About a Boy (2002)
75%RT Audience Score: 55%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 30 nominations total
About a Boy benefits tremendously from Hugh Grant’s layered performance, as well as a funny, moving story that tugs at the heartstrings without tilting into treacle
Even if you’re not a fan of Hugh Grant, you’ll be won over by his charm in About a Boy. The Weitz brothers manage to make a comedy that’s both funny and touching, without veering into tearjerker territory. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good Hugh Grant playboy character? But the real star of the show is the title waif, who manages to bring out the human side of Grant’s character. Plus, the catchy soundtrack and unique visual style make this movie a must-watch. So grab some popcorn and settle in for a feelgreat movie that’s sure to leave you smiling.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Lady Margaret Road, Kentish Town, London, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some thematic elements
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 12.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 40m
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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): May 17, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2003
Genre(s)
Romance
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $130,549,455
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $216,524,441
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 652
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 23,612,262
US/Canada gross: $41,385,278
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $68,640,074
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 928
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,557,630
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,193,365
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 818
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $49,756,877
Production budget ranking: 801
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $26,794,078
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $139,973,485
ROI to date (est.): 183%
ROI ranking: 672
Toni Collette – Fiona
Rachel Weisz – Rachel
Nicholas Hoult – Marcus
Isabel Brook – Angie
Sharon Small – Christine
Chris Weitz – Director, Writer
Paul We
Director(s)
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Writer(s)
Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Nick Hornby
Producer(s)
Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Brad Epstein, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 30 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (186) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (173) | Rotten (13)
Even people who don’t usually like Hugh Grant will be charmed by him in the scrappy, slightly scandalous comedy About a Boy.
February 10, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
The directors Paul and Chris Weitz — the American Pie brothers — have tried hard not to make a tearjerker, and at its best the movie is knowing and tart.
February 10, 2014
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Mainstream comedies should all be this funny and tender and deftly performed.
February 10, 2014
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
Hugh Grant hilariously redefines the word “playboy” in the first half of this film, then gets human, without losing his comic edge, under the influence of the title waif.
February 10, 2014
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
About a Boy is better than a feelgood movie, it’s a feelgreat movie — genuinely clever, affecting when you least expect it to be and funny from start to finish.
February 10, 2014
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
Compared to High Fidelity, the book and the movie, About A Boy seems resolutely uncool…. But part of growing up may be admitting that such familiar comforts can also be immensely satisfying.
February 10, 2014
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
The film has tremendous star power, added to this fact, it’s a remarkably warm and witty film, filmed with unique creativity and visual gusto, and a catchy soundtrack.
June 12, 2021
Danny Anderson
Film Inquiry
The splendid effectiveness of ‘About a Boy’ lies fully in the precise work of adaptation that the Weitz brothers make of the original text. [Full Review in Spanish]
September 4, 2019
Sergio Benítez
Espinof
In print. Hornby’s story was lapped up by women. On screen, it looks likes the worst kind of unconvincing, unfelt schmaltz, and faintly misogynist in the subordination of its female characters to the needs of its male star. Come back, Richard Curtis.
January 29, 2018
Mark Steyn
The Spectator
While the movie has some awkwardly executed scenes and slow spots… this is a comedy with a heart… It’s funny, it’s smart, it’s poignant – and it’s set on Planet Earth.
May 24, 2017
Jean Westmoore
Buffalo News
…a thoroughly average piece of work…
March 17, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
If the story gets dangerously thin, Grant is pretty well flawless. And Collette, always good, is heartbreakingly believable.
February 10, 2014
Tom Gliatto
People Magazine…
Plot
Twelve year old Marcus Brewer lives with his chronically depressed single mother, Fiona Brewer. Both Fiona and Marcus beat to their own respective drummers. Marcus will do whatever he can to make his depressed mother happy, even if it causes himself grief. As such, he realizes that he is perceived as different than most kids, as even the self-professed weird kids don’t want to hang out with him as he is the target of bullying. Part of the taunts against him are the fact that he sings and speaks to himself without even realizing that he is doing it. Meanwhile, thirty-eight year old Will Freeman is a slacker who has lived comfortably off the royalties of a song written by his deceased father, and as such has never had to work a day in his life. He is a solitary man who places himself as the first and only priority in life. He comes across the idea that dating single moms meets his selfish carnal needs. It is in this capacity that Will meets Marcus, as one of Will’s single mother conquests, Suzie, is friends with the Brewers. Trying to escape his life but wanting Will to date Fiona, Marcus infiltrates Will’s life, much to Will’s chagrin. Will slowly begins to realize that Marcus is more than just a nuisance, but rather someone who needs some guidance navigating through the trials of adolescence and the trials of dealing with a suicidal mother, and perhaps he can be a small part of providing that direction. Conversely, Marcus may be able to show Will the path to becoming a real adult.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Hugh Grant’s performance in About a Boy is described as “layered” and “endearing” by critics on Fresh Kernels.
Chris-Weitz.jpg
