Overview
A poignant tale of love and loss that defies the boundaries of time.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- wistful
- melancholic
- tender
- quiet evening
- romantic night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a richly made, emotionally moving fantasy epic elevated by strong performances and David Fincher’s delicate visual direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Caroline reads Benjamin’s diary to the dying Daisy, which unfolds the central life story retrospectively.
Benjamin is born with the physical conditions of old age and becomes younger throughout his life.
Benjamin and Daisy reconnect when their apparent ages align, but his continued rejuvenation separates their lives again.
Fincher’s subdued historical palette is integrated with CGI and digital effects to depict Benjamin’s changing body.
Films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and why
Forrest Gump
sweeping life-spanning romance, retrospective storytelling, and tender meditation on mortality
The Age of Adaline
magical aging premise, wistful romance, and emotionally expansive fantasy drama
About Time
poignant fantasy about altered aging, love, and the passage of time
Big Fish
literary magical realism, nonlinear life reflection, and bittersweet humanism
Movie Details
- Director
- David Fincher
- Release Date
- 2008-12-25
- Runtime
- 166 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (14074)
Cast
- Brad Pitt
- Cate Blanchett
- Taraji P. Henson
- Julia Ormond
- Jason Flemyng
- Tilda Swinton
- Mahershala Ali
- Jared Harris
- Elias Koteas
- Phyllis Somerville
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Curious Case of Benjamin Button about?
- A man who ages backward experiences an extraordinary lifetime of love, separation, and mortality in reverse.
- What is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
- What did critics think of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a richly made, emotionally moving fantasy epic elevated by strong performances and David Fincher’s delicate visual direction.
- Which films are like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- Films with a similar feel include Forrest Gump, The Age of Adaline, About Time, and Big Fish.
- How long is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button runs 166 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- In United States, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand.
