This Boy's Life
A teenage boy and his mother struggle to escape an alcoholic stepfather's cruelty while he searches for a future beyond their small-town life.
Overview
A young boy's struggle for freedom in a world filled with abuse and despair.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- harrowing
- melancholic
- intimate
- serious movie night
- biographical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a harrowing and moving family drama elevated by its terrific cast, especially Leonardo DiCaprio's breakout performance and Robert De Niro's distinctive turn.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Toby develops plans to leave Dwight's abusive home environment and the small town surrounding it.
Dwight's alcoholism and authoritarian behavior dominate Caroline and Toby's family life after the marriage.
The story follows a single mother, a garage mechanic, and a teenage boy navigating social mobility in 1957 Seattle-area life.
Robert De Niro's portrayal of Dwight is notably distinctive for its abusive, unreasonable, and deeply unlikeable presence.
Films like This Boy's Life, and why
The Glass Menagerie
shared coming-of-age drama, abusive family dynamics, and emotionally harrowing autobiographical perspective
The Last Picture Show
shared dysfunctional family drama, adolescent alienation, and grounded 1950s American setting
Angela's Ashes
shared biographical coming-of-age focus, troubled parent-child relationships, and bittersweet emotional tone
Precious
shared domestic abuse themes, autobiographical drama, and a young protagonist seeking escape
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Caton-Jones
- Release Date
- 1993-04-09
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1120)
Cast
- Robert De Niro
- Ellen Barkin
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Jonah Blechman
- Eliza Dushku
- Chris Cooper
- Carla Gugino
- Zachary Ansley
- Tracey Ellis
- Kathy Kinney
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 This Boy's Life about?
- A teenage boy and his mother struggle to escape an alcoholic stepfather's cruelty while he searches for a future beyond their small-town life.
- What is This Boy's Life like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of This Boy's Life as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is This Boy's Life violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in This Boy's Life as mild.
- What did critics think of This Boy's Life?
- Critics broadly regard it as a harrowing and moving family drama elevated by its terrific cast, especially Leonardo DiCaprio's breakout performance and Robert De Niro's distinctive turn.
- Which films are like This Boy's Life?
- Films with a similar feel include The Glass Menagerie, The Last Picture Show, Angela's Ashes, and Precious.
- How long is This Boy's Life?
- This Boy's Life runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch This Boy's Life?
- In United States, This Boy's Life is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
