Bully

2011, Documentary, 1h 39m

142 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Hard-hitting and gracefully filmed, Bully powerfully delivers an essential message to an audience that may not be able to see it. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

Filmmaker Lee Hirsch examines five cases of youths who endure vicious persecution at the hands of their peers. Ja'meye, 14, winds up in reform school after pulling a gun on the youths who tormented her for years. Cameras record the abuse suffered by 14-year-old Alex as he's beaten and teased on the bus. Star athlete Kelby, 16, is ostracized and worse after she comes out as lesbian. Most tragic of all, two boys, one 17 and one 12, commit suicide to escape the torture.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Disturbing Content|All Involving Kids|Intense Thematic Material|Some Strong Language)
  • Genre:
    Documentary
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Lee Hirsch
  • Producer:
    Cynthia Lowen, Lee Hirsch
  • Writer:
    Lee Hirsch, Cynthia Lowen
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $3.5M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Weinstein Co.

Cast & Crew

Ja'Meya Jackson
Self
Kelby Johnson
Self
Lona Johnson
Self
Alex Libby
Self
Jackie Libby
Self
Philip Libby
Self
Maya Libby
Self
Ethan Libby
Self
Lee Hirsch
Director
Lee Hirsch
Writer
Cynthia Lowen
Writer
Cindy Waitt
Executive Producer
Cynthia Lowen
Producer
Lee Hirsch
Producer
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News & Interviews for Bully

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Critic Reviews for Bully

All Critics (142) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (121) | Rotten (21)
Full Review… Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Full Review… Lisa Kennedy Denver Post Full Review… J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Full Review… Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Full Review… Connie Ogle Miami Herald Full Review… Tom Long Detroit News Full Review… Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Full Review… Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Full Review… Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper Full Review… Julian Lytle Punch Drunk Critics Full Review… David Harris Spectrum Culture Full Review… Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com
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Audience Reviews for Bully

  • Dec 19, 2013
    This documentary is full of powerful stories to share. I think it should be required viewing for middle-schools across the country.
    Adam G Super Reviewer
  • Mar 25, 2013
    Not a perfect documentary but I really support the cause.
    Cita W Super Reviewer
  • Feb 25, 2013
    "Bully" is an extremely well crafted and well directed film. The protagonists' stories are heartbreaking, but the film is a bit incomplete. I wish Hirsch had explored the storyline of at least one bully, but despite this hole, the film is a great watch. Grade: B
    Sunny D Super Reviewer
  • Feb 15, 2013
    "Bully" is an amazing documentary about the bullying problem here in the United States. It follows a couple kids who are bullied, a girl who brought a gun on a school bus because she was being bullied, and parents of kids who committed suicide because they were bullied. This is by far one of the saddest and most important movies I've seen in a long time. This should be shown in schools, so kids can see the devastating consequences of picking on other children. I was never really bullied in school, but I remember a couple kids who were, and I wish I could go back and be friends with them or stop some of the bullying. This is a real problem in our schools and this movie really helps shine a light on it. I almost(I said almost, but I didn't) tear up a couple times during this. Some of it is so ridiculous at how bullying is handled by teachers, that it couldn't possibly be real. But it is. I think everyone should watch this, and hopefully it will help to eventually putting a stop to this.
    Everett J Super Reviewer
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