, and way too much philosophical baggage.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 31, 2008

The Beach is nothing to write home about, though the landscapes are ravishing. The movie itself is neither fish nor fowl.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jun 18, 2025

4/10

Despite some visual flourishes and DiCaprio putting some effort into his expressive deliriums, I have a sneaking suspicion that Boyle's exotic adventure is perpetually dull. [Full review in Spanish]

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Danny Brogan

Common Sense Media

Apr 13, 2022

3/5

Sun, sea, and observations on how Richard (a young DiCaprio) survived the world without a smartphone, make this 2000 film a satisfying title to reflect on with families.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 30, 2022

2/5

the beach featured in The Beach was soon ruined by visitors, a detail that fits in with the reductive, wrong-headedness of the whole enterprise

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Justin P

@ATTABOY Oct 17, 2026

Something about this movie really just takes me away. I had no clue. The critics would be so harsh, but this movie has been an absolute staple for me to watch every spring. The cinematography is to die for and yes, it is slightly erratic. But we’ve all wanted to visit some form of paradise Island find something of our own. I think this movie encapsulates that perfectly. And there is some real expense for this beautiful property, a bit of a thriller till the end, I really hope everybody enjoys it true favorite of mine.

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Ryan T

@RT91888008 Oct 8, 2026

A must watch, with a great cast at the time and an overall great story.

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Aytekin C

@RT01299821 Sep 12, 2026

I don’t get the low ratings. This movie was really good! Great cast and soundtrack! Rotten tomatoes thinks The End Of Oak Street is fresh.. and this rotten? Absurd.

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Joseph T

@RT36654828 Aug 11, 2026

I really enjoyed the Thailand scenes, and the soundtrack is amazing, but the movie itself was pretty lame. It started out promising, then got terrible after the beginning.

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John F

@RT84127024 Aug 6, 2026

Gets off to a decent start and benefits from great scenery and music, but ultimately stumbles to the point where it gets rather silly. Unless you're a big Leo fan, skip it.

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ao 2

@RT55979809 Aug 6, 2026

Ya es algo personal, tiene una fotografía hermosa y hasta inolvidable, la banda sonora muy buena. Intenta muchas cosas y no me desagrada, por mi parte me entretuvo todo el rato y me deja satisfecho. Por cierto Leonardo DiCaprio es muy versátil.

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Danny Boyle

Director

Leonardo DiCaprio

Richard

Tilda Swinton

Sal

Virginie Ledoyen

Francoise

Guillaume Canet

Etienne

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The Beach: Trailer 1

2:21

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Synopsis

The desire to find something real -- to connect with something or someone -- is what drives Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American backpacker who arrives in Thailand with adventure on his mind. Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) join him on an adventure to "The Beach," a mystical paradise. However, this paradise is less than perfect.

Director: Danny Boyle
Producer: Andrew Macdonald
Screenwriter: Alex Garland, John Hodge
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Figment Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 11, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.8M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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