Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- warm
- heartfelt
- road movie night
- friendship movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an original and emotionally effective portrait of strangers becoming friends and friends becoming family, despite familiar comparisons to other female-bonding road dramas.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jane, Robin, and Holly travel together from Pittsburgh toward Los Angeles while gradually becoming a chosen family.
Three strangers with different identities and troubled histories develop mutual care, respect, and loyalty.
Robin is living with AIDS, making illness, homophobia, and social support central to the women's relationship.
The film's central emotional arc is the bond among Jane, Robin, and Holly, with female solidarity driving the narrative.
Films like Boys on the Side, and why
Thelma & Louise
female bonding, women on the run, and emotionally direct road drama
Fried Green Tomatoes
female friendship, chosen family, and warm dramatic storytelling
The Color Purple
road journey, outsider solidarity, and bittersweet female-centered drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Herbert Ross
- Release Date
- 1995-02-03
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (272)
Cast
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Mary-Louise Parker
- Drew Barrymore
- Matthew McConaughey
- James Remar
- Billy Wirth
- Anita Gillette
- Dennis Boutsikaris
- Estelle Parsons
- Amy Aquino
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Boys on the Side about?
- Three women fleeing complicated pasts become an unlikely chosen family during a cross-country journey marked by laughter, danger, and profound care.
- What is Boys on the Side like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Boys on the Side as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Boys on the Side violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Boys on the Side as moderate.
- What did critics think of Boys on the Side?
- Critics broadly found the film an original and emotionally effective portrait of strangers becoming friends and friends becoming family, despite familiar comparisons to other female-bonding road dramas.
- Which films are like Boys on the Side?
- Films with a similar feel include Thelma & Louise, Fried Green Tomatoes, and The Color Purple.
- How long is Boys on the Side?
- Boys on the Side runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Boys on the Side?
- In United States, Boys on the Side streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
