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IMDbPro

Boy

  • 2010
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
28K
YOUR RATING
James Rolleston in Boy (2010)
Set on the east coast of New Zealand in the year 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old kid and devout Michael Jackson fan gets a chance to know his father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
Play trailer2:21
4 Videos
43 Photos
ComedyDrama

Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a ba... Read allBoy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.

  • Director
    • Taika Waititi
  • Writer
    • Taika Waititi
  • Stars
    • James Rolleston
    • Te Aho Eketone-Whitu
    • Taika Waititi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    28K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Taika Waititi
    • Writer
      • Taika Waititi
    • Stars
      • James Rolleston
      • Te Aho Eketone-Whitu
      • Taika Waititi
    • 82User reviews
    • 85Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 13 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos4

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch U.S. Version
    A Guide to the Work of Taika Waititi
    Clip 7:32
    Watch A Guide to the Work of Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi - Do Your Own Thing
    Clip 2:31
    Watch Taika Waititi - Do Your Own Thing
    Taika Look at the Waititi Way
    Clip 4:10
    Watch Taika Look at the Waititi Way

    Photos43

    Taika Waititi, James Rolleston, and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu in Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston in Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston in Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu in Boy (2010)
    Taika Waititi in Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston in Boy (2010)
    Te Aho Eketone-Whitu in Boy (2010)
    Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston in Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston in Boy (2010)
    Boy (2010)
    James Rolleston and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu in Boy (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Rolleston
    James Rolleston
    • Boy
    Te Aho Eketone-Whitu
    • Rocky
    Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi
    • Alamein
    Moerangi Tihore
    • Dynasty
    Cherilee Martin
    • Kelly
    RickyLee Waipuka-Russell
    • Chardonnay
    • (as Rickylee Waipuka-Russell)
    Haze Reweti
    • Dallas
    Maakariini Butler
    • Murray
    Rajvinder Eria
    • Tane
    Manihera Rangiuaia
    • Kingi
    Darcy Ray Flavell-Hudson
    • Holden
    Rachel House
    Rachel House
    • Aunty Gracey
    Waihoroi Shortland
    • Weirdo
    Cohen Holloway
    Cohen Holloway
    • Chuppa
    Pana Hema Taylor
    Pana Hema Taylor
    • Juju
    Tuhoro Ranihera Christie
    • Mr. Nepia
    Craig Hall
    Craig Hall
    • Mr. Langston
    Mavis Paenga
    • Nan
    • Director
      • Taika Waititi
    • Writer
      • Taika Waititi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Taika Waititi was less than a week away from filming when he realised the boy he had as lead wasn't working out. Three days before filming began, James Rolleston, who was hanging around on set as an extra, was given the lead by Taika Waititi.
    • Goofs
      The Goodnight Kiwi that was shown on the TV during Shutdown was the incorrect version for the period. The film used the early 1990's version with the TV2 logo at the bottom at the end. In 1984, it should have ended with the message "Goodnight from Television New Zealand".
    • Quotes

      Mr. Langston: People call me a dumb honky all the time. I don't go round punching them.

      Boy: Why not?

      Mr. Langston: Because they're usually children.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits start with the names and roles of the three main actors and this is followed by a spoof of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", incorporating elements of the original dance (as seen on the music video) and Maori Hakas.
    • Connections
      Featured in Boy: Outtakes (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Hine e Hine
      (Traditional)

      Performed by The Phoenix Foundation

    User reviews82

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Perfect! Take note Hollywood
    Beautiful, funny at times, never maudlin, coming of age for the children and adults in the film. Shot in a small town that is genuinely the town that the author/actor (father) actually grew up in. He spoke after our screening, and it was a 30 kid school house, which it still is. Actually the film is a huge success in NZ and the little community gets a small percentage of the gross, so the community is benefiting from this film.

    The film captures a time and place in history and culture. It is slow and yet the story develops and covers a lot of ground. What I especially loved is that the camera doesn't jump around like Hollywood movies, changing every 5 seconds. It stays with the character.

    Put on your list!
    helpful•41
    5
    • nyccents
    • Mar 4, 2012

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 25, 2010 (New Zealand)
    • Country of origin
      • New Zealand
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Maori
    • Also known as
      • BOY
    • Filming locations
      • Waihau Bay, New Zealand
    • Production companies
      • Whenua Films
      • Unison Films
      • New Zealand Film Production Fund
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $256,211
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $21,244
      • Mar 4, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $43,551,154
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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