Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

Becoming Astrid (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Becoming Astrid (2018) movie poster

Becoming Astrid is a 2018 biographical drama directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen, starring Alba August as Astrid, Björn Gustafsson and Trine Dyrholm. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes and earned $971,055 worldwide. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
worldwide gross
$971.1K
Echo Score
78
Loading streaming availability…
Becoming Astrid (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 3m (123 min)
Genres
Biography , Drama
Original language
Swedish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Becoming Astrid About?

The premise of Becoming Astrid without spoilers.

In rural Sweden, a young Astrid Lindgren rebels against the limitations of her strict religious upbringing, yearning for independence. An internship at a local newspaper offers a taste of freedom, but an unexpected pregnancy forces her into a difficult situation. Astrid must then confront a complicated network of relationships and make personal sacrifices while striving to protect her burgeoning creativity and discover the strength to define her own future.

Becoming Astrid Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • title directed by female
  • triple f rated
  • coming of age
  • unplanned pregnancy
  • female topless nudity
  • children's author
  • teenage girl
  • sweden
  • two word title
  • pregnancy
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
+38 more
  • 1980s
  • newspaper
  • haircut
  • secretary
  • stockholm sweden
  • smaland sweden
  • mother son relationship
  • scene during end credits
  • mother daughter relationship
  • dancing
  • love affair
  • f rated
  • female director
  • denmark
  • copenhagen denmark
  • teen pregnancy
  • childbirth
  • teen sexuality
  • teenage sex
  • female nudity
  • kiss
  • cutting off a braid
  • braided hair
  • cassette tape
  • train
  • seduction
  • character name as title
  • forename in title
  • female protagonist
  • mail
  • opening mail
  • audio tape
  • flashback
  • told in flashback
  • ballroom dancing
  • cowshed
  • typewriter
  • farming
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Becoming Astrid Cast & Characters

Alba August leads the cast as Astrid, with Björn Gustafsson as Sture Lindgren and Trine Dyrholm as Marie. Directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen; 18 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Pernille Fischer Christensen

More films directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen, best-rated first: En soap, Someone You Love, A Family and Dancers.

Full filmography
Ratings

Becoming Astrid Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Becoming Astrid 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (65).

78 /100

Becoming Astrid Echo Score Breakdown

Becoming Astrid offers an intimately crafted portrayal of Astrid Lindgren’s formative years, with its strongest asset in the film’s nuanced emotional register and central performance. Critics highlighted the deliberate pacing and focused lens on the writer’s painful passage into womanhood, while several reviewers praised Alba August’s compelling embodiment of Astrid. Some noted that the narrative occasionally feels conventional and does not fully convey Lindgren’s literary promise. Overall, the movie succeeds as a quietly triumphant biopic that balances empathy with restraint and leaves a warm, considered impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of Art & Craft, the film employs relaxed camera movements and soft compositions to evoke a contemplative atmosphere. Production design and editing contribute to an understated period setting, though moments of tonal flatness slightly undermine visual momentum. Ultimately, the cinematography and set details cohere into a restrained aesthetic that supports the autobiographical focus.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, Alba August’s central performance defines the film’s impact. The portrayal captures Astrid’s complex impulses with nuanced shifts in expression, and supporting work by Trine Dyrholm adds depth to her familial relationships. While some critics desired more dramatic surprises, the emotionally resonant chemistry maintains engagement. The character study remains vivid and affecting.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of Story & Flow, the film unfolds at an unhurried pace that underscores Astrid’s transition into adulthood. Observers noted its intimate focus and quiet triumph, yet some felt the narrative’s familiar melodramatic beats and partial exploration of literary development limited its originality. The plot maintains coherence and gentle engagement, delivering a restrained yet earnest biographical arc.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When evaluating the Sensory Experience, the soundtrack and sound design offer subtle emotional cues that enhance quiet moments, complemented by a cohesive visual style of muted tones. Some reviewers observed stylistic conventionality, but the interplay of score and soft-focus imagery sustains an immersive period atmosphere. The overall sensory palette remains consistently supportive of the film’s contemplative tenor.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film’s measured pacing and focused performance invite appreciation for its nuanced gestures, though its subdued narrative may limit repeated viewings for some. While the emotional undercurrents and visual cohesion encourage further reflection, the lack of broader dramatic peaks suggests moderate lasting appeal. The movie rewards subsequent viewings primarily through its central performance.

Box office

Becoming Astrid Box Office

Becoming Astrid grossed $971,055 worldwide. $120,486 came from the US and Canada and $850,569 (88%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$971.1K

US & Canada
$120.5K
International
$850.6K
US & Canada 12% Rest of the world 88%
Videos

Becoming Astrid Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Becoming Astrid.

BECOMING ASTRID - Official U.S. Trailer
Details

Becoming Astrid Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Tornando-se Astrid” and “Unge Astrid”.

Also known as
  • Tornando-se Astrid
  • Unge Astrid
  • Nuori Astrid
  • 아스트리드 린드그렌 되기
  • Astrīdas Lindgrēnas jaunība
  • 當幸福提早來
  • Coneixent Astrid
  • Бути Астрід Ліндгрен
  • Приказка за Астрид
  • Быть Астрид Линдгрен
  • Młodość Astrid
  • Astridos Lindgren jaunystė
+10 more
  • Astrid Lingreni rääkimata lugu
  • Zrodila se Astrid
  • 关于阿斯特丽德
  • Conociendo a Astrid
  • להיות אסטריד
  • Astrid leszek
  • 비커밍 아스트리드
  • Astrīdas Lindgrēnes jaunība
  • Coneixent l’Astrid
  • Zrodila sa Astrid

Seen Becoming Astrid?

FAQ

Becoming Astrid FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Becoming Astrid, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Becoming Astrid?

Becoming Astrid runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).

When was Becoming Astrid released?

Becoming Astrid was released on November 23, 2018.

Who directed Becoming Astrid?

Becoming Astrid was directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen.

More films by Pernille Fischer Christensen

Who is in the cast of Becoming Astrid?

Becoming Astrid stars Alba August as Astrid, Björn Gustafsson as Sture Lindgren and Trine Dyrholm as Marie, among 18 credited actors.

How much did Becoming Astrid make at the box office?

Becoming Astrid grossed $971,055 worldwide ($120,486 domestic, $850,569 international).

How is Becoming Astrid rated?

Becoming Astrid has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Does Becoming Astrid have a post-credit scene?

No. Becoming Astrid has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Becoming Astrid in?

The original language of Becoming Astrid is Swedish.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app