Boys State (2020)
94%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Primetime Emmy
16 wins & 24 nominations total
Startling, upsetting, and overall absorbing, Boys State strikingly depicts American political divisions — and machinations — taking root in the next generation.
Boys State is like a political Hunger Games, but instead of fighting to the death, these teenage boys are fighting for votes. It’s both fascinating and terrifying to watch these young minds navigate the complexities of American democracy, and it’s a reminder that the future of our country is in their hands. The documentary is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the inner workings of politics and the power of youth. Plus, it’s a great way to feel better about your own high school experience – at least you weren’t running for governor at 17!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, and thematic elements
Year of Release
2020
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 14, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, politics, American democracy, teenage boys, representative government, Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss, directed by, produced by, Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan Silberberg, reviewed by, PG-13, box office performance, budget, critic names, producer names, MPAA rating, Boys State, documentary, English, 1h 49m, Neptune Frost, 18 1/2, H.P Lovecraft’s Witch House, 11th Hour Cleaning, Sh*t Saves the World, Stay Prayed Up, Final Caller, Girl in the Picture, Hello, Goodbye, Everything in Between, Confessions from the Hart, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Road to Galena, Incantation, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play, actor names, director names, writer names, genre, producer names
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jesse Moss – Director
Jesse Moss – Producer
Amanda McBaine – Producer
Davis Guggenheim – Executive Producer
Jonathan Silberberg – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Primetime Emmy
16 wins & 24 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (146) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (138) | Rotten (8)
Cinema has been noticeably light recently on blockbuster spectacle, but the sight of this malleable young man learning about himself in real time as the camera rolls can feel as wondrous as any special effects.
November 11, 2020
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
The experience is perfectly setting these kids up for what American democracy is — it’s about winning and losing, your party’s success… Boys State, as a chronicle of this experience, accurately then also focuses on winning and losing.
August 28, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Adam Kempenaar
Filmspotting
TOP CRITIC
The documentary about a political boot camp is a depressingly accurate microcosm of the American electoral circus…helpful-if only as a cautionary tale about what extracurriculars not to enroll your kids in.
August 25, 2020
Jo Livingstone
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Boys State has noble aims when it comes to teaching teenagers how their leaders are chosen and held accountable, but Boys State shows that those aims can only do so much to keep the uglier side of that process at bay.
August 24, 2020 | Rating: B
Erik Adams
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
“Boys State” is a remarkable glimpse at the state of politics today.
August 21, 2020 | Rating: B+
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
A nagging absence buzzes throughout nearly the entire film, distracting the viewer from the substance, however engaging, of what’s onscreen.
August 21, 2020
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Its perspective is keenly intimate, yet at the same time, provides a commentary about the vast intricacies of the political landscape that reaches into areas with far dire consequences.
June 5, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
Humanity is addicted to competition, at its core this is what makes Boys State entertaining. But its true power relies on the critical analysis of these young boys’ minds. [Full review in Spanish]
October 22, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio
A fascinating look at the leaders of tomorrow — for better or for worse.
August 10, 2021 | Rating: A-
Kip Mooney
Central Track
Boys State is capable of enraging, elating and entertaining all at once.
June 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Beth Webb
NME
Boys State is an exceptional documentary that captures something so absorbing and sublime that it feels like all of it is staged.
May 25, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Shikhar Verma
High on Films
A documentary that can be devastating for some and inconsequential for others. [Full review in Spanish]
March 30, 2021
Alejandro Alemán
El Universal…
Plot
Boys State is a documentary that follows 1,100 teenage boys from across Texas as they come together to build a representative government from the ground up.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
One of the directors of Boys State is named Amanda McBaine.
Amanda-McBaine.jpg
