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IMDbPro

Boys Don't Cry

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
101K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,680
41
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.

  • Director
    • Kimberly Peirce
  • Writers
    • Kimberly Peirce
    • Andy Bienen
  • Stars
    • Hilary Swank
    • Chloë Sevigny
    • Peter Sarsgaard
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    101K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,680
    41
    • Director
      • Kimberly Peirce
    • Writers
      • Kimberly Peirce
      • Andy Bienen
    • Stars
      • Hilary Swank
      • Chloë Sevigny
      • Peter Sarsgaard
    • 464User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 50 wins & 39 nominations total

    Videos1

    Boys Don't Cry
    Trailer 1:00
    Watch 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)
    Hilary Swank 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)
    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 Teena
    Chloë Sevigny
    Chloë Sevigny
    • Lana Tisdel
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • John Lotter
    Brendan Sexton III
    Brendan Sexton III
    • Tom Nissen
    Alicia Goranson
    Alicia Goranson
    • Candace
    Alison Folland
    Alison Folland
    • Kate
    Jeannetta Arnette
    Jeannetta Arnette
    • Lana's Mom
    Rob Campbell
    Rob Campbell
    • Brian
    Matt McGrath
    Matt McGrath
    • Lonny
    Cheyenne Rushing
    • Nicole
    Robert Prentiss
    • Trucker
    Josh Ridgway
    • Kwik Stop Cashier
    Craig Erickson
    • Trucker in Kwik Stop
    Stephanie Sechrist
    • April
    Jerry Haynes
    Jerry Haynes
    • Judge
    Lou Perryman
    • Sheriff
    Lisa Renee Wilson
    • Pam
    • (as Lisa Wilson)
    Jackson Kane
    • Sam Phillips
    • Director
      • Kimberly Peirce
    • Writers
      • Kimberly Peirce
      • Andy Bienen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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 Siskel & Ebert: 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 reviews464

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Powerful, thoughtful
    This is not the story of a woman living as a man, because that would imply that this woman merely dressed up and fooled people. That's not at all what's going on.

    This is the story of a male who thought male, felt male, and WAS male, but looked down at the body God gave him, and saw that of a female. It's not homosexuality, or cross-dressing. The name given to it, in the film, is Sexual Identity Crisis, but I don't really think it's a crisis. I don't think there's anything wrong with Brandon Teena, or Teena Brandon, thinking that. It is merely who he is.

    And this movie did make me think about it, and that is its success. Powerful at times, repulsive at times, those whose lives this story affected may not approve of the final film, but it can still open the eyes of people toward things in this world that they previously might not have understood... which may help the next Brandon find and keep happiness in his or her life.

    Worth seeing, but not for the weak of stomach or easily offended.
    helpful•27
    3
    • Quicksand
    • Dec 29, 1999

    Top picks

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    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
      • Dallas, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • 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
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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