Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- hopeful
- dignified
- inspirational movie night
- sports movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film competently made and fluidly told but overly familiar, earnest, and predictable as a sports biopic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe Rantz and the University of Washington rowing team progress from Depression-era poverty and competitive tryouts toward the 1936 Olympic eight-man race.
The rowing team must synchronize technique, trust, and endurance rather than rely on an individual star.
The team's rise from economic hardship is framed against 1930s American deprivation and the symbolic importance of the Olympic Games.
The film presents University of Washington rowing, Depression-era Seattle, and Olympic competition through polished historical production design and race cinematography.
Films like The Boys in the Boat, and why
Cool Runnings
fact-based underdog sports drama centered on teamwork, discipline, and an emotionally straightforward competition narrative
Chariots of Fire
period sports biopic combining working-class struggle, national pride, and an inspirational team achievement
A League of Their Own
earnest true-story sports drama about perseverance, institutional barriers, and collective ambition
Seabiscuit
traditional inspirational sports film emphasizing coaching, camaraderie, and overcoming economic hardship
Movie Details
- Director
- George Clooney
- Release Date
- 2023-12-25
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (383)
Cast
- Joel Edgerton
- Callum Turner
- Peter Guinness
- Sam Strike
- Thomas Elms
- Jack Mulhern
- Luke Slattery
- Bruce Herbelin-Earle
- Wil Coban
- Tom Varey
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- 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 The Boys in the Boat about?
- A determined young engineer and his working-class teammates fight poverty, exhaustion, and fierce competition for a place on America’s Olympic rowing team.
- What is The Boys in the Boat like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Boys in the Boat as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Boys in the Boat violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Boys in the Boat.
- What did critics think of The Boys in the Boat?
- Critics broadly found the film competently made and fluidly told but overly familiar, earnest, and predictable as a sports biopic.
- Which films are like The Boys in the Boat?
- Films with a similar feel include Cool Runnings, Chariots of Fire, A League of Their Own, and Seabiscuit.
- How long is The Boys in the Boat?
- The Boys in the Boat runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Boys in the Boat?
- In United States, The Boys in the Boat is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
