--- title: "American Honey" year: 2016 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/american-honey" fi1m_score: 81 critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 26 published: "2026-09-17T08:34:07.806083+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T08:34:08.302843+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # American Honey (2016) Directed by Andrea Arnold · 2h 43m · MPA R · Drama **Fi1m score: 81** · Critics 73 from 26 reviews *In a sentence:* A travelling magazine sales crew turns out to be better company than that sounds > Andrea Arnold’s rambling road drama is worth the time it asks for, chiefly because Sasha Lane makes Star so difficult to leave. The music and roadside encounters carry it through stretches that could use a firmer edit. ## Synopsis Eighteen-year-old runaway Star (Sasha Lane) joins a travelling crew of young people selling magazines across the United States. Her new life brings her into the company of Jake (Shia LaBeouf) and Krystal (Riley Keough). Star is looking for an escape and somewhere to belong, but life on the road still means finding money and approaching strangers to make a sale. Between stretches of work, the group travels and parties together, and Star finds herself drawn to Jake. She has left familiar surroundings for people she barely knows, with little certainty about where the journey will take her. ## Review Andrea Arnold gives *American Honey* enough time for a travelling sales crew to become people whose company we enjoy, resent and then seek out again. This is a generous, absorbing drama, with a central performance that holds our attention when the journey begins to repeat itself. Star joins other young people selling magazines across America, and the film follows the work, the partying and the unsettled business of finding somewhere to belong. At 163 minutes, it gives those activities more room than they all need. Sasha Lane plays Star with a directness that makes the sales-crew premise feel secondary almost at once. We want to know what this young woman makes of the people around her, especially Jake, played by Shia LaBeouf. Their attraction gives the wandering story something to keep returning to, and his confidence is useful beside her less guarded presence. Star can be impulsive without becoming merely a collection of rash decisions; the performance keeps us interested in the person making them. Robbie Ryan’s 4:3 photography keeps the people prominent even when the road seems to offer an unlimited view. Faces and landscapes get the same close attention, and the recurring images of insects make us notice how much small life surrounds this restless human party. The beauty sometimes risks making deprivation too easy to look at. Mostly, though, the attention feels respectful: these young people are allowed to look alive and desirable, rather than being photographed solely as evidence of somebody else’s neglect. Kelly McGehee’s production design makes the glimpses of domestic life feel inhabited, helping the sales encounters establish differences in how people live. A sales call brings the young crew up against other people’s circumstances, and those encounters give the journey much of its interest beyond Star’s immediate concerns. Andrea Arnold’s writing understands that freedom on the road has practical limits: somebody still has to buy a magazine. Money remains a concern even when the group is enjoying itself. The music is where the group most readily makes sense. During the partying, a shared song can give these young sellers an ease with one another that their work cannot supply. We were moved by their pleasure in being together; the music makes it possible to understand why Star wants a place among them. Andrea Arnold allows that pleasure time to register, and the film is often most persuasive when nobody is required to explain themselves. Joe Bini’s editing is patient about letting an encounter develop, and that patience accounts for much of the film’s appeal. It also allows too many stretches of travelling and partying to do much the same job. Once we understand how this group passes its time, another stretch of it needs to tell us something new, and not every one does. The recurring contrast between grime and natural beauty becomes predictable too, making some of those carefully observed images less affecting through repetition. A road film does not owe us a tidy arrival, but it does have to make the travelling worthwhile. *American Honey* earns its detours through our interest in Star, even when we wish it would get on with things. Anyone needing a brisk plot should choose something shorter. We would happily spend another evening with her. *Fi1m score 81, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to American Honey, praising Arnold’s feel for youthful energy and the lives of young outsiders travelling across America. Sasha Lane’s naturalistic lead performance draws the most consistent admiration, with Shia LaBeouf and the largely non-professional cast also earning praise. The reviews repeatedly single out the photography, roadside observations and use of music, finding that these give the loosely plotted journey emotional force and a convincing sense of life within the sales crew. The spread is wide, however, and length is the recurring reservation even among admirers. Some find the wandering structure absorbing; others see repetition, thin characterisation and too little narrative drive to sustain it. The sharper objections go beyond pacing: Slant Magazine argues that the film makes poverty attractive without examining it sufficiently, while HeyUGuys finds that the wealth of striking images cannot compensate for the tedium. ### Reviews we read (26) - **The Telegraph** (5/5): The review praises the scuzzy road movie for its raw vitality and non-professional cast, highlighting Sasha Lane’s magnetic performance and Arnold’s remarkable capture of roadside America. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/05/15/american-honey-review---shia-labeouf-has-never-looked-worse-or-a/) - **The Guardian**, Mark Kermode (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film dazzling and Arnold’s best since Red Road. It mixes social-realist grit with natural beauty in a road movie about a young woman joining a travelling magazine-selling crew. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/16/american-honey-review-mark-kermode) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (90/100, inferred): A captivating film that merges vérité and fiction styles through nonprofessional actors, expanding the medium with its magnetic realism. It singles out the remarkable performances of newcomer Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf for praise. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2016/09/movie-review-american-honey.html) - **Sight and Sound**, Pamela Hutchinson (85/100, inferred): The critic praises Arnold's class-conscious road movie for its glistening portrait of American inequality and youthful energy, highlighting the beautiful cinematography and strong performances, especially Sasha Lane's naturalistic turn as Star. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-american-honey) - **Variety**, Guy Lodge (85/100, inferred): The review describes a ravishing blend of feminine picaresque and musical that commits to loose narrative across its long runtime, constantly active and engrossing. It singles out the camera-magnetizing lead performance and specific details of home life. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/american-honey-review-shia-labeouf-1201774708/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it a wild, rambling and astonishingly beautiful epic of the open road that deconstructs the romance of the journey while celebrating its heroine's incandescence. It notes patchy plotting and longueurs are intentional but may test patience. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-american-honey-review-20160926-snap-story.html) - **Radio Times**, Damon Wise (4/5): The critic hails it as an exhilarating celebration of modern youth and a heady, intoxicating experience, praising Arnold's work with actors and the blend of hedonism with sharp vignettes. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-snl5yd/american-honey/) - **Empire**, Helen O'Hara (75/100, inferred): Arnold excels at portraying youthful passion and deprivation through a newcomer’s eyes amid a chaotic road crew. The film is a little too long but held by Lane’s charisma, striking visuals and the intensity of young love. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/american-honey-review/) - **The Independent** (75/100, inferred): The film is a structure-less but graceful road movie full of observational details and lyricism about young outsiders selling magazines across the US. It is original and rewarding despite its length and episodic nature. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/american-honey-cannes-festival-film-review-a-rich-and-rewarding-reworking-of-the-road-movie-a7032591.html) - **Film Comment**, Paula Mejía (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a sprawling, immersive portrait of America through the eyes of its young characters on a rambling road trip. It excels in making viewers connect deeply with the protagonists' experiences and emotions over its long runtime. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/american-honey-andrea-arnold-review/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (70/100, inferred): An immersive road movie about a teen runaway joining a traveling youth sales crew that is bound to be divisive due to its baggy length and lack of narrative incident, yet ultimately penetrating. It singles out the exhilarating use of music and startling nature images for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/american-honey-cannes-review-894128/) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (70/100, inferred): The review finds the film a picaresque with ravening observation of American sights and insects, centered on an 18-year-old's road adventures. It notes the mashup of grime and epiphany becomes somewhat shtick-like, pulling the viewer in less sharply than prior work. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/american-honey-and-deepwater-horizon-reviews) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (Critic's Pick): The critic praises the film's roaming, sensual road picture that probes American life through youthful recklessness and ignorance. It highlights Arnold's empathetic curiosity about her female protagonist's inner life amid a rambling narrative. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/movies/american-honey-review-andrea-arnold.html) - **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (60/100, inferred): Sasha Lane is luminous and makes the film as the newcomer who joins the rowdy crew, but the nearly three-hour road trip lacks plot or closure beyond endless partying and music. The cinematography is remarkable but the focus on youth is ultimately thin. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/american-honey-film-review-forget-shia-labeouf-sasha-lane-is-the-star-a3369066.html) - **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): The critic describes it as an ambitious but episodic and overlong experimental travelogue with terrific visuals, noting its energy but lack of narrative drive, and highlights the quasi-documentary feel and social themes. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/american-honey-cannes-review/5103945.article) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (3/5): The critic finds many extraordinary moments and energy in Arnold's road movie but notes it's flawed, overlong, patchy and rambling, praising the in-the-moment teenage energy and social commentary while complaining about lack of narrative drive. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/american-honey) - **Slant Magazine**, Steve Macfarlane (30/100, inferred): A bombastic, drugged-out travelogue that aestheticizes poverty and indulges in unsubtle set pieces without much narrative accountability or analysis. It singles out the director's tactility and the cast's dynamism as partial strengths amid the flaws. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/american-honey/) - **/Film**, Jacob Hall (9.5/10): Arnold's empathetic, deeply moving masterpiece is a 163-minute odyssey through America's overlooked heartland, powered by raw performances especially from Sasha Lane and powered by empathy for the forgotten. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/546730/american-honey-review/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): The critic hails it as one of the year's best, a wildly satisfying road picture and true original with gorgeous cinematography. They single out Shia LaBeouf's best screen role to date and the palpable chemistry with newcomer Sasha Lane. [Read](https://deadline.com/2016/09/american-honey-review-shia-labeouf-sasha-lane-cannes-1201825438/) - **Paste**, Tim Grierson (9.5): The critic describes the film as utterly absorbing and intensely moving, a bold societal portrait of a vibrant, troubled America found through the eyes of its young characters. They praise the kinetic energy, the compassion for the misfits, and standout performances from the mostly non-professional cast, especially newcomer Sasha Lane. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/american-honey) - **The Playlist**, Jessica Kiang (B+/A-): Arnold distills the essence of youth into a glorious, propulsive, nectar-hued experience of aimlessness, love and music, with stunning imagery and Lane's riveting performance capturing its ephemerality and beauty. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/andrea-arnolds-american-honey-nectar-hued-poignant-propulsive-review-20160928/) - **Consequence** (85/100, inferred): The critic calls the film one of the year's great movies, praising its seductive yet rueful portrait of uninhibited youth and the fatalism of their world. They single out the striking photography in the 4:3 ratio and the lead performances, especially Sasha Lane's maturation and Shia LaBeouf's confident turn. [Read](https://consequence.net/2016/09/film-review-american-honey/) - **The Skinny**, Joseph Walsh (4/5): The review describes the film as a sensual and rapturous road trip that bursts with youthful energy and life from the opening scenes. It singles out the standout debut performance by Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf's career-best work as key highlights. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/american-honey) - **The Wrap**, Ben Croll (50/100, inferred): The critic finds a great movie buried in the overlong film, which overstays its welcome at nearly three hours. They praise Arnold's visual riches and caramel-hued compositions of faces and landscapes. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/american-honey-cannes-review-its-a-long-days-journey-into-the-american-night/) - **Eye for Film**, Richard Mowe (40/100, inferred): Arnold's road trip is full of passing vistas, lyricism, raw sex and emotions building a portrait of youths bonding to survive, with strong turns from LaBeouf and newcomer Lane, but the drifters fail to engage enough to sustain the marathon runtime. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/american-honey-2016-film-review-by-richard-mowe) - **HeyUGuys**, Jo-Ann Titmarsh (1/5): The film teems with amazing shots thanks to Arnold's eye but the visual delights are not enough to hold the lengthy and ultimately tedious film together. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/american-honey-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Andrea Arnold - **Director:** Andrea Arnold - **Writer:** Andrea Arnold - **Cinematography:** Robbie Ryan - **Editor:** Joe Bini - **Production design:** Kelly McGehee - **Costume design:** Alex Bovaird - **Producer:** Alice Weinberg, Pouya Shahbazian, Thomas Benski - **Cast:** Sasha Lane as Star; Shia LaBeouf as Jake; Riley Keough as Krystal; Arielle Holmes as Pagan; McCaul Lombardi as Corey; Crystal Ice as Katness; Veronica Ezell as QT; Raymond Coalson as JJ - **Runtime:** 2h 43m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 30 September 2016 - **Genres:** Drama - **Budget:** $4 million - **Box office:** $2 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1SpWZm1PLc ## Where to watch in the US - Tubi: free - Amazon Prime Video: rent $2.99, sd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, sd - Apple TV: buy $12.99, sd *Checked 2026-09-17.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, IE, IT, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PL, PT, SE, TH, UA, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Fish Tank* (2009), Fi1m 85: Andrea Arnold follows another young woman’s desires without making her easy to dismiss. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/fish-tank.md) - *The Florida Project* (2017), Fi1m 88: Childhood pleasures persist beside poverty, with close attention to the people usually overlooked. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-florida-project.md) - *Vagabond* (1985), Fi1m 90: A tougher journey with a young drifter, offering less reassurance about the road. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/vagabond.md) - *Linda Linda Linda* (2005): Young musicians find companionship through rehearsals, with more quiet humour and fewer sales targets. - *Alice in the Cities* (1974): A quieter journey through America, attentive to strangers and the pauses between destinations. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/american-honey