Boyhood

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1:45

Boyhood

R

2014

2h 45m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

332 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The joys and pitfalls of growing up are seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his parents (Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke) and his sister (Lorelei Linklater). Vignettes, filmed with the same cast over the course of 12 years, capture family meals, road trips, birthday parties, graduations and other important milestones. Songs from Coldplay, Arcade Fire and other artists capture the time period. Directed by Richard Linklater.

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Critics Consensus

Epic in technical scale but breathlessly intimate in narrative scope, Boyhood is a sprawling investigation of the human condition.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Jan 27, 2025

5/5

Filming twice a year while sculpting the details of the screenplay, Linklater somehow captured the fundamental grief of the parenting experience.

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Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

Sep 15, 2022

...it’s hyperbolic in its minimalism and boring in spots and its overall narrative reach often exceeds its grasp. Even still, it’s one of the most important movies of the decade so far and you should experience it just to say you did.

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Chris Nashawaty

Entertainment Weekly

Oct 11, 2018

A

Like Michael Apted in his Seven Up! documentary series, Linklater makes you feel as if you're watching a photograph as it develops in the darkroom.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

A+

The fact that [Ellar Coltrane] turned out as good as he was is nothing short of a miracle, much like the film itself.

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Guillermo Troncoso

Screen Realm

Sep 23, 2026

4.5/5

Sweet, moving, insightful and soulful, Linklater and his cast have created something special here. Boyhood captures the essence of growing up and the moments that shape who we become.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 19, 2024

A

Boyhood was an incredibly risky project but the end product feels so genuine...

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CRS

Aug 26, 2026

Great concept. Mediocre execution.

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Eric

Aug 4, 2026

Great to see this in theaters. Very unique coming of age story by having the same actors over a 12-year period. Alas, I thought (and Cinemark advertised) that it would have the Q&A from the Austin showing at the end but it did not — Cinemark what gives? Others in the theater were disappointed not to see the W&A too. But well worth watching.

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Sara K

@meowth1222 2 days ago

A powerful and well-put-together movie. It's about life, growing up, and change over time. It captures the different stages of life and how our experiences shape who we become. There's something incredibly powerful about watching an ordinary life unfold. What could be more meaningful than life itself?

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Meri S

@mschroeder Oct 6, 2026

A good telling of a boys coming of age. Ethan Hawke is perfectly cast. Linklater did a great job showing the passage of time. It was long, but worth it.

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Mateo B

@RT09542267 Oct 2, 2026

The only thing I like about this movie is the idea of filming the same cast over 12 years. If someone made a better story like that I am sure I would love it. This would have felt like a marathon even if its run time was far shorter than 2 hours and 45 minutes.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 29, 2026

Boyhood is a 4.5 star Movie!

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Richard Linklater

Director

Ellar Coltrane

Mason

Patricia Arquette

Olivia

Ethan Hawke

Mason Sr.

Lorelei Linklater

Samantha

Tamara Jolaine

Tammy

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Boyhood: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The joys and pitfalls of growing up are seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his parents (Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke) and his sister (Lorelei Linklater). Vignettes, filmed with the same cast over the course of 12 years, capture family meals, road trips, birthday parties, graduations and other important milestones. Songs from Coldplay, Arcade Fire and other artists capture the time period. Directed by Richard Linklater.

Director: Richard Linklater
Producer: Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss
Screenwriter: Richard Linklater
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Detour Filmproduction
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language|Teen Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2014, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.4M
Runtime: 2h 45m

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