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IMDbPro

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  • 2012
  • PG-13
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
571K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
739
15
Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
An introverted high-school freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.
Play trailer2:26
19 Videos
99+ Photos
Coming-of-AgePsychological DramaTeen DramaDrama

Charlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend's suicide and his tumultuous past.Charlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend's suicide and his tumultuous past.Charlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend's suicide and his tumultuous past.

  • Director
    • Stephen Chbosky
  • Writer
    • Stephen Chbosky
  • Stars
    • Logan Lerman
    • Emma Watson
    • Ezra Miller
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    571K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    739
    15
    • Director
      • Stephen Chbosky
    • Writer
      • Stephen Chbosky
    • Stars
      • Logan Lerman
      • Emma Watson
      • Ezra Miller
    • 906User reviews
    • 393Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 20 wins & 51 nominations total

    Videos19

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:26
    No. 1
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower
    Trailer 2:15
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower
    Trailer 2:15
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower
    "A Toast to Charlie"
    Clip 0:47
    "A Toast to Charlie"
    The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: Let's Go Be Pyschos Together
    Clip 0:46
    The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: Let's Go Be Pyschos Together
    The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: A Toast To Charlie
    Clip 0:47
    The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: A Toast To Charlie
    The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: Come On Eileen
    Clip 0:56
    The Perks Of Being A Wallflower: Come On Eileen

    Photos211

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    + 204
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Logan Lerman
    Logan Lerman
    • Charlie
    Emma Watson
    Emma Watson
    • Sam
    Ezra Miller
    Ezra Miller
    • Patrick
    Paul Rudd
    Paul Rudd
    • Mr. Anderson
    Dylan McDermott
    Dylan McDermott
    • Father
    Kate Walsh
    Kate Walsh
    • Mother
    Patrick de Ledebur
    • Senior Bully
    Johnny Simmons
    Johnny Simmons
    • Brad
    Brian Balzerini
    • Linebacker
    Tom Kruszewski
    • Nose Tackle
    Nina Dobrev
    Nina Dobrev
    • Candace
    Nicholas Braun
    Nicholas Braun
    • Ponytail Derek
    Julia Garner
    Julia Garner
    • Susan
    Tom Savini
    Tom Savini
    • Mr. Callahan
    Emily Marie Callaway
    • Mean Freshman Girl
    • (as Emily Callaway)
    Chelsea Zhang
    Chelsea Zhang
    • Shakespeare Girl
    Jesse Scheirer
    • Freshman Boy
    Justine Nicole Schaefer
    • Twin Girl
    • (as Justine Schaefer)
    • Director
      • Stephen Chbosky
    • Writer
      • Stephen Chbosky
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews906

    7.9571K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' deeply resonates through its portrayal of adolescent struggles, mental health, and friendship. High school themes like loneliness and identity strike a chord. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller deliver authentic performances. The soundtrack and nostalgic elements enhance its appeal. Sensitive topics like abuse are handled with realism. The film is celebrated for its heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    9aleksandraj04

    my heart is full

    GOOSEBUMPS. Literal goosebumps after seeing this movie. The emotions, the music, the love, the whole vibe is immaculate. I feel like all the lost souls connect through this movie and feel blessed If you haven't watched it for the first time because you can still experience that. I love the cast and the bond between the characters. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson (girl crush) and Ezra Miller give off such a inspiring energy so you wish you were a part of their crew. This movie empties your soul and then fills it over the top. Actual 10/10 movie!! P. S. Added bonus for The Smiths, and using their song Asleep :) + Paul Rudd is in it too :)
    8ferguson-6

    We are infinite

    Greetings again from the darkness. Brace for gushing. Last evening I attended a screening that included a fascinating Q&A with writer/director Stephen Chbosky. It reminded me of how personal and intimate and observant and incisive a well-made film can be. A well written script is so refreshing, and an exceptional script can be truly breath-taking. Mr. Chbosky takes the unusual step of directing his own screenplay based on his own novel (a 1999 bestseller), and he left me stunned and enthralled.

    The popularity of the novel would typically make the film version a disappointment for its fans. Not so this time. Mr. Chbosky remains true to the spirit despite the need to edit for the sake of continuity and brevity. The key characters spring to life thanks to the efforts of four strong performances from young actors: Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson, The Three Muskateers) plays Charlie, Emma Watson (Harry Potter films) is Sam, Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin, City Island) is Patrick, and Mae Whitman (Arrested Development) is Mary Elizabeth.

    If you have read the book, you know the story ... you know the characters ... you know the themes. If you haven't read the book, I will spoil nothing. The brilliance is recognized only as you get to know these characters and slowly uncover their stories. What we discover is that, regardless of our age, we recognize these characters from our high school days. We know the introverted, observant Charlie who so desperately needs a support system. We surely recognize the attention-starved, lacking in self-esteem Sam who is the epitome of "We accept the love we think we deserve". And we all knew a Patrick ... the flamboyant one who sheaths his pain with an over-the-top act of public confidence. What Chbosky does is shine the spotlight on these characters to ensure that we really SEE them this time.

    The themes reminded me a bit of a darker John Hughes film (that's a compliment). There were also pieces of two other really good films: Stand By Me and Almost Famous. The formative years of a writer determine the depths to which his or her work will reach later in life. Admittedly, the film is substantially autobiographical, so when Mr. Chbosky says it's a personal story, we begin to understand the foundation of his remarkable writing style.

    "Welcome to the island of misfit toys." When this line is spoken, we realize that most every high school kid has thought the same thing at some point. These are painful and difficult times and as Mr. Chbosky stated, we should encourage kids to fight through this stage and get on to the next ... then able to find their true self. Clearly, the film made a strong impact on me. My favorite reaction to a movie is profound thought, and this one caused this in waves. The decision to release as PG-13 was wise. There is no excess of profanity or nudity to divert attention from what really matters ... the characters. I can think of no finer compliment to a writer and filmmaker than to cite them as the cause of my internal discussions related to their film. My hope is that you have the same reaction. (http://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/)
    8fredrikgunerius

    An homage to youth which takes the kids' problems seriously

    High school films devoid of archetypes are few and far between, and the same goes for high school films that don't adopt a goofy approach. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an exception in both categories, and still it is every bit as enjoyable as the most audience-friendly films in this subgenre. They key, I suspect, is that the director is also the screenwriter and the novelist behind the book upon which the film is based. His name is Stephen Chbosky, and he takes the problems of youth every bit as seriously as John Hughes did in The Breakfast Club in the 1980s. Based on his 1999 novel of the same name, his script is full of care for and understanding of these kids, and he's able to transfer the literary quality to the screen without making it feel contrived. He also seems to be a real actors' director, giving his wonderful cast time to blossom and develop together. There's an undeniable bond and unity between particularly the trio Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, and rarely have teenagers come across as more human and real than they do here. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a homage to youth, and a really enjoyable one at that.
    10sleepyandawake

    One of the best of 2012 so far.

    I had the pleasure of seeing Perks Of Being A Wallflower at Arclight Cinemas in LA yesterday and it was definitely worth the one hour drive.

    The story is very simple yet complicated because of how much goes on. But the way it unfolds is beautiful and sad, sometimes all at once. While it has its funny moments, it also manages to go through dark topics as well such as homosexuality, drugs and death. Stephen Chbosky handles his story very well, never feeling like it's being forced but rather it flowed nicely and carefully.

    Directing wise, it was shot very well. The cinematography is gorgeous, especially the scenes where the camera overlooks the skyline of Pittsburgh and during intimate scenes between the characters. You could not get anyone better to direct it other than the author himself because this is his book. This is his vision so he knows exactly how it goes in his head and we can see throughout the film, just how much his vision has truly come alive. The result is both engaging and satisfying.

    Same thing with the writing. The dialogue is very honest and beautifully well written. It was very fun to quote along with the movie. Not just the writing but the overall tone of the film reminds me a little bit of John Hughes' work. Adapting a epistolary book into a film is incredibly challenging but Mr. Chbosky did a fine job of translating it into a film.

    The musical score is done by Michael Brook who's also responsible for Into The Wild, another favorite of mine, and he did a very good job. In fact, one of the scores made me cry because of how it emotionally resonated with the scene it was fitting in. The soundtrack is awesome. Along with Mr. Chbosky, Alexandra Patsavas, who's also the music supervisor for The OC, did a great job of picking out the songs and treated it as if it were a mix tape.

    Logan Lerman, my god, he did a masterful job as Charlie. The character literally jumped out of the book and made its way onto the big screen. Logan's performance blew me away. He did such an amazing job portraying the embodiment of Charlie through his expressions, his emotions, his movements, everything! So perfectly cast. The last 10 minutes of the movie alone is awards worthy because it really shows how talented he really is. I fell in love with his performance. So perfect in every way.

    Emma Watson did a great job playing as Sam. She is very beautiful and charming. As for her American accent, I thought she did an okay job. There were times where you can kind of hear her British accent slip in and even though you notice it, it's nothing distracting and it didn't really bother me. But you have to give her credit for trying her best and she truly did. I enjoyed her performance very much.

    The second standout of the film is Ezra Miller! He plays Patrick, a gay character who's not afraid of who he is and Ezra portrays him amazingly well. I've seen almost all of his work, and he's becoming a great actor who's very rare in the sense that he's brave and daring in contrast to the roles he has previously played. He steals every line and scene he's in, becoming the comic relief. But even so, Patrick has his own personal problem and this is where Ezra Miller proves once again just how great of an actor he is.

    Everyone else in their supporting roles all have their moments. Nina Dobrev, who plays Candance aka Charlie's sister, did a good job. Mae Whitman as Mary Elizabeth was hilarious. Adam Hagenbuch as Bob was great. Erin Wilhelmi as Alice, Johnny Simmons as Brad and Nicholas Braun as Derek were all fine.

    The rest of the cast: Kate Walsh and Dylan McDermott who play the parents as well as Joan Cusack who plays Charlie's Doctor were all good, despite having little screen time. Melanie Lynskey did a very good job as Aunt Helen. Paul Rudd as Mr. Anderson is awesome. He's also a standout. Paul Rudd in general is a very likable actor and again, he doesn't have a lot of screen time either but he still manages to play his part memorably.

    What makes the cast so special is the chemistry. Everyone got along so well and you can tell that they're very comfortable with each other and you feel convinced that these people are really friends. It was absolutely perfect.

    I love this movie. It's amazing. And I'm not just saying this because I'm a die-hard fan of the book. It has a great script, great cast, it's well directed, awesome soundtrack and undeniable strong performances. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower may not be the most faithful adaptation but the spirit of the story is still there and it does great justice to the book. This is one of the best coming of age movies I've ever seen.
    10zahnarabai

    Not Just a High School Movie

    Went to an advance screening expecting your usual "shy kid in high school learns to stick up for himself" sort of feel-good drama. This movie is so much more than that - I was truly blown away by the mature themes and moving characters. Mental illness, sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol... I think the writer/screenwriter/director said it best in the Q+A after when he said it was a film that looked at the emotional aspects of that point in life without being sentimental. I really cared about these three teens - Charlie, Sam, and Patrick - and their story never felt cheesy. Just real, and moving, and touching. Go see this movie!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Stephen Chbosky wrote the book that the movie is based on. He also wrote the screenplay and directed the movie.
    • Goofs
      Mr. Anderson claims that it was Charles Dickens who left a character literally hanging by his fingers in a serialized story, thus contributing to the term "cliffhanger." In fact, the author was Thomas Hardy, in his 1873 serial novel A Pair of Blue Eyes.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Charlie: [voice-over] I don't know if I will have the time to write any more letters because I might be too busy trying to participate. So if this does end up being the last letter, I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school, and you helped me. Even if you didn't know what I was talking about or know someone who's gone through it, you made me not feel alone. Because I know there are people who say all these things don't happen. And there are people who forget what it's like to be 16 when they turn 17. I know these will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now these moments are not stories. This is happening. I am here and I am looking at her. And she is so beautiful. I can see it. This one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.135 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Could It Be Another Change
      Written by Sean Kelly

      Performed by The Samples

      Courtesy of W.A.R.? - What Are Records? Ltd.

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    FAQ28

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    • What did Aunt Helen do to Charlie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Las ventajas de ser invisible
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Pitt Tunnel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA(Tunnel scenes in the back of the pickup truck)
    • Production companies
      • Summit Entertainment
      • Mr. Mudd
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,742,948
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $228,359
      • Sep 23, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $33,384,127
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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