Julie Walters, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven

The life of a miner's son in Northern England is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class on his way to boxing lessons. Joining the class and keeping it a secret from his widowed f...( read more  read more... )ather and overbearing brother, 11-year-old Billy finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class's exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. She encourages him to try out for the Royal Ballet. But when his father and brother find out and forbid him to continue, Billy is torn between his responsibility to his family and to the gift with which he has been blessed. His overwhelming desire to dance has become much more to him that simply a means of self-expression. It is his passion and it is his destiny.

Flixster Users

82% liked it

110,959 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

112 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Stephen Daldry

Release Date: November 3, 2000

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: April 17, 2001

Get It:

Stats: 7,423 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (7,423)


  • October 15, 2009
    "Inside every one of us is a special talent waiting to come out. The trick is finding it."

    A talented young boy becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family.

    REVIEW
    ...( read more)ont>
    The much lauded and nominated film "Billy Elliott" is a slice of life flick about an 11 year old English boy who, to the dismay of his motherless working class coal mining family, chooses ballet over boxing as a pastime. The film is technically excellent, artistically well done, and follows the traditions of Hollywood film-making. The story is a pleasant mix of humor and pathos, not too deep, and palatable enough to make it an audience favorite. In addition to being just plain fun to watch, "Billy Elliot" makes a few points about accepting people for who they are; about the undeniability of innate passion by artists; and about the sublimation of aggression through dance. Kudos to the choreographer and Bell for some fun to watch and never seen before kookie, kid-like mixes of jazz, tap, ballet, and jigs.
  • September 23, 2009
    Jamie Bell is really good but he's the only reason to watch, it?s very overrated and a bit of an unfair portrayal of our friends up North. Oh, and the Middlesboro transporter bridge is in Middlesboro, not Newcastle!
  • September 4, 2009
    What most people remember the most about this film is when Tony starts reading Billy the riot act about dancing, then Billy starts getting pissed and releases his anger by dancing all around the neighborhood to The Jam's "Town Called Malice". Or...maybe when Sean Hayes danced aro...( read more)und the SNL studio in the same matter? Either way, the movie is about a boy who, after getting floored one too many times in the boxing ring, decides to give ballet dancing a try and ends up liking it enough to start studying seriously. It's also about a family trying to cope with the son's fascination with dancing and a miner's strike. A great movie, though not a family film since the language tends to stay a bit rough throughout.
  • August 27, 2009
    I thought it would be better. The little boy was adorable, but the movie seemed kinda choppy to me. The story seemed a little thrown together.
  • June 26, 2009
    A heartwarming funny film
  • October 30, 2009
    A movie about a little boy discovers of his special talent and his fight against social norms. I know that English friends don't like this movie because It's shown Newcastle like a shit hole. But I think it's not because of the director's thoughts about Newcastle. It was just a b...( read more)ackground for the portrait of a pearl in mud. Some good performances. But I would like to see the reason why miners strike! And some brief about Thatchers policy of that years to understand circumstances well.
  • October 30, 2009
    silly elliot mopre like it
  • October 28, 2009
    Comercial or Stupid! :|
  • October 22, 2009
    Una historia increible de determinación y esperanza.
    Billy Elliot es un niño comun, que practica boxeo solo para complacer a su padre, hasta que un dia por accidente se topa con el ballet, y desde ese momento su vida cambia por completo.
    El final es en mi opinión uno de los mejor...( read more)es que he visto, te quita el aire por lo inspirador que es.
  • October 17, 2009
    non è assolutamente questo filmone tanto decantato...

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Real and consequential. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Julie Walters ... is spirited and colorful as the ballet teacher, and Gary Lewis is somehow convincing as the dad even when the screenplay requires him to make big offscreen swings of position. full review

January 1, 2000
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

One of those movies where it's impossible not to find yourself cheering for the scruffy underdog hero.

View more Billy Elliot reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • pavacri23
    May 27, 2008
    this movie is agreat movie. this one is one of the few movies that i just watched once, but i can remeber the whole movie because it touched in a big way.
  • BloodStainedKisses
    March 22, 2008
    I bum Jamie Bell, I Bum Billy Elliot, I Bum every single fiulm he has everbeen in i have all of them :) can't wait till jumper is out on DVD i have seen it 6 times :) 7 on wednesday wen i go :) And yes i am OBSESSED! :D He is gorgeous!!!! ♥
  • sportboy
    February 21, 2008
    Well I haven't watched it but it seems quite good it seems like a sad ending by the look of the film but I don't now.
  • marthahappyface
    January 6, 2008
    Billy Elliot is my favorite movie

    i like it a lot!!!

    i can see it many times every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    i love Jaime Bell
  • chellnevie26
    August 23, 2007
    BILLY LOVES DEBBIE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    uh yeah
    thats right
    this movie was pretty good, but did billy turn gay or get with debbie?????????
    nobody knows.................................
  • lushesamie
    July 12, 2007
    this is one of the best films ive ever seen i would recomend this film to my friends and the music is fab especially the t.rex songs
  • Snortles
    March 18, 2007
    I was amazed how Jamie Bell was able to carry this whole movie at his young age then. This is an actor to keep an eye on for great performances in the future.
  • JennyCrowden12
    November 15, 2006
    if you think he is good at the age of 14, go n c billy elliot the musical there all young or luk on you tube n type liam mower or billy elliot the musical, there only like 12 in the show
  • LiTTLeJuS
    October 16, 2006
    I LOVE THE MOVIE OF BILLY ELLIOT HE IS A GOOD KID FITING FOR A DREAM I DON'T THINK THAT A BOY THAT DANCE BALLET IS BAD I THINK IS ART AND JAMIE BELL WITH JUST 14 YEARS OLD IS REALLY GOOD IN THIS MOVIE...................
  • sarness
    October 8, 2006
    OMG when I saw this movie at the end I didn't know what to said! it was so beautifull, I watched it like 3 times and I would watch it again :D
    Sara x x x

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Little Miss Sunshine
    Little Miss Sunshine (53%)
  • The Full Monty
    The Full Monty (63%)
  • There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
    There's Only One Jimmy Grimble (40%)
  • Ballet Shoes
    Ballet Shoes (100%)

Theater Showtimes & TV Listings


Billy Elliot Trivia


  • Which actress played the ballet teacher that helped the title character achieve his dream in "Billy Elliot"?  Answer »
  • Jamie Bell danced his heart out in "Billy Elliot" to this song by the Jam:  Answer »
  • This child actor won over Tom Hanks, Geoffrey Rush and Rusell Crowe for Best Actor in the 2001 BAFTA Film Awards for his role in Billy Elliot:  Answer »
  • Where does Billy audition for a place in Billy Elliot  Answer »

Most Popular Skin