Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Kernel Score: 84% · 1,426 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Drama
Released: 1999-09-02
Runtime: 118 minutes
Where to watch Boys Don't Cry
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A young transgender man explores his gender identity and searches for love in rural Nebraska.
Boys Don't Cry parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Boys Don't Cry is an R-rated drama based on the true story of a transgender man's rape and murder in rural Nebraska.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — The film depicts a real-life rape and hate-crime murder with disturbing intensity.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — Sexual assault and intimate relationships are depicted as central, difficult plot elements.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Boys Don't Cry
If you liked Boys Don't Cry, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Straw Dogs (1971) — 81%
- Midnight Cowboy (1969) — 85%
- Cleveland Abduction (2015) — 80%
- Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011) — 88%
- Friends: The Reunion (2021) — 88%
- Snack Shack (2024) — 79%
- Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog (2021) — 85%
Director
Kimberly Peirce
Cast
- Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena
- Chloë Sevigny as Lana Tisdel
- Peter Sarsgaard as John Lotter
- Brendan Sexton III as Tom Nissen
- Alicia Goranson as Candace
- Alison Folland as Kate
- Jeannetta Arnette as Lana's Mom
- Rob Campbell as Brian
- Matt McGrath as Lonny
- Cheyenne Rushing as Nicole
Boys Don't Cry FAQ
Is Boys Don't Cry good?
Boys Don't Cry has an 84% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,426 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Boys Don't Cry?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Boys Don't Cry OK for kids?
Boys Don't Cry is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Boys Don't Cry is an R-rated drama based on the true story of a transgender man's rape and murder in rural Nebraska.
What movies are like Boys Don't Cry?
If you liked Boys Don't Cry, try Straw Dogs, Midnight Cowboy, Cleveland Abduction and Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair.