Do you want to see ‘Boys Don't Cry’?

Boys Don't Cry (1999)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 75
Fresh: 66 | Rotten: 9

Hilary Swank's acclaimed performance pays fitting tribute to the tragic life of Brandon Teena.

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Critic Reviews: 22
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 3

Hilary Swank's acclaimed performance pays fitting tribute to the tragic life of Brandon Teena.

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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 65,759

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Movie Info

Based on a true story, this drama was adapted from the life of Brandon Teena, born Teena Brandon, a woman who chose to live her life as a man and suffered tragic consequences as a result. In 1993, 20-year-old Brandon (Hilary Swank) leaves Lincoln, Nebraska for the nearby community of Falls City, where she sports a crew cut, favors jeans and boots, and is regarded as a man by most of the people in town. While Brandon's friend Lonny (Matt McGrath) warns her that sexual outsiders aren't looked upon

R, 1 hr. 56 min.

Drama

Directed By: Kimberly Peirce

Written By: Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen

In Theaters: Oct 8, 1999 Wide

On DVD: Apr 18, 2000

Twentieth Century Fox

Boys Don't Cry Trailer & Photos

Cast

Hilary Swank
Brandon Teena
Chlo� Sevigny
Lana
Peter Sarsgaard
John
Brendan Sexton III
Marvin Thomas 'Tom' Nis...
Alison Folland
Kate
Alicia Goranson
Candace
Matt McGrath
Lonny
Rob Campbell
Brian
Jeanetta Arnette
Lana's Mom
Lou Perryman
Sheriff

Critic Reviews for Boys Don't Cry

All Critics (99) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (9) | DVD (17)

One of the best films of the year!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comment

Roger Ebert

At the Movies

Top Critic

The film is framed, too unquestioningly, as a transgender Rebel Without a Cause, with Brandon the martyred innocent who dies for her infatuations.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Magazine

| Comments (3)

Peter Rainer

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Time has made Kimberly Peirce's dramatic debut about sexual misfit, stunningly played by Hilary Swank, even more relevant and powerful.

July 9, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

...undoubtedly benefits from Swank's searing, justifiably lauded performance.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nail-tough yet poetic.

January 31, 2008 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

The shock is not in the tragic ending, but the devastating emotional effect Kimberly Peirce is able to achieve through mere nuance.

October 21, 2007 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

The casting is nothing short of brilliant.

January 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International

| Comment

David Noh

Film Journal International

A suspenseful piece of work. Expect to be depressed.

April 10, 2005 Comment

Jules Brenner

Cinema Signals

Brandon becomes a symbol of everyone who doesn't fit neatly into the presupposed categories in the culture of everyday life

February 1, 2004 Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk

| Comment

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Four years ago, said director Kimberly Peirce, she could not have made this film and thought it was spectacular to see the Oscars flash the subject of the story across America and around the world.

May 11, 2003 Full Review Source: Movie Magazine International

| Comment

Moira Sullivan

Movie Magazine International

Bittersweet gender-bender tale features great performances.

November 7, 2002 Full Review Source: Netflix

| Comment

James Rocchi

Netflix

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Boys Don't Cry

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Lana: Shut up, that's your business. I don't care if you are half monkey or half ape, I'm gettin' you out of here! Boys Don't Cry, hmmm, where to start. It's an emotional, powerful, and quite disturbing biopic that doesn't hold anything back. Kimberly Peirce did an amazing job with this movie. I saw a documentary where

July 3, 2011

Melvin White

Super Reviewer

Absolutely heart wrenching! Hilary Swank deserved her Oscar and the fact that this was a true story is even more heart breaking. People in this world are so cruel and this film just shows you how much. 10/10

June 24, 2011

Bethany Murphy

Super Reviewer

Boys Don't Cry Quotes

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1. Brandon Teena: Lana, you are one cranky girl
– Submitted by Ivana N (10 months ago)

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Latest News for Boys Don't Cry

September 8, 2006:

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