critics consensus

An engaging slice of life drama that happens to double as a gay coming-of-age story, Beautiful Thing captures its place and time with deceptive depth and skill. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

Shy Jamie (Glen Berry) and athletic Ste (Scott Neal) are teen boys who live near each other in the London projects. Both boys think they could be gay, and finally explore their feelings when Ste is allowed to stay over at Jamie's place after an incident with his abusive father. There, the boys grow close and open themselves up to the idea of homosexuality, while Jamie's caring mother, Sandra (Linda Henry), and quirky teen neighbor, Leah (Tameka Empson), offer much needed emotional support.

Rating:

R
Genre:

comedy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Hettie MacDonald
Producer:

Tony Garnett, Bill Shapter
Writer:

Jonathan Harvey
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 25, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA):

$1.5M
Runtime:

1h 29m
Production Co:

Channel Four Films, World Productions
Sound Mix:

Dolby, Surround

Cast & Crew

Linda Henry
Sandra Gangel

Glen Berry
Jamie Gangel

Scott Neal
Ste Pearce

Ben Daniels
Tony

Tameka Empson
Leah Russell

Anna Karen
Marlene

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Beautiful Thing

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (2)

Quote not available.

September 7, 2011 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
Beautiful Thing might be the most beloved of all the gay-youth movies released in the late 90s

April 27, 2003 | Full Review…

Eric Henderson
Slant Magazine
Because the film is so effective for its first two-thirds and because it has its heart in the right place throughout, audiences may be willing to forgive its final third.

February 14, 2001 | Full Review…

Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Beautiful Thing isn't particularly deep, nor is it a great piece of filmmaking, but it's so sweet-natured and well-acted that it's hard to resist.

January 1, 2000

John Hartl
Film.com
If Beautiful Thing were any more sensitive, it would faint.

January 1, 2000

Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
Reminds me of some of Jonathan Demme's early movies, where ordinary people are celebrated for their eccentricities but not condescended to.

January 1, 2000

Robert Horton
Film.com
It's still heartwarming to see Ste (Scott Neal) and Jamie (Glen Berry), two teenage boys from a tough south London estate, fall in love and win acceptance from their friends and neighbours.

May 10, 2021 | Full Review…

Nick Levine
NME
Mostly though, Beautiful Thing works both as a gallery of life in the faceless but commodious blocks thrown up to house the working (and non-working) classes, and an intimate tale of two lonely boys.

April 25, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Quote not available.

July 17, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
Quote not available.

July 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

January 16, 2004 | Rating: 3/5

Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
just as it 'takes a village' to raise a child, the 'village' elevates this otherwise ordinary drama

July 27, 2003 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for Beautiful Thing

May 31, 2016

An unusually realistic British comedy about the teenage love between the shy Jamie and troubled Ste, they also need to deal with Jamie's nosy mum and their dysfunctional neighbour. It's really cute and natural which is why I really like the film. It was also really hilarious, but it was kinda sad to see the state of London in the 90s.

Sylvester K Super Reviewer
Jun 09, 2015

I'm going to hold off on providing a higher rating for this film which probably deserves it solely for the touching nature of the two leads and how they interact with one another. What loses the film points is unlikelihood of the eventual acceptance of the couple and a plodding side story that adds nothing to the central picture other than minutes.

John B Super Reviewer
May 24, 2013

For those who think the movie contains explicit gay sex scene, you can chill, it doesn't. Beautiful Thing shares the same artsy taste with Brokeback Mountain, and tells a humane & heart-wrenching tale of a gay theme coming-age love story between two teenagers against the backdrop of South London. 8/10.

Mesh B Super Reviewer
Oct 27, 2012

Touching film with quite capable actors. As an American, however, I must say that it was often difficult to follow the dialogue due to the thick accents and use of unfamiliar British slang. Despite this difficulty, I would recommend this movie highly to an American looking for a well-done, meaningful LGBT film.

Christian C Super Reviewer