Boy A

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Boy A

R

2008

1h 39m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Freed after a lengthy term in a juvenile detention center, convicted child killer Jack Burridge finds work as a deliveryman and begins dating co-worker Michelle. While out on the road one day, the young Englishman notices a distressed child, and, after reuniting the girl with her family, becomes a local celebrity. But, when a local newspaper unearths his past, Jack must cope with the anger of citizens who fear for the safety of their children.

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Critics Consensus

Small in scale but large in impact, Boy A's career making performances (particularly that by star Andrew Garfield) and carefully crafted characters defy judgment and aggressively provoke debate.

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Amy Biancolli

Houston Chronicle

Sep 12, 2008

3.5/4

It makes us feel sympathy for the devil.

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Christy DeSmith

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Sep 5, 2008

3/4

Director John Crowley, a veteran Irish theater director now working in film, is deliberate with every last element of his film.

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Kamal Al-Solaylee

Globe and Mail

Aug 29, 2008

3/4

Even its structurally weaker moments give Garfield an opportunity to expand on Jack's physical and mental dislocation. Given Boy A's final floating reel, it's an anchoring performance in every sense of the word.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Sep 2, 2020

Overall, the film is very strong and compassionate.

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Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Times

Dec 13, 2018

3/4

Those behind Boy A invite us to ponder whether outrage might also have a statute of limitations.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Sep 25, 2010

4/4

Andrew Garfield nailed an assignment many actors would avoid or, worse, botch in "Boy A" - embody a grown, traumatized man experiencing emotional honesty, transparent kindness, sexual intimacy and genuine appreciation from others for the first time.

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Robert P

@Superbad 1 day ago

Boy A = a *4.5* star Movie!

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Alain E

@AlainE Jul 14, 2026

I loved the Delinquent Season but here, at least in the first thirty minutes, nothing much happens. I gave up halfway in the very long nightclub scene. Good intentions are not sufficient to watch a movie. On Prime.

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Noah J.

@close2noah Feb 17, 2026

I downloaded this app so I could learn more about this film- I haven’t found much but what I can say I’ve found is a beautiful movie, and one of my favorites.

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Sophie M

@Sophie1984 Apr 28, 2025

I loved it! It was so so super sad but such a beautiful performance from Andrew Garfeild. It is a heavy watch, but is really thought provoking!!

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Mar 20, 2022

This is a masterclass in acting, directing, and the way it conveys many interesting topics we didn't necessarily think to ask ourselves. The sadness of a wasted youth just washes over me every time I watch it... The movie made me ask so many questions and question my moral stances. A powerful, thought-provoking piece of art. It was clear from this small, intimate movie, that Andrew Garfield is a talented young performer that can evoke the most visceral, yet opposing reactions in a viewer. One of my favorite movies. A hidden gem.

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Jun 6, 2021

Andrew Garfield stars here in his first film role as a young man freshly released from prison after serving a sentence for his part in a horrific crime committed when he was a child. The film follows his attempts to re-enter and reintegrate with society as he starts his new life as 'Jack'. He is aided by rehabilitation worker Terry, here played by the always excellent Peter Mullan, as they both aim to keep his past history away from public knowledge. This film is challenging and deeply disturbing at times as it explores the psyche of those who commit such atrocities, while also displaying the human side of these people. It shows the positive effect of rehabilitation and poses the question 'does everyone deserve a second chance?'. The overwhelming anxiety of being defined by and never being able to escape past actions hangs over the main character throughout. An underrated gem of British Cinema.

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John Crowley

Director

Andrew Garfield

Jack Burridge

Peter Mullan

Terry

Katie Lyons

Michelle

Shaun Evans

Chris

Jeremy Swift

Dave

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Synopsis

Freed after a lengthy term in a juvenile detention center, convicted child killer Jack Burridge finds work as a deliveryman and begins dating co-worker Michelle. While out on the road one day, the young Englishman notices a distressed child, and, after reuniting the girl with her family, becomes a local celebrity. But, when a local newspaper unearths his past, Jack must cope with the anger of citizens who fear for the safety of their children.

Director: John Crowley
Producer: Lynn Horsford
Screenwriter: Mark O'Rowe
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Cuba Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Sexuality|Some Disturbing Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $106.4K
Runtime: 1h 39m

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