Boys Don't Cry (1999)

88% of critics liked it
(76 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(66,576 ratings)

Based on a true story, this drama was adapted from the life of Brandon Teena, born Teena Brandon, a woman who chose to live her life as a man and suffered tragic consequences as a result. In 1993, 20-year-old Brandon (Hilary Swank) leaves Lincoln, Nebraska for the nearby community of Falls City,… More Based on a true story, this drama was adapted from the life of Brandon Teena, born Teena Brandon, a woman who chose to live her life as a man and suffered tragic consequences as a result. In 1993, 20-year-old Brandon (Hilary Swank) leaves Lincoln, Nebraska for the nearby community of Falls City, where she sports a crew cut, favors jeans and boots, and is regarded as a man by most of the people in town. While Brandon's friend Lonny (Matt McGrath) warns her that sexual outsiders aren't looked upon kindly in Falls City, she develops a reputation for being something of a ladies' man, and is soon living with a single mother named Candace (Alicia Goranson). But when Brandon meets teenage Lana (Chloe Sevigny), the two become romantically involved almost immediately. Brandon makes friends with Lana's mother (Jeanetta Arnette) and a burly ex-con named John (Peter Sarsgaard). John and his buddy Tom (Brendan Sexton) run with a rough group of men who like to drink and carouse, and they accept Brandon as one of their own. However, when Brandon ends up in jail on a traffic violation, her secret comes out, and, while Lana stands by Brandon's side, John and Tom feel betrayed -- and their anger soon boils over into violence. A distinguished feature debut for director Kimberly Peirce, Boys Don't Cry was enthusiastically received in its showings at 1999 film festivals in Venice, Toronto, and New York. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 56 min.
Directed By: Kimberly Peirce
Written By: Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Oct 8, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Apr 18, 2000
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
The film is framed, too unquestioningly, as a transgender Rebel Without a Cause, with Brandon the martyred innocent who dies for her infatuations.
Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
A stirring, emotionally true testament to foolish bravery as well as shameful evidence of the severity with which it is so often punished.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Boys Don't Cry not only revisits the crime, but convinces us we're being taken inside it.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Kimberly Pierce's remarkable 1999 filmic version of Brandon Teena's last days is a scalding indictment of the kind of consciously ignorant intolerance that runs disgracefully through America's Heartland and Southern states.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Time has made Kimberly Peirce's dramatic debut about sexual misfit, stunningly played by Hilary Swank, even more relevant and powerful.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...undoubtedly benefits from Swank's searing, justifiably lauded performance.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Nail-tough yet poetic.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The shock is not in the tragic ending, but the devastating emotional effect Kimberly Peirce is able to achieve through mere nuance.
David Noh, Film Journal International
The casting is nothing short of brilliant.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
A suspenseful piece of work. Expect to be depressed.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
Brandon becomes a symbol of everyone who doesn't fit neatly into the presupposed categories in the culture of everyday life
Moira Sullivan, Movie Magazine International
Four years ago, said director Kimberly Peirce, she could not have made this film and thought it was spectacular to see the Oscars flash the subject of the story across America and around the world.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Lana: Shut up, that's your business. I don't care if you are half monkey or half ape, I'm gettin' you out of here! Boys Don't Cry, hmmm, where to start. It's an emotional, powerful, and quite disturbing biopic that doesn't hold anything back.… More
Lana: Shut up, that's your business. I don't care if you are half monkey or half ape, I'm gettin' you out of here! Boys Don't Cry, hmmm, where to start. It's an emotional, powerful, and quite disturbing biopic that doesn't hold anything back. Kimberly Peirce did an amazing job with this movie. I saw a documentary where she talked about having to cut a lot of stuff out because of the MPAA. This was originally NC-17 until she made the changes they wanted. The movie itself is simply amazing. Everyone that's heard of the movie knows about Hilary Swanks performance. She was absolutely superb and really deserved the Oscar for her portrayal of Brandon Teena(Teena Brandon). Peter Sarsgaard also gave a great performance as John. The film is an emotional rollercoaster and an absolute masterpiece.
Bethany M

Absolutely heart wrenching! Hilary Swank deserved her Oscar and the fact that this was a true story is even more heart breaking. People in this world are so cruel and this film just shows you how much. 10/10
familiar s

Wanted to enjoy one hell of a life, but...... Teena could have avoided the mess, but I guess sometimes you just can't help play stupid. The consequences of Teena's actions were tragical, but those actions weren't any praiseworthy in the first place. The story deals with… More
Wanted to enjoy one hell of a life, but...... Teena could have avoided the mess, but I guess sometimes you just can't help play stupid. The consequences of Teena's actions were tragical, but those actions weren't any praiseworthy in the first place. The story deals with the final years of Teena Brandon. The pacing could have been faster and the duration of the movie shorter. Hilary Swank was unbelievable in the role of Teena Brandon. Good one based on real events, but surely not the best.
Jeff "

Boys Don't Cry is the incredible true story of Teena Brandon who was born biologically female but who decided to become male. The story chronicles how she changed her identity and has fallen in love and made new friends. Unknown to her friends, Brendans true identity is unknown.… More
Boys Don't Cry is the incredible true story of Teena Brandon who was born biologically female but who decided to become male. The story chronicles how she changed her identity and has fallen in love and made new friends. Unknown to her friends, Brendans true identity is unknown. They treat him like a friend. Unfortunately his true identity is revealed and both two of his friends John and Tom, two ex-convicts do the unthinkable. Boys Don't Cry is a flawed film, as by what I hear isn't 100% accurate, but the film does have enough good elements to tell this poignant story about Brandon Teena. Born Teena Brandon, Brandon had a desire to be male, and dared to be different. This is a film that can bring hope to people who don't have the courage to be themselves, hopefully this film may inspire them. Hilary Swank is simply terrific, and she really does look like Brandon Teena. She brings enthusiasm to the role and her on screen presence makes this film better than it really is. Boys Don't Cry is really a film about the courage about being yourself. Brandon Teena was a trans gender who was born a biological female but felt more like a boy. He makes new friends in Falls City, Nebraska and meets a girl. Everything seems to be perfect, but soon Brandon's secret is revealed. His two "friends" John and Tom rape Brandon after finding out he's actually a female. The scene is truly disturbing and makes you feel uneasy. Unfortunately Brandon also gets murdered due to the fact that he's different. The film gives an insight of bigotry and homophobia and how hate can sometimes lead people to do the unthinkable. A phenomenal, poignant film, Boys Don't Cry is a well crafted film.
Wahida K

Very touching Movie based upon true story. I m not goin to survive the last scene if I ever watch this Movie a second time.
erika b

I found this film weak with no plot or not good acting.
Dan S

An over-rated, heavily manipulative film detailing the true story of Teena Brandon, a woman trying to be a man and how she makes new friends in Nebraska, fooling them into thinking she's a man - and thus starting a relationship with a young, troubled woman there. By… More
An over-rated, heavily manipulative film detailing the true story of Teena Brandon, a woman trying to be a man and how she makes new friends in Nebraska, fooling them into thinking she's a man - and thus starting a relationship with a young, troubled woman there. By only briefly mentioning her criminal past but not detailing it, it feels like director Peirce is only showing one side of the story, that being that Teena was an innocent, likable human being who everyone should've loved. The only thing that elevates this movie to slightly above average territory is three standout performances from Hilary Swank (just unbelievable here - she deserves her Oscar), Chloe Sevigny (showing a full, human character), and Peter Sarsgaard (a pure psychotic, out-of-control performance that deserves as much recognition as the first two). This has the potential to be a powerful, stirring picture, but instead I couldn't help but feel like we were only seeing one side of this person, as well as the fact that why she feels like she's really a man is poorly, poorly detailed. While I admire the excellent acting as well as some of the gritty scenes, I can't quite recommend that this movie is worth it due to sheer manipulation by its director by failing to detail the past of the most important character in the film.
Drew S

There are a surprising amount of "not interested"s on my friends list for this movie, and I can't really figure out why - this is a stirring, and most importantly unique, biopic. Boys Don't Cry is tonally distinct, tempering free-spiritedness and the bliss of love… More
There are a surprising amount of "not interested"s on my friends list for this movie, and I can't really figure out why - this is a stirring, and most importantly unique, biopic. Boys Don't Cry is tonally distinct, tempering free-spiritedness and the bliss of love with both the roughness of poverty and the heavy reality of ignorance. Hilary Swank, who I only seem to see in her good movies, is unsurprisingly bold here, exemplifying the "tragic hero(ine)" by refusing to let him wallow in his misery. Brandon Teena is determined to be happy, and for a moment he is, though it costs him gravely. (Significant spoilers from here on out, but it's a true story, so lol I'm ruining real life for you.) The one thing that didn't sit all that well with me, and again it's a true story so I suppose I don't have any right to complain, was that Brandon was sort of difficult to sympathize with at times. The movie doesn't martyr him or make him out to be some sort of saint, which I can appreciate, but it seems really bizarre to me that someone would be brutally raped, then actually return to the house of the people that committed said rape. Of course no one deserves what happened to him, but come on. It may well have been for love, but Brandon never seemed to learn from his mistakes, and his impatience is considerably frustrating. Perhaps it's frustrating because you know it'll culminate in his eventual death, in which case I really have no right to complain, but I think it's difficult for any viewer to see a likable character make the same poor choices over and over. Boys Don't Cry is economical and in-control, a film of considerable bravery and a great debut for Kimberly Peirce. It is difficult to watch on many levels, but that doesn't make it any less imperative.
Anthony L

Swank, Sevigny and Sarsgaard put in brilliant performances in Peirce's uneasy and powerful film, based on real life events. Recommended!
John H

I disagree with the academy and critics on this. I have nothing against homosexuality, but this was done all wrong. It's hard to admit or even doubt a movie if it's inspired and based on a true tragedy that's happened. This wasn't hard at all to get out. Hillary… More
I disagree with the academy and critics on this. I have nothing against homosexuality, but this was done all wrong. It's hard to admit or even doubt a movie if it's inspired and based on a true tragedy that's happened. This wasn't hard at all to get out. Hillary Swank has the redneck charm to consume herself in this character and that's where it ends. She was not believable as a boy from the outside, nor in any other way. Her face and hair scream dike and to think that she's actually a male just doesn't fit together. Wasn't it obvious. Did the brutal interrogation of her sexual identity at least come by believable. Sure enough it did. Though, I have no confidence in her performance or appearance as Teena Brandon. The only close-cornered likeness was the hair-cut, and that was plainly off as well. Teena Brandon had a strong face. It had intensity and masculinity heightened. She wasn't "butch", but she was easier to mistaken genders with. Instead of the jolly, always smiling Joe that Swank portrayed, the real Brandon was as persuaded with her sexuality as she was with her body. She wouldn't act like girl being a boy, she was a boy. No giggles, no pressure, no falseness or visible shed from her reality, just the mental build and nothing else. Okay, so most adaptions don't go so in depth with each and every detail. More than most of the time events and dialog will be exaggerated. But characters need no change. History can never change, so leave it as it was remembered. Don't vary it on how either the audience would react to it or thinking a change might be the trick to spicing it up; forget all thoughts to change the past. Revive it, but don't harm it.
Lorenzo v

"A true story about finding the courage to be yourself." The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female. <center>"A true story about finding the courage to be yourself." The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female. <center>REVIEW</center> For a movie to be able to start off a "little" (emphasis on little) slow, and turn into a spectacle of both amazing acting, directing, and an amazing script is not only a rarity, but is almost unheard of. "Boys Don't Cry" is one of the most powerful films that I have ever seen. Ms. Hilary Swank embraced her character with open arms, and turned him into a hero. A incredibly hard task, considering a "few minor 'glitches'". The fact that this movie is based upon a true story only emphasizes the themes it is trying to portray. As a human race, it only makes sense that we should strive to accept our originality and differences, and celebrate them, rather than diminish them, and look upon them as being "bad". This movie is one that gives the audience the "complete package", and not just a pretty actress or soundtrack. As an all encompassing film, "Boys Don't Cry" is brilliant.
Fernando Rafael Q

Incredibly powerful, heartwrenching film. BOYS DON'T CRY slowly builds its momentum right until the shocking end. Hilary Swank's Oscar-winning performance only improves as the movie progresses, with magnificent support by Chloë Sevigny and Peter Sarsgaard (it's… More
Incredibly powerful, heartwrenching film. BOYS DON'T CRY slowly builds its momentum right until the shocking end. Hilary Swank's Oscar-winning performance only improves as the movie progresses, with magnificent support by Chloë Sevigny and Peter Sarsgaard (it's their show, too).
Luke B

A great true story. Pierce keeps the film on a single minded track. Opening up the life of a very confused individual. Swank does a wonderful job at creating her girl disguised as boy. She's 100% convincing. She also manages to bring a touch of contempt for Brandon, without ever… More
A great true story. Pierce keeps the film on a single minded track. Opening up the life of a very confused individual. Swank does a wonderful job at creating her girl disguised as boy. She's 100% convincing. She also manages to bring a touch of contempt for Brandon, without ever alienating the viewer. Brandon's constant lies hardly make for a typical hero. The film always has a grim tone, wich makes Brandon's overall fall, not as shocking. A wonderful comment on the complexities of humans.
Craig S

Directed by:Kimberly Peirce. Starring: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III. "You want your mother to lock you up again, is that it? Is that what you want? Then why… More
Directed by:Kimberly Peirce. Starring: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III. "You want your mother to lock you up again, is that it? Is that what you want? Then why don't you just admit your a dyke? ...Because I'm not a dyke." The story follows Teena Brandon, born a female, she has something that many see as a disease or a disorder...she has a sexual identity crisis. A rebel and a thief, she skips town to Falls City, Nebraska, where she takes the identity of Brandon Teena, successfully pulling off a man and fitting in with the town folk and falling in love, while saving for her wanted sex change. But when her true identity and her lies are brought out, she is caught up in something that should never be confronted. I'm still left breathless from this film, under its gritty coating lies an intensity and power so great, that as soon as the shocking end hits, including and graphic and intense 20 minutes before that, I couldn't touch the stop button all through the credits (even if I do sometimes watch them). Kimberly Peirce is one hell of a gifted filmmaker. Her visual style is so gritty and surreal and with the brilliantly paced and profound instrumental music, the tone is so real and its what the topic deserves. That's another thing as well, I think the best way to watch this film is to be unknown to it beforehand, because as soon as I clicked onto it being actual events by the end, it made it that much more unsettling. These real events (for the most part) that unfold are used to Kimberly Peirce's advantage...I know that sounds bad, saying that these shocking and very real events are the advantage of the film, but they help her to develop these characters as they should be. I thought I could have hated the film by the end, mainly because of such an unlikable main character. She is one full of lies and deceit...and a rebel and thief by nature and she pulls an unexpected family into this trap...but I was so compelled by her development and her story and her love interests slightly misunderstood, but very true and forgiving connection...and the performances add to that. Hilary Swank won that Oscar for a reason. Not only did she come out of nowhere and show such dedication to the role in her transformation, as you would expect from actor, but she shows the right amount of southern charm and unexpected depth that is needed for such a role, not only does she look like a convincing boy, but she convinces you that she is from the first frame, while leaving that underlying knowledge or hint that she really is a girl. Chloë Sevigny was left with just a nomination and I am shocked. She is a crucial character to the story and one reason the film worked was because of her spot-on performance. She is another that shows depth and vulnerability for her role and shes a site to see, from her trailer trash persona to her convincing love for Brandon, shes shows a lot of potential at being a brilliant actress.Peter Sarsgaard has always had a very likable charisma about him and theres no difference here...until his change of character that is so chillingly realistic and intense, he shows another side of his brilliance. Intense, Surreal, Brutal, Shocking...Real. Boy's Don't Cry is an unexpectedly outstanding film with brilliant performances that can't be judged on entertainment value, but only on the sheer showmanship and craftsmanship in each element of the film and the difficult topic is used respectably and never exploited. 89/100 << "Shut up, that's your business. I don't care if you are half monkey or half ape, I'm gettin' you out of here!" >>
Lady D

This film left me utterly speechless, such an emotionally charged story based on real events. This has to be Hillary Swank's role of a lifetime, she obviously put everything into playing this part. This film is described as 'Powerful and shocking' which describes… More
This film left me utterly speechless, such an emotionally charged story based on real events. This has to be Hillary Swank's role of a lifetime, she obviously put everything into playing this part. This film is described as 'Powerful and shocking' which describes it perfectly, I felt the power of this film, for quite a while after watching.
Cherry D

"You don't have to be sober to be able to weigh spinach."
Martin S

She didn't have a cock...so she payed the price
Dean M

This neo-documentary drama style is amplified by its largely unrecognised cast, led by Oscar-winner Hilary Swank as a young woman determined to "pass" as a boy among the white-trash dregs of rural Nebraska. Swank's positively stunning lead performance, as captivating… More
This neo-documentary drama style is amplified by its largely unrecognised cast, led by Oscar-winner Hilary Swank as a young woman determined to "pass" as a boy among the white-trash dregs of rural Nebraska. Swank's positively stunning lead performance, as captivating and mesmerising a job of acting as I'm likely to see, is a ferociously self-assured interpretation of a modern tragic heroine... or hero, depending on one's point of view. Powerful stuff.
Chris W

One of the hardest films to sit through without feeling deeply depressed, outraged, upset, and disturbed. The acting is so good, that it is beyond flawless. This film was, without a doubt, one of the best films of 1999, and on the list (somewhere) for best film of the 90's.
Red L

The ending haunts me. Are there really places in the States that are so homophobic? Hilary Swank deserves her Oscar!