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    Boys Don't Cry

    • 19991999
    • RR
    • 1h 58min
    IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    95K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,280
    456
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Trailer
    Play trailer1:00
    1 Video
    90 Photos
    BiographyCrimeDrama

    A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.

    IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    95K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,280
    456
    • Director
      • Kimberly Peirce
    • Writers
      • Kimberly Peirce
      • Andy Bienen
    • Stars
      • Hilary Swank
      • Chloë Sevigny
      • Peter Sarsgaard
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Kimberly Peirce
    • Writers
      • Kimberly Peirce
      • Andy Bienen
    • Stars
      • Hilary Swank
      • Chloë Sevigny
      • Peter Sarsgaard
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 452User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 50 wins & 38 nominations total

    Videos1

    Boys Don't Cry
    Trailer 1:00
    Boys Don't Cry

    Photos90

    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank, Peter Sarsgaard, and Brendan Sexton III in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Chloë Sevigny and Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Kimberly Peirce in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank at an event for Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Chloë Sevigny and Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)
    Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hilary Swank
    Hilary Swank
    • Brandon Teenaas Brandon Teena
    Chloë Sevigny
    Chloë Sevigny
    • Lana Tisdelas Lana Tisdel
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • John Lotteras John Lotter
    Brendan Sexton III
    Brendan Sexton III
    • Tom Nissenas Tom Nissen
    Alicia Goranson
    Alicia Goranson
    • Candaceas Candace
    Alison Folland
    Alison Folland
    • Kateas Kate
    Jeannetta Arnette
    Jeannetta Arnette
    • Lana's Momas Lana's Mom
    Rob Campbell
    Rob Campbell
    • Brianas Brian
    Matt McGrath
    Matt McGrath
    • Lonnyas Lonny
    Cheyenne Rushing
    • Nicoleas Nicole
    Robert Prentiss
    • Truckeras Trucker
    Josh Ridgway
    • Kwik Stop Cashieras Kwik Stop Cashier
    Craig Erickson
    • Trucker in Kwik Stopas Trucker in Kwik Stop
    Stephanie Sechrist
    • Aprilas April
    Jerry Haynes
    Jerry Haynes
    • Judgeas Judge
    Lou Perryman
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    Lisa Renee Wilson
    • Pamas Pam
    • (as Lisa Wilson)
    Jackson Kane
    • Sam Phillipsas Sam Phillips
    • Director
      • Kimberly Peirce
    • Writers
      • Kimberly Peirce
      • Andy Bienen
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing, and he charms the young women, who've never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon, now that he's one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana; however, he's forgotten to mention one important detail. It's not that he's wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena was actually born a woman named Teena Brandon. When his best friends make this discovery, Brandon's life is ripped apart. —Zhe
    transgenderprejudicesexsexual assaultdrinking152 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A true story about finding the courage to be yourself.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for violence including an intense brutal rape scene, sexuality, language and drug use
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Hilary Swank was living as a man to prepare for the role of Brandon Teena, her neighbors believed that the young man coming and going from Swank's home (Swank in male character) was her visiting brother.
    • Goofs
      The court summons Candace finds in the trash can (for which Brandon traveled to Lincoln) says "Hunt County." The courthouse building that Brandon walks into to pay the traffic ticket ALSO says "Hunt County." That would mean that Brandon walked into the very same courthouse where the bench warrant was earlier issued, but the sheriff tells Brandon that "this is what the Lincoln authorities faxed us over."
    • Quotes

      Lana: Shut up. That's your business. Look, I don't care if you're half monkey or half ape, I'm gettin' you out of here.

    • Crazy credits
      A special thanks to all of the transmen and butch dykes who helped, advised and auditioned for this project and supported the process of bringing this story to the screen.
    • Alternate versions
      The USA version originally garnered an NC-17 from the MPAA. The film was cut and re-rated R. The European version reportedly is uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Double Jeopardy/Jakob the Liar/Mumford (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Just What I Needed
      Written by Ric Ocasek

      Performed by The Cars

      Published by Lido Music, Inc.

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews452

    Review
    Top review
    Sensational subject matter masking a true romance
    This is a very powerful, and in many ways very disturbing, film that ultimately lingers with me not for its sensational subject matter but for its tragic and rewarding love story. Here we have two troubled strangers, both horribly at odds with their surroundings, finding each other, falling in love despite the many factors against them, and finally becoming the victims of the perception of their love. Like many others, I was tremendously impressed by the performance of Hilary Swank but I think the glue that holds the film together and gives it amazing hope and humanity is Chloe Sevigny. She takes a role that could have easily fallen apart in a lesser actress's hands and gives it complexity and depth that goes well beyond the script. To watch her is a breathtaking journey. Watch the way she uses her face in this movie – this is an actress of remarkable expressiveness and skill! Overall, it is a very fine film that merits any serious moviegoer's rapt attention.
    helpful•60
    27
    • timking
    • Feb 24, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 31, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Fox Searchlight
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Take It Like a Man
    • Filming locations
      • Greenville, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • The Independent Film Channel Productions
      • Killer Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,540,607
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $73,720
      • Oct 10, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,540,607
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 58min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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