Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- passionate
- volatile
- wistful
- teen movie night
- romance double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the teen romance unusually observant and emotionally credible, praising Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez while finding some supporting writing superficial.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Carlos travels from East Los Angeles to an affluent Pacific Palisades school on scholarship, while Nicole is the daughter of a prominent congressman.
Carlos’s academic, athletic, and future ambitions come under pressure as he pursues Nicole despite warnings from friends and family.
The relationship brings Carlos’s Latino family and community into conflict with Nicole’s wealthy political family and privileged environment.
Nicole’s spoiled behavior and self-inflicted emotional numbness repeatedly destabilize her connection with Carlos.
Films like Crazy/Beautiful, and why
The Spectacular Now
teen romance shaped by class difference, racial dynamics, and emotionally volatile young lovers
All the Bright Places
grounded coming-of-age romance centered on troubled teenagers and sincere lead performances
The Last Picture Show
teen romantic drama combining socioeconomic contrast, parental pressure, and youthful intensity
Movie Details
- Director
- John Stockwell
- Release Date
- 2001-06-29
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (408)
Cast
- Kirsten Dunst
- Jay Hernandez
- Bruce Davison
- Herman Osorio
- Miguel Castro
- Tommy De La Cruz
- Rolando Molina
- Soledad St. Hilaire
- Lucinda Jenney
- Taryn Manning
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 Crazy/Beautiful about?
- A driven scholarship student risks his hard-won future for an intense romance with a privileged, self-destructive classmate.
- What is Crazy/Beautiful like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Crazy/Beautiful as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Crazy/Beautiful violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Crazy/Beautiful.
- What did critics think of Crazy/Beautiful?
- Critics generally found the teen romance unusually observant and emotionally credible, praising Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez while finding some supporting writing superficial.
- Which films are like Crazy/Beautiful?
- Films with a similar feel include The Spectacular Now, All the Bright Places, and The Last Picture Show.
- How long is Crazy/Beautiful?
- Crazy/Beautiful runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Crazy/Beautiful?
- In United States, Crazy/Beautiful is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
