Jesus' Son

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Jesus' Son

R

1999

1h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Set in the early 1970s, "Jesus' Son" is a series of linked yet discrete stories that chart the to-hell-and-back journey of a young man known only as "FH." Told in the way a person might recount a series of anecdotes over a drink -- with all the mistakes and exaggerations, false starts and shuttling back in time that inevitably occurs -- it is a stunning glimpse into the way one man's heart and mind work.

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Critics Consensus

Slight yet ultimately absorbing, Jesus' Son makes effective use of its period setting and talented ensemble cast.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/4

This is not a drug movie like any you've seen.

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James Hannaham

Out Magazine

May 27, 2022

Crudup pulls through with sheepish charm, but the film's episodic form and skimpy context give it a diffuse quality, compounded by FH's frustrating passivity.

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A.S. Hamrah

The Baffler

Sep 16, 2020

Every role in this film is just nailed by its actor...

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 12, 2020

3.5/4.0

Alison Maclean takes an uncommon approach to a common theme and comes up with a film that is nothing short of a revelation.

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Antonia Quirke

Independent on Sunday

Nov 28, 2017

Jack Black has become impossible to ignore.

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

Jul 22, 2012

B

takes some different turns

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 4, 2026

The worldwide gross is $1,300,000.00, less than the budget of $2,500,000.00.

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Brett J

@RT07128618 Apr 15, 2024

The most beautiful of tragedies. A telling of the folly of unguided youth into love, sex, and drugs. Witty, fun, and surreal. Deep and inspires gratitude of life.

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Feb 18, 2022

A forgotten indie movie from 1999 that I'd only ever heard of due to, oddly enough, having some visual effects by the now-defunct Blue Sky Studios before they dedicated themselves completely to animation. Shame that Jesus' Son was forgotten because it's a decent indie drama. The narrative feel is admittedly disjointed and it gets dull in places but it is saved by its writing, character development and talented cast with Jack Black stealing the show. It's not for everyone but it is surprising to learn that nobody ever talks about this movie to the point that it doesn't even have a Plot section on Wikipedia. Even by bare-bones pages' standards on that site, this never sat right with me. Give it a watch and see if this period-piece drama will emotionally move you.

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May 23, 2020

The chronicles of a junkie in love trying his best to get by life and keep his girlfriend 2.9

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Dec 27, 2019

Jake black is fucking funny good movie

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May 17, 2015

Somehow this quirky and magical little film has been forgotten. A great movie.

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Alison Maclean

Director

Billy Crudup

FH

Samantha Morton

Michelle

Denis Leary

Wayne

Jack Black

Georgie

Will Patton

John Smith

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Synopsis

Set in the early 1970s, "Jesus' Son" is a series of linked yet discrete stories that chart the to-hell-and-back journey of a young man known only as "FH." Told in the way a person might recount a series of anecdotes over a drink -- with all the mistakes and exaggerations, false starts and shuttling back in time that inevitably occurs -- it is a stunning glimpse into the way one man's heart and mind work.

Director: Alison Maclean
Screenwriter: Denis Johnson, Elizabeth Cuthrell, David Urrutia, Oren Moverman
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Blue Sky Studios, Alliance Atlantis Communications, Evenstar Productions
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexuality|Drug Use|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 5, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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