Overview
A young boy discovers his passion for ballet amidst a backdrop of social upheaval and familial conflict.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- warm
- witty
- melancholic
- inspirational viewing
- dance movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's charm, emotional warmth, performances, pacing, and intelligent handling of working-class and gender expectations, while noting some predictable and metaphorically heavy passages.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billy's ballet training challenges his father's and brother's assumptions about boxing, masculinity, and respectable working-class behavior.
The 1984 Durham miners strike determines the family's financial hardship, political atmosphere, and escalating conflicts.
Billy's increasingly confident movement conveys frustration, desire, and the possibility of escape from his constrained community.
Mrs Wilkinson gives Billy private ballet lessons and directs him toward the Royal Ballet audition.
Films like Billy Elliot, and why
The Full Monty
shared coming-of-age drama, working-class setting, family conflict, and hopeful self-discovery
Billy Elliot: The Musical Live
shared dance-centered coming-of-age story, mentor relationship, emotional uplift, and social barriers
Brassed Off
shared working-class family drama, adolescent ambition, class tension, and bittersweet social realism
Kes
shared youth rebellion, artistic aspiration, parental conflict, and intimate british drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Daldry
- Release Date
- 2000-09-28
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (4183)
Cast
- Jamie Bell
- Gary Lewis
- Julie Walters
- Jean Heywood
- Jamie Draven
- Stuart Wells
- Mike Elliot
- Billy Fane
- Nicola Blackwell
- Carol McGuigan
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 Billy Elliot about?
- Against the hardship of a bitter coal strike, a working-class boy fights convention and family resistance to pursue ballet.
- What is Billy Elliot like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Billy Elliot as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Billy Elliot violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Billy Elliot as mild.
- What did critics think of Billy Elliot?
- Critics broadly praised the film's charm, emotional warmth, performances, pacing, and intelligent handling of working-class and gender expectations, while noting some predictable and metaphorically heavy passages.
- Which films are like Billy Elliot?
- Films with a similar feel include The Full Monty, Billy Elliot: The Musical Live, Brassed Off, and Kes.
- How long is Billy Elliot?
- Billy Elliot runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Billy Elliot?
- In United States, Billy Elliot is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
