Goat
A traumatized college freshman enters his brother’s fraternity, where hazing turns the promise of brotherhood into a brutal test of loyalty.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- harrowing
- confrontational
- thought-provoking
- serious drama night
- discussion group viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film difficult but rewarding, praising its thought-provoking treatment of hazing and its intense performances while noting its deliberately abrasive experience.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Brad pledges his brother's fraternity, where initiation rituals test loyalty through escalating humiliation and violence.
Brad's recovery from assault is inseparable from his loyalty to his older brother Brett and the fraternity they both inhabit.
The nineteen-year-old protagonist enters college already reeling from a terrifying assault, then encounters further brutality during pledging.
The film's hazing sequences and aftermath emphasize sustained psychological distress and physical brutality.
Films like Goat, and why
The Social Network
Shared focus on fraternity hazing, institutional peer pressure, brotherhood, and psychologically intense college drama.
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Shared themes of male bonding, coercive group identity, escalating brutality, and emotionally severe coming-of-age drama.
Full Metal Jacket
Shared portrayal of abusive male institutions, conformity, humiliation, and grim psychological intensity.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Shared coming-of-age drama about trauma, loyalty, and young men navigating destructive social structures.
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew Neel
- Release Date
- 2016-09-23
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (274)
Cast
- Ben Schnetzer
- Nick Jonas
- Austin Lyon
- Virginia Gardner
- Danny Flaherty
- Jake Picking
- Patrick Murney
- James Franco
- Will Pullen
- Brock Yurich
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Goat about?
- A traumatized college freshman enters his brother’s fraternity, where hazing turns the promise of brotherhood into a brutal test of loyalty.
- What is Goat like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Goat as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Goat violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Goat as brutal.
- What did critics think of Goat?
- Critics broadly found the film difficult but rewarding, praising its thought-provoking treatment of hazing and its intense performances while noting its deliberately abrasive experience.
- Which films are like Goat?
- Films with a similar feel include The Social Network, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Full Metal Jacket, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
- How long is Goat?
- Goat runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Goat?
- In United States, Goat is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
