--- title: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" year: 2012 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower" fi1m_score: 67 critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 21 published: "2026-09-17T00:50:48.171119+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T00:51:00.310491+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." --- # The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Directed by Stephen Chbosky · 1h 43m · MPA PG-13 · Drama **Fi1m score: 67** · Critics 65 from 21 reviews *In a sentence:* A shy boy, two seniors and a pickup truck, and the pickup truck gets the best scene > Stephen Chbosky directs his own novel with more feeling than polish. Three young leads, Ezra Miller above all, make it worth an evening; a crowded script and a hurried last act stop it being more than that. ## Synopsis A Pittsburgh suburb in the early 1990s. Charlie (Logan Lerman) starts high school with no friends, a best friend who killed himself the year before, and a habit of writing letters to a stranger. His English teacher Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) slips him paperbacks. At a football game he sits next to Patrick (Ezra Miller), a senior from his shop class, and meets Patrick’s stepsister Sam (Emma Watson). They take him to a party, to the homecoming dance, to the Friday-night Rocky Horror show run by Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman), and through a tunnel at night with the radio up. Charlie wants to belong somewhere and to keep it. ## Review Stephen Chbosky published *The Perks of Being a Wallflower* as a novel in 1999 and adapts and directs it himself, an arrangement that usually means nobody could tell him no. It has gone better than that. The film is sincere, kind to its characters and well acted by its three young leads, and it is clumsy in the ways first films are clumsy: too many subjects, a voice-over that tells us what the faces have already said, and a last twenty minutes that rush the hardest material. We liked it, joins and all. Charlie (Logan Lerman) starts high school in a Pittsburgh suburb in the early 1990s, counting the days until he can leave. His best friend killed himself the year before; his aunt Helen (Melanie Lynskey) is dead too. In shop class there is Patrick (Ezra Miller), a senior who answers back and gets nicknamed Nothing for it. Charlie sits next to him at a football game, meets his stepsister Sam (Emma Watson), and within a week has friends, a party and a homecoming dance. Lerman plays him with his shoulders up and his eyes down and lets both come down a fraction at a time. Miller is the reason to see it. Patrick is the loud one, and Miller puts a nervousness under the performance that shows only when nobody at the table is looking at him. His scenes with Johnny Simmons’s Brad, a footballer, are the most carefully written in the film. Watson has the harder job, because Sam is the girl the boy adores and the script gives her more adjectives than lines; she is better than the part. Mae Whitman’s Mary Elizabeth, the Buddhist punk who runs the Friday-night *Rocky Horror* show and decides Charlie is her boyfriend, is funny and slightly frightening, which is right. Andrew Dunn shoots it warm: brown autumn light in the corridors, lamps rather than ceiling lights in the bedrooms. Inbal Weinberg keeps Charlie’s room nearly bare, a bed and a desk and the paperbacks his English teacher Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) hands him, and covers every wall of Sam and Patrick’s house in posters and snapshots. Michael Brook’s score is quiet guitar that stays out of the way of the songs. The tunnel is the scene everyone remembers. Patrick drives, Charlie sits in the middle, and Sam climbs into the back of the pickup and stands as they go in with the radio up. Mary Jo Markey cuts between Lerman’s face in the passenger seat and Watson with her arms out and the orange lights going past, and Brook lets the song do the rest. We were got at, plainly and completely. We then spent the remaining hour wondering how three teenagers this devoted to their record collections had failed to recognise David Bowie’s “Heroes”. The trouble is quantity. Chbosky’s book gave Charlie a year and everything in it, and the film keeps nearly all of it in 103 minutes: a dead aunt, a dead friend, a sister (Nina Dobrev) whose boyfriend hits her, a first kiss, a first drug, a secret romance, and the letters to a stranger holding the pieces together. The letters, read by Lerman in a soft, careful voice, keep stepping in to explain feelings the actors have already shown us. And when the darkest of these things arrives, late, Markey cuts it as though the film has a train to catch, and it is over before we have caught up. We felt hurried. Rudd says almost nothing and it is the right amount; Kate Walsh and Dylan McDermott play the parents as decent people who do not see what is in front of them. John Hughes made this film several times in the 1980s with the sadness taken out; Chbosky has put it back and lost some of the jokes doing so. That is a fair trade for the audience the film is for, who are fifteen and will not notice the joins. For the rest of us it is a warm, honest, overstuffed evening, best watched at home with someone who once made a mixtape. *Fi1m score 67, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics like it, and almost all of them like the cast. Ezra Miller is named again and again as the standout, with Logan Lerman close behind for a lead several reviews call charming and vulnerable, and Emma Watson credited with breaking type. Reviews are warm about the film’s sincerity: Stephen Chbosky, adapting his own novel, is felt to understand his teenagers and to put the audience on their side from the first scene. The reservations cluster on familiarity. Even admirers concede the film is built from coming-of-age tropes, and the less persuaded find the voice-over and soundtrack studied, the heavy issues rushed and the direction more passionate than skilled. The spread is wide, from raves to a handful of outright dismissals. Slant calls it manipulative and condescending, The Skinny thinks the script mistakes a record collection for a personality, and The Guardian finds it cluttered and obvious. ### Reviews we read (21) - **Vulture**, David Edelstein (85/100, inferred): Chbosky captures the exquisite feeling of belonging among friends while sensing its fleeting nature and the pain of loss. The film nails teenage alienation through strong performances and a nostalgic yet pained evocation of early-90s misfit life. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2012/09/movie-review-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower.html) - **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (80/100, inferred): The film is a smartly observed study of a troubled teen’s first year in high school thanks to strong performances from its young cast. Ezra Miller in particular brings jolts of electricity to teen conversations. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-sep-20-la-et-mn-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-movie-review-20120921-story.html) - **Evening Standard** (70/100, inferred): The film is a compendium of high-school coming-of-age tropes but executes them with rare intensity, sweetness and purity. It earns its sentimentality through strong performances, especially from Ezra Miller and Emma Watson, and a convincing central trio. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-review-8199092.html) - **Film Comment**, Violet Lucca (70/100, inferred): The adaptation is more restrained than the source novel in its handling of trauma and omits some darker elements. It benefits from strong performances by the young cast and a focus on showing rather than telling Charlie's story. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-stephen-chbosky-review/) - **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): The review notes that while the film offers little new on adolescent angst, it potently captures the immediacy of teen life through strong performances and emotional observation. Ezra Miller’s turn as Patrick is highlighted as a standout for its charisma and complexity. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower/5046225.article) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (70/100, inferred): The adaptation is likable and unsurprising, serving mainly as a showcase for its young cast. Ezra Miller stands out with texture in his role as the witty gay quipster. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/movies/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-directed-by-stephen-chbosky.html) - **Total Film** (70/100, inferred): It is a decent stab at the earnestly heartfelt high-school drama, with an episodic story covering heavy teen issues and strong music references. Logan Lerman delivers a career-making turn with charm and vulnerability that will strike a chord with the intended audience. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-review/) - **The New Yorker** (60/100, inferred): Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed this adaptation of his novel about a high-school freshman befriended by two seniors. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower) - **Time Out** (3/5): The critic praises the gentle, personal debut from writer-director Stephen Chbosky for putting viewers on the side of its teenage characters from the start. Performances from Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller are singled out as particularly impressive for conveying the intensity of youthful emotions. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower) - **Variety**, Rob Nelson (60/100, inferred): The formula-hugging coming-of-age soaper benefits from memorable performances by its young trio, especially Emma Watson breaking type. First-time director Chbosky adapts his novel with more passion than skill. [Read](https://variety.com/2012/film/markets-festivals/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-1117948248/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Jordan Mintzer (55/100, inferred): The film offers some amusing insights into adolescent angst but is held back by familiar indie tropes like voice-over and a studied soundtrack, preventing it from fully coming to life. It is a heartfelt but rather generic coming-of-age dramedy. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/perks-being-a-wallflower-toronto-368762/) - **Empire**, Dan Jolin (50/100, inferred): The film is often clumsy and awkward with scrappy direction but has something that chimes, helped by the period setting and strong casting. Logan Lerman is surprisingly likable, Ezra Miller handles his role with care, and Emma Watson is all grown up and convincing. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/perks-wallflower-review/) - **The Guardian** (40/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a cluttered rite-of-passage story adapted from the director's novel, with familiar high-school elements and sensitive themes handled in a rushed manner. It is called obvious and familiar overall, though adequately acted. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/oct/07/perks-of-being-a-wallflower-review) - **Slant Magazine**, Chris Cabin (25/100, inferred): The adaptation is manipulative and condescending, relying on heavy-handed rhetoric and victimization rather than genuine artistry or joy. Chbosky fails to find the pulse of life in his characters or communicate the excitement of their experiences. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower/) - **HeyUGuys**, Joe Cunningham (4.5/5): The critic praises Chbosky for balancing the coming-of-age story authentically, highlighting strong performances especially from Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller. The film stands out for its genuine portrayal of teenage life and relationships, making it one of the best in the genre since Adventureland. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-review/) - **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (A-): The review lauds the film's authentic depiction of teenage experiences, crediting director Stephen Chbosky's understanding of the material for its nuance and emotional depth. Strong performances from the leads, particularly Logan Lerman, and a well-curated soundtrack contribute to its charm and potential as a genre classic. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-a-touching-fresh-funny-take-on-teenage-love-life-20120919/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (8.7/10): The critic calls the film the cure for clichéd indie coming-of-age stories, praising its authentic characters dealing with real issues and strong performances, especially Logan Lerman as the vulnerable Charlie. [Read](https://collider.com/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-movie-review/) - **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (80/100, inferred): Chbosky's adaptation succeeds as a sincere and convincing coming-of-age drama despite familiar tropes, with excellent performances from the lead trio elevating the material. It feels like a fresh John Hughes-style teen movie with a darker edge on mental health. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a408116/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-review-digital-spys-verdict/) - **NME**, Owen Nicholls (70/100, inferred): The film captures the highs and lows of high school effectively and avoids being overly twee, with Logan Lerman's lead performance carrying it. Chbosky adapts his own novel without major Hollywood distortions. [Read](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-a-high-school-comedy-that-escapes-tweedom-just-761415) - **The Wrap** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the coming-of-age story compelling for its young characters but notes that adults may tire of the teen angst by the final third. The film is praised for sympathetically portraying smart, troubled kids beyond stereotypes, though a key plot reveal leans on cliché. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/perks-being-wallflower-review-been-there-done-unless-youre-15-57331/) - **The Skinny**, Jamie Dunn (★★): The script mistakes a record collection for personality and relies on clichés, resulting in phoney melodrama despite fine work from the young cast. Lerman shines but the talented actors are ultimately wasted. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower) ## Details - **Director:** Stephen Chbosky - **Director:** Stephen Chbosky - **Screenplay:** Stephen Chbosky - **Cinematography:** Andrew Dunn - **Editor:** Mary Jo Markey - **Music:** Michael Brook - **Production design:** Inbal Weinberg - **Producer:** John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Lianne Halfon - **Cast:** Logan Lerman as Charlie; Emma Watson as Sam; Ezra Miller as Patrick; Mae Whitman as Mary Elizabeth; Kate Walsh as Mother; Dylan McDermott as Father; Melanie Lynskey as Aunt Helen; Nina Dobrev as Candace - **Runtime:** 1h 43m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 12 October 2012 - **Genres:** Drama - **Budget:** $13 million - **Box office:** $33 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0nTfbg24Qs ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $12.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-17.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Fi1m 75: The template Chbosky is working from, with the jokes still in and the sadness quieter. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) - *Adventureland* (2009): Another summer of mixtapes and mismatched friends, with a lighter touch on the hurt. - *Submarine* (2010): A Welsh teenager narrates his own adolescence and is far funnier about it than Charlie. - *Lady Bird* (2017), Fi1m 86: A final school year done with more economy, and a mother who actually gets scenes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/lady-bird.md) - *The 400 Blows* (1959), Fi1m 91: Where the lonely-boy film begins; Truffaut needs no voice-over to tell you how he feels. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-400-blows.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. 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