Beautiful Boy (2018)
Kernel Score: 86% · 2,817 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 2018-10-12
Runtime: 121 minutes
Is Beautiful Boy worth watching?
Worth watching. A sincere, painful look at a father trying to save his addicted son, carried by strong performances from Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. It's moving, but the jumpy structure can keep you at arm's length.
Watch it if you
- want a serious family drama about addiction
- like actor-driven true stories
- can sit with sad material
Skip it if you
- want a hopeful, tidy recovery story
- find repeated relapse stories draining
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Beautiful Boy
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: Prime Video (free with ads), Amazon MX Player
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
After he and his first wife separate, journalist David Sheff struggles to help their teenage son, who goes from experimenting with drugs to becoming devastatingly addicted to methamphetamine.
Beautiful Boy parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Beautiful Boy is an R-rated true-story drama about a father's struggle to help his teenage son through devastating methamphetamine addiction.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Intense — Central focus on drug addiction, specifically methamphetamine use, relapse, and rehabilitation.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Beautiful Boy
If you liked Beautiful Boy, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Honey Boy (2019) — 79%: Another painful father-son story drawn from real life.
- Requiem for a Dream (2000) — 89%: A far harsher, more nightmarish look at addiction.
- Trainspotting (1996) — 88%: Addiction with energy and dark humour, a sharper tone.
- The Basketball Diaries (1995) — 84%: A young man's slide into addiction, adapted from a memoir.
- The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012) — 88%: A family tested by heartbreak, with strong emotional payoff.
- This Boy's Life (1993) — 78%: A strained parent-child bond in a memoir-based drama.
Director
Cast
- Steve Carell as David Sheff
- Timothée Chalamet as Nic Sheff
- Maura Tierney as Karen Barbour
- Amy Ryan as Vicki Sheff
- Christian Convery as Jasper Sheff
- Oakley Bull as Daisy Sheff
- Kaitlyn Dever as Lauren
- Stefanie Scott as Julia
- Julian Works as Gack
- Jack Dylan Grazer as 12-Year-Old Nic Sheff
Beautiful Boy FAQ
Is Beautiful Boy worth watching?
Worth watching. A sincere, painful look at a father trying to save his addicted son, carried by strong performances from Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. It's moving, but the jumpy structure can keep you at arm's length.
Where can I watch Beautiful Boy?
In the US you can stream Beautiful Boy on Prime Video and watch it free with ads on Prime Video (free with ads) and Amazon MX Player.
Is Beautiful Boy OK for kids?
Beautiful Boy is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Beautiful Boy is an R-rated true-story drama about a father's struggle to help his teenage son through devastating methamphetamine addiction.
What movies are like Beautiful Boy?
If you liked Beautiful Boy, try Honey Boy, Requiem for a Dream, Trainspotting and The Basketball Diaries.