The Son
A father struggles to protect his depressed teenage son while balancing the responsibilities of a new family and the wounds of divorce.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- somber
- intimate
- harrowing
- serious drama night
- mental health awareness viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found strong performances, particularly from Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern, but considered the film overblown and emotionally aggressive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nicholas moves between his divorced mother Kate and father Peter, whose new family intensifies the strain.
Nicholas's depression and self-harm destabilize his schooling, family relationships, and father's attempts to help.
The film builds tension through emotionally forceful conversations and increasingly painful family confrontations.
The central conflicts unfold primarily through intimate family scenes involving Peter, Nicholas, Kate, and Beth.
Films like The Son, and why
Manchester by the Sea
family crisis, emotional realism, and intense parent child conflict
Ordinary People
divorce, depression, and intimate domestic melodrama centered on a struggling parent
Beautiful Boy
father son alienation, psychological distress, and emotionally demanding domestic drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Florian Zeller
- Release Date
- 2022-11-10
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (607)
Cast
- Hugh Jackman
- Zen McGrath
- Vanessa Kirby
- Laura Dern
- Anthony Hopkins
- William Hope
- George Cobell
- Felix Goddard
- Max Goddard
- Shin-Fei Chen
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV
- 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 The Son about?
- A father struggles to protect his depressed teenage son while balancing the responsibilities of a new family and the wounds of divorce.
- What is The Son like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Son as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Son violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Son as mild.
- What did critics think of The Son?
- Critics broadly found strong performances, particularly from Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern, but considered the film overblown and emotionally aggressive.
- Which films are like The Son?
- Films with a similar feel include Manchester by the Sea, Ordinary People, and Beautiful Boy.
- How long is The Son?
- The Son runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Son?
- In United States, The Son streams on Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV.
