The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
83%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
The inter-cutting of animation by Spawn’s creator, Todd McFarlane, doesn’t always work, but the performances by the young actors capture the pains of growing up well
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys” is a coming-of-age movie that follows a group of mischievous boys who attend a Catholic school. While some critics found the film to be too cliched and slow-moving, others praised the performances of the young actors and the inventive animated sequences by Todd McFarlane. Personally, I thought the movie was devious, delinquent, and diverting – just like the boys themselves. Vincent D’Onofrio’s performance as a priest was a highlight, but overall, the film was a fairly formulaic tale that was saved by the passion of its makers and players. If you’re looking for a serious and profound movie, this might not be it, but if you want to relive the rebellious days of your youth, “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys” is worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique Films,
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
South Carolina, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, sexual content and youth substance use
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital EX
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, drama, 2002, R, directed by Peter Care, written by Jeff Stockwell, produced by Jodie Foster, Meg LeFauve, Jay Shapiro, starring Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, Emile Hirsch, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jodie Foster, reviewed by Bill Muller, Richard Roeper, Rex Reed, James Berardinelli, Steve Davis, Desson Thomson, Mark Halverson, Pablo Villaça, Mark Sells, Michael Dequina, David Nusair, Nick Davis, box office gross $1.8M, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, flat aspect ratio, Todd McFarlane, animation, coming-of-age, rebellion, Catholic school, nun, revenge, friendship, teenage life, youth substance use, sexual content, language, Meg LeFauve, Jay Shapiro, ThinkFilm
Worldwide gross: $2,036,599
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,377,827
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,283
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 368,356
US/Canada gross: $1,815,864
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,011,724
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,937
US/Canada opening weekend: $55,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $91,221
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,967
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $19,902,751
Production budget ranking: 1,367
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $10,717,631
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$27,242,555
ROI to date (est.): -89%
ROI ranking: 1,954
Jena Malone – Margie Flynn
Emile Hirsch – Francis Doyle
Vincent D’Onofrio – Father Casey
Jodie Foster – Sister Assumpta
Jake Richardson – Wade
Director(s)
Peter Care
Writer(s)
Jeff Stockwell
Producer(s)
Jodie Foster, Meg LeFauve, Jay Shapiro
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (107) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (82) | Rotten (25)
Although McFarlane’s sequences are inventive, the rest of the film moves languidly.
June 28, 2002
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
I thought the young actors were strong, but the material is too thin and too cliched, even with Todd McFarlane’s animated sequences to stretch the story to feature length.
June 25, 2002
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
It’s not serious enough to be profound, and not ribald enough to be giddy.
June 25, 2002
Rex Reed
Observer
TOP CRITIC
While there are times when the film’s reach exceeds its grasp, the production works more often than it doesn’t.
June 24, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
June 23, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Steers refreshingly clear of the usual cliches.
June 21, 2002 | Rating: 4.5/5
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Esfora-se ao mximo para arrancar lgrimas do espectador, mas, com exceo da performance cativante de Culkin, o filme empalidece diante de tantos outros do gnero.
May 20, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
Devious, delinquent, and diverting.
November 12, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Mark Sells
Oregon Herald
A fairly formulaic ’70s-set coming-of-age tale that’s ultimately distinguished by the passion of its makers and players.
January 12, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
The only bright spot in the whole movie is Vincent D’Onofrio’s performance as a priest.
April 19, 2003 | Rating: 1/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
January 10, 2003 | Rating: A
Nick Davis
Nick’s Flick Picks…
Plot
In mid-1970s Savannah, two bright but rebellious boys, Francis Doyle and Tim Sullivan, fight boredom, hormones and harsh teachers as they struggle to find something meaningful beyond the walls of their parish school. Francis, an exceptional artist whose imaginative forays into a fictional universe of good and evil fill his notebooks with comic-book imagery, creates a netherworld of superhero alter egos for the two boys. When the ultra-strict Sister Assumpta seizes their artwork one day, the boys embark upon an obsessed trail of revenge that ultimately changes their lives.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a young Emile Hirsch and Kieran Culkin in leading roles.
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