Jesus' Son

Play trailer

Jesus' Son

R

1999

1h 49m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

3.5/4

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

Go to Full Review

James Hannaham

Out Magazine

05/27/2022

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.

Go to Full Review

A.S. Hamrah

The Baffler

09/16/2020

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

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/12/2020

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.

Go to Full Review

Antonia Quirke

Independent on Sunday

11/28/2017

Jack Black has become impossible to ignore.

Go to Full Review

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

07/22/2012

B

takes some different turns

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 4

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

See more

Brett J

@RT07128618 04/15/2024

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.

See more

02/18/2022

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.

See more

05/23/2020

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

See more

12/27/2019

Jake black is fucking funny good movie

See more

05/17/2015

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

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Alison Maclean

Director

Billy Crudup

FH

Samantha Morton

Michelle

Denis Leary

Wayne

Jack Black

Georgie

Will Patton

John Smith

The Five Senses

74%

79%

The Five Senses

Watchlist

Great Expectations

41%

57%

Great Expectations

Watchlist

World Traveler

35%

36%

World Traveler

Watchlist

Requiem for a Dream

80%

93%

Requiem for a Dream

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Requiem for a Dream

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New Certified Fresh Movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime: E.T., Indiana Jones, Superman, and More

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now