Boy Erased
A forcibly outed preacher’s son endures a church-backed conversion program while fighting to reclaim his identity and his family’s understanding.
Overview
A poignant exploration of identity and acceptance in a world that demands conformity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- harrowing
- empathetic
- restrained
- reflective viewing
- social issue discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film empathetic and powerfully performed, while considering its social message more effective than its uneven human drama and restrained execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jared is pressured by his Baptist family and a church-supported program to renounce his sexuality.
The central conflict follows Jared's coerced participation in a gay conversion program and its effects on his sense of self.
Jared's forced outing turns adolescence into a struggle between parental expectations, religious doctrine, and personal truth.
The drama focuses on family confrontations, institutional counseling, and intimate emotional consequences rather than stylized spectacle.
Films like Boy Erased, and why
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
shared lgbtq+ coming-of-age drama, institutional homophobia, and emphasis on personal dignity
Prayers for Bobby
shared lgbtq+ themes, religious conservatism, family conflict, and empathetic character drama
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
shared coming-of-age perspective, queer identity, family pressure, and emotionally grounded realism
Milk
shared biographical drama form, social prejudice, and a protagonist resisting oppressive institutions
Movie Details
- Director
- Joel Edgerton
- Release Date
- 2018-09-24
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1523)
Cast
- Lucas Hedges
- Nicole Kidman
- Russell Crowe
- Joel Edgerton
- Troye Sivan
- Madelyn Cline
- Flea
- Xavier Dolan
- Britton Sear
- Cherry Jones
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 Boy Erased about?
- A forcibly outed preacher’s son endures a church-backed conversion program while fighting to reclaim his identity and his family’s understanding.
- What is Boy Erased like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Boy Erased as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Boy Erased violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Boy Erased.
- What did critics think of Boy Erased?
- Critics broadly found the film empathetic and powerfully performed, while considering its social message more effective than its uneven human drama and restrained execution.
- Which films are like Boy Erased?
- Films with a similar feel include The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Prayers for Bobby, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Milk.
- How long is Boy Erased?
- Boy Erased runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Boy Erased?
- In United States, Boy Erased is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
