---
title: "Boyhood"
year: 2014
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/boyhood"
fi1m_id: "boyhood"
imdb_id: "tt1065073"
tmdb_id: 85350
wikidata_id: "Q4103201"
fi1m_score: 88
critics_score: 90
critics_reviews: 19
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:13.597169+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."
---

# Boyhood (2014)

Directed by Richard Linklater · 2h 45m · MPA R · Drama

## Identity

Boyhood

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/boyhood
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** boyhood
- **IMDb ID:** tt1065073
- **TMDB ID:** 85350
- **Wikidata ID:** Q4103201
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065073/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/85350, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4103201

**Fi1m score: 88** · Critics 90 from 19 reviews

*In a sentence:* A boy grows up, his parents get older, and we suddenly want to look through the family photographs

> Richard Linklater’s twelve-year family drama is tender, funny and moving without pressing for tears. Its 165 minutes sometimes drift, but the changing faces of Recognising Coltrane, Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke give ordinary moments an unusual force.

## Synopsis

Mason (Recognising Coltrane) grows up in Texas as the adults around him negotiate changes of their own. Richard Linklater follows his childhood and adolescence, with Patricia Arquette playing his mother, Ethan Hawke his father and Lorelei Linklater as Samantha. The story moves through everyday encounters and shifts in family life, staying close to Mason without excluding the adults’ experiences. Filmed over twelve years with the same central cast, it allows the performers to age alongside their characters. Small incidents mark the passage of time as a boy’s view of his family and the life around him begins to change.

## Review

*Boyhood* is a moving family drama whose long production earns its place on screen; it is also a film that occasionally takes longer than it needs to. Writer-director Richard Linklater follows Mason through childhood and adolescence, letting the years pass without insisting that each one supply a major event. The same performers return across twelve years, growing older rather than handing their parts to someone else. The pleasure is in getting to know the family well enough to notice small changes for ourselves.

Recognising Coltrane gives Mason a watchfulness that suits this approach, though he is not always the most compelling person on screen. He leaves enough unsaid for us to wonder what the boy is making of the adults around him. A more insistently expressive performance might have made those feelings easier to read, but it would also have made the childhood feel tidier. Coltrane is allowed to keep something to himself, even with all this attention being paid to him.

Patricia Arquette, as his mother, gives the film its strongest performance. Frustration and affection sit close together in her acting, so that parenting feels like something being worked out under pressure rather than a settled ability. Ethan Hawke’s father is looser company, and the contrast gives the family scenes much of their humour. The adults do not simply stand by while Mason develops; watching Arquette and Hawke age makes it harder to pretend that only the child is changing.

Lee Daniel and Shane F. Kelly’s photography keeps the small changes in the performers visible without making each one an occasion for admiration. The restraint helps: a familiar face, seen clearly, gives us enough to look at. Gay Studebaker and Rodney Becker’s production design gives the everyday surroundings the same unshowy treatment. Their work helps the separate episodes feel like parts of a life being lived, with no distracting insistence on making each setting memorable.

Sandra Adair’s editing is crucial: the years can slip by before we have registered the change. She keeps the separate episodes moving without making each one explain a fresh development in Mason’s personality. We found the changing faces unexpectedly painful. Recognising Coltrane again after another jump in time means also noticing that we will not see that younger child again. Linklater gets this response from actual ageing, without needing a catastrophe to make an ordinary stretch of childhood matter.

The looseness is not always rewarding, and a few episodes depend too heavily on our existing affection for the family. Linklater sometimes gives an ordinary exchange more space than its interest can bear. We are not asking for a busier plot: the quiet scenes are often the reason to watch, but the weaker ones make us conscious of waiting for the next change. Adair cannot entirely disguise those lulls across 165 minutes.

For a coming-of-age drama, *Boyhood* gives unusual attention to what growing children ask of their parents. Arquette and Hawke make that attention worthwhile, and the film need not belong only to viewers who recognise themselves in Mason. We recommend it even to those who feel they have seen enough films about teenagers. Give it an evening when nobody is watching the clock.

*Fi1m score 88, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews are consistently positive about Boyhood, with praise centred on how Linklater turns twelve years of filming into an intimate account of ordinary family life. Most critics find that watching the cast age gives small incidents unusual emotional weight, without the need for melodrama or major milestones. The unflashy direction and gradual transitions between years draw particular admiration. Performances are another point of agreement: Arquette receives repeated praise, while Coltrane’s growth and Hawke’s contribution help make the family feel convincing.

The differences are chiefly in enthusiasm, with little outright criticism. Variety admires the naturalistic episodes but notes the lack of conventional narrative momentum. Slant Magazine is more measured than many, emphasising that the film rewards patience with perceptive everyday moments. For the more enthusiastic critics, that same willingness to let life unfold without forcing events is central to its emotional effect.

## Straight answers

**Is Boyhood worth watching?**

*Boyhood* is worth watching for anyone with a free evening and patience for a family drama that lets twelve years pass without a crisis, and we scored it 88. Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, ageing on screen as Mason's parents, give ordinary scenes an unusual force. A few episodes drift, and at 165 minutes the lulls are noticeable.

**How long is Boyhood, and what is it rated?**

*Boyhood* runs 2h 45m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a drama film.

**Where can I watch Boyhood in the US?**

*Boyhood* is streaming on Netflix, AMC+, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Boyhood, and is it suitable for children?**

*Boyhood* is not a violent or frightening film; it is a quiet drama about a Texas childhood, and its UK 15 certificate reflects adult language and situations rather than anything alarming. Younger children are ruled out by the certificate, and would find its length hard going. Teenagers of fifteen and over are its natural audience, alongside their parents.

**How does Boyhood compare to The 400 Blows?**

*Boyhood* is the warmer and looser of the two, following its watchful boy across twelve years and giving his parents almost as much attention as him, where [*The 400 Blows*](https://film.one/film/the-400-blows) stays with a neglected child whose adults rarely understand him. Truffaut's film is the tighter and the greater achievement. Linklater's is the easier company for an evening.

**What should I watch after Boyhood?**

After *Boyhood*, try [*The 400 Blows*](https://film.one/film/the-400-blows) (1959, Fi1m 91): Another watchful boy, with adults who rarely understand what he needs. Then [*Yi Yi*](https://film.one/film/yi-yi) (2000, Fi1m 92): Family life observed with patience, allowing children and adults their own uncertainties.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Little White Lies**, Vadim Rizov (4/5/5): The film is a wistful, nostalgic and perfectly judged coming-of-age story that functions as comedy, mother-son drama and a portrait of Texas life. Linklater embeds potentially heavy drama subtly while maintaining urgency and delivering cumulative emotional impact through strong performances. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/boyhood)
- **Radio Times**, Sophie Ivan (5/5): Linklater comes closer than ever to capturing the passing of time with this extraordinary film shot over 12 years, focusing on moments in between cultural milestones rather than big events. Fantastic performances, especially from Patricia Arquette, and Linklater's generosity make it an uplifting epic of the everyday. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-4qb5ab/boyhood/)
- **Time Out** (5/5): The long-game production gimmick yields an intimate, radical and unassuming film that achieves surprising depth by letting years unfold in near-three-hour flow. It retrains viewers to let life unfold without melodramatic expectations, proving unshakable, witty and deeply felt. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/us/film/boyhood)
- **Empire**, Liz Moody (90/100, inferred): Linklater’s gamble pays off in an absolute gem, possibly the director’s masterpiece to date, tender, funny, wise and wistful. The critic singles out the timelapse photography of a human being and the cast’s convincing evolution across years as the film’s extraordinary achievement. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/boyhood-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (90/100, inferred): Boyhood is a film like no other and the best released so far that year, a genuine epic that reveals existence in time as the greatest subject. The critic singles out the real-time ageing of the cast as deeply moving and revelatory compared to typical movie ageing techniques. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/boyhood-film-review-richard-linklaters-family-portrait-looks-like-a-classic-already-9599314.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a startling, intimate portrait of a life unfolding through ordinary moments across 12 years. She praises Coltrane’s remarkable performance as the emotional glue, noting how seamlessly the time transitions and details capture growth and change. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-boyhood-review-20140711-column.html)
- **The Independent**, Sophie Ivan (90/100, inferred): Boyhood is a glorious culmination of Linklater’s past work, an epic of the everyday that captures how phases of life bleed into one another. The critic singles out its time-lapse approach to a boy’s ordinary experiences as making it feel like nature documentary, leaving the viewer awestruck. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/boyhood-the-boy-that-grows-up-before-our-very-eyes-9571103.html)
- **IndieWire**, Eric Kohn (85/100, inferred): The 12-year production is an ambitious and ultimately successful experiment that captures the passage of time with remarkable authenticity. Linklater's approach yields a film that feels both intimate and expansive in its portrayal of ordinary life. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/sundance-review-was-richard-linklaters-12-year-production-boyhood-worth-the-wait-in-a-word-yes-31070/)
- **Total Film**, Matt Glasby (85/100, inferred): Boyhood is a work of unprecedented scope and sensitivity that overwhelms the viewer with snapshots of a life unfolding in real time. The critic singles out the real ageing and growth of the performers as making the film feel like watching an actual person rather than actors. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/boyhood-review/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (80/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as an unprecedented experiment in long-term storytelling that resists artificial drama in favor of the passage of time. He singles out its uncanny time-capsule quality and naturalistic vignettes while noting the lack of conventional narrative thrust. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-boyhood-1201064902/)
- **Vulture** (80/100, inferred): The film makes the passage of real time visible and central through its unique production, creating a powerful cumulative effect on the viewer. Strong performances, especially from Arquette and Hawke, anchor the episodic story of a boy's growth amid family changes. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/07/movie-review-boyhood-richard-linklater.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (75/100, inferred): Linklater's experiment in filming over 12 years produces an empathetic, naturalistic portrait of maturation that rewards patience with insightful moments. The film balances its thematic focus on time and growth with everyday incidents that feel authentic and resonant. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/boyhood/)
- **Sight and Sound**, Ashley Clark: Linklater's film follows one boy from age six to 18 over 12 years of shooting with the same cast, resulting in a quiet, tender study of everyday moments and subtle life changes rather than dramatic milestones. The critic praises its minimalism, micro-details and the way it evokes the passage of time through small visual shifts. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-boyhood)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: Linklater has created a beautiful, mysterious time-lapse study of a boy growing from age five to 18 that is one of the great films of the decade. The film triumphs by depicting the enigma of what the boy is thinking and feeling while showing how parents are continually estranged from their children's rapid growth. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/10/boyhood-review-richard-linklater-film)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (Critic's Pick): The critic hails Linklater’s film as a model of cinematic realism for its profound embrace of time’s passage over 12 years. She singles out the understated, jolting realism in everyday family moments and the way the film captures fleeting beauty without artificial drama. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/movies/movie-review-linklaters-boyhood-is-a-model-of-cinematic-realism.html)
- **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (5/5): The critic praises Linklater's daring approach of filming over 12 years with the same cast, resulting in a profound film about the passage of time and family life. Arquette's performance as the mother is highlighted as a revelation, capturing the mix of frustration and joy in parenting. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/boyhood-review-2/)
- **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (5/5): The critic calls Boyhood a masterpiece and the definitive coming-of-age film, crediting its unique production for capturing the rollercoaster of growing up with emotional depth and cultural touchstones. Universal appeal and standout performances from the core cast are singled out. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a575969/boyhood-review-richard-linklaters-masterpiece-12-years-in-the-making/)
- **Paste**, Tim Grierson (9.8/10): The critic praises Linklater's innovative approach to time, capturing a boy's maturation through everyday incidents without melodrama. It excels in its generous, observant portrayal of life, family dynamics, and personal growth. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/boyhood/boyhood-2014-sundance-review)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A): The critic hails the film as a miracle and masterpiece for its authentic depiction of a boy's life unfolding over twelve years through ordinary moments. It stands out for making viewers reflect on their own experiences of time and family. [Read](https://collider.com/boyhood-movie-review/)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (90/100, inferred): The critic praises Linklater's unique method of filming over 12 years so the cast ages naturally, resulting in an organic, heartfelt portrait of family life and growing up. They single out the empathetic, unflashy direction that captures the mundane moments and passage of time without relying on conventional dramatic beats. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/boyhood-review-richard-linklater-ethan-hawke-patricia-arquette/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Adam Lowes (85/100, inferred): The critic calls Boyhood a bravura effort and labour of love that compels reflection on one's own life and the swift passage of time. They single out the real physical transformation of the lead actor and the risky long-term production process that succeeded despite the odds. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/boyhood-glorious-gamble/)
- **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (B+): The critic describes Boyhood as a groundbreaking, warm, soulful, funny and quietly insightful time capsule that is a special achievement. They praise its experiential understanding of small intimate moments over 12 years and the cumulative emotional power that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-richard-linklaters-boyhood-is-a-remarkable-time-spanning-achievement-20140709/)

## Details

- **Director:** Richard Linklater
- **Director:** Richard Linklater
- **Writer:** Richard Linklater
- **Cinematography:** Lee Daniel, Shane F. Kelly
- **Editor:** Sandra Adair
- **Production design:** Rodney Becker, Gay Studebaker
- **Costume design:** Kari Perkins
- **Producer:** Cathleen Sutherland, Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring
- **Cast:** Ellar Coltrane as Mason; Patricia Arquette as Mom; Ethan Hawke as Dad; Lorelei Linklater as Samantha; Libby Villari as Grandma; Marco Perella as Professor Bill Welbrock; Brad Hawkins as Jim; Jamie Howard as Mindy
- **Runtime:** 2h 45m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 15 August 2014
- **Genres:** Drama
- **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2014); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Winner, 2014); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Winner, 2014)
- **Budget:** $4 million
- **Box office:** $48 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-mbHXyWX4

## Where to watch in the US

- Netflix: streaming
- AMC+: streaming
- The Roku Channel: free, hd
- Tubi: free, hd
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd
- Apple TV: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $9.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2015: Best Director (nominated); Best Film Editing (nominated); Best Picture (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Supporting Actress (won)
- BAFTA Film Awards 2015: Best Film (won)
- Dorian Award for Film of the Year 2014: Dorian Award for Film of the Year (won)
- FIPRESCI Grand Prix 2014: FIPRESCI Grand Prix (won)

## If you liked this

- *The 400 Blows* (1959), Fi1m 91: Another watchful boy, with adults who rarely understand what he needs — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-400-blows.md)
- *Yi Yi* (2000), Fi1m 92: Family life observed with patience, allowing children and adults their own uncertainties — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/yi-yi.md)
- *Our Little Sister* (2015): A quieter family drama that finds feeling in routines and shared spaces
- *20th Century Women* (2016): For the mother’s part in growing up, given the attention it deserves
- *The Long Day Closes* (1992): Childhood recalled through music, family and the details that stay with us

---
© 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/boyhood