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Biographical drama

Boy Erased (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Boy Erased (2018) movie poster

Boy Erased is a 2018 biographical drama starring Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons, Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman. It is based on Boy Erased by Garrard Conley. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $11.9 million worldwide on a $11 million budget. It won 2 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the AACTA Awards 2018. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.

IMDb rating
6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
80%
worldwide gross
$11.9M
awards won
2
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Boy Erased (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 55m (115 min)
Genres
Biography , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$11M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Boy Erased About?

The premise of Boy Erased without spoilers, adapted from Boy Erased by Garrard Conley. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Jared Eamons, the son of a Baptist pastor, is forced to confront his sexuality and undergo conversion therapy. Torn between his parents' love and their deeply held religious beliefs, he struggles with his identity and the expectations placed upon him. The experience leads him on a challenging journey towards self-acceptance, revealing the painful consequences of intolerance and the complexities of family relationships.

Boy Erased Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • conversion therapy
  • gay conversion therapy
  • gay teenager
  • being outed
  • teen suicide
  • gay character
  • male rape
  • father son relationship
  • homosexuality
  • gay protagonist
  • homosexuality and religion
  • homophobia
+38 more
  • gay cinema
  • internalized homophobia
  • religious homophobia
  • coming out
  • evangelical christian
  • gay slur
  • mother son relationship
  • lgbt plus
  • ultimatum
  • religion
  • christianity
  • writer
  • confession
  • trust
  • gay cruising
  • sexual violence
  • sexual assault
  • sexual confusion
  • child abuse
  • two men in bed
  • family relationships
  • gay kiss
  • gay baptist
  • lesbian character
  • preacher's son
  • picture of real life subject
  • suicide of a teenage boy
  • sexual predator
  • coming of age drama
  • physical abuse
  • escape
  • father son estrangement
  • new york times
  • ex gay therapy
  • rape
  • homophobe turns out to be gay
  • gay christian
  • institutionalized homophobia
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Cast & crew

Boy Erased Cast & Characters

Lucas Hedges leads the cast as Jared Eamons, with Russell Crowe as Marshall Eamons and Nicole Kidman as Nancy Eamons.

Ratings

Boy Erased Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Boy Erased 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

60 /100

Boy Erased Echo Score Breakdown

Boy Erased presents an earnest but uneven account of its true-life subject. While its well-intentioned direction and committed performances vividly convey the horrors of conversion therapy, the film’s narrative often feels detached and thinly drawn. The pacing varies between meaningful scenes and those that fail to advance emotional depth, leading to a sense of distance. Despite strong craftsmanship and soundtrack choices, the film’s limited character arcs and moderate sensory impact result in a moderately engaging experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, the film balances competent direction with understated production design to convey its sober subject matter. Critics noted effective editing rhythms in pivotal scenes, and the static compositions reinforce the emotional restraint. Some sequences, however, feel drab or overly subdued. Overall, the craft is proficient but seldom striking.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    In terms of character and emotion, the cast delivers earnest and nuanced performances, particularly in the lead role. Critics and users praised the subdued acting and expressive gestures that convey inner turmoil. However, the emotional distance and thinly sketched supporting roles limit synergy between characters. Net effect: solid acting undermined by limited emotional depth.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, the film presents a coherent outline of conversion therapy but oscillates between focused moments and narrative flatness. Reviews highlighted incipient engagement during key confrontations yet noted uneven pacing and a lack of sustained momentum. While the structure communicates the subject’s gravity, recurring detours and underdeveloped arcs dilute overall dramatic impact.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In terms of sensory experience, the film relies on a restrained visual palette and minimalistic sound design to reflect its somber tone. The soundtrack supports emotional beats without becoming intrusive, and occasional static camera setups heighten realism. However, the overall sensory impact remains moderate and rarely ventures into immersive territory.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s serious subject and measured approach offer limited replay value. Viewers may recognize commendable performances and key dramatic sequences, but the emotional reserve and deliberate pacing reduce the incentive for repeated viewing. While its thematic importance endures, the overall appeal on subsequent watches is modest rather than compelling.

Plot

Boy Erased Plot Summary

What happens in Boy Erased from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Childhood footage of a sweet and innocent boy, portrayed by Lucas Hedges, introduces us to Jared as a teenager sitting in church, listening to his father, Marshall Eamons, deliver a sermon about the imperfections of humanity. His mother, Nancy Eamons, sits nearby, cheerfully absorbing the lesson while Jared glances at a young lady across the aisle.

The narrative swiftly transitions to a point in Jared’s life when he is being driven by his mother to a facility. As he playfully sticks his arm out the window to simulate surfing, Nancy quickly warns him against it, sharing a cautionary tale about a child losing an arm in a similar scenario. Reluctantly, he rolls up the window upon her urging.

Full summary

The whole story of Boy Erased, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Boy Erased Box Office & Budget

Boy Erased grossed $11.9 million worldwide on a $11 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $6.8 million came from the US and Canada and $5.1 million (43%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$11.9M

1.1× its budget

US & Canada
$6.8M
International
$5.1M
Budget
$11M
US & Canada 57% Rest of the world 43%
Awards

Boy Erased Awards & Nominations

Boy Erased won 2 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the AACTA Awards 2018. Its biggest night was the AACTA Awards 2018, with 2 wins from 6 nominations.

2 wins10 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

Boy Erased Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 2 trailers and 6 clips.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer #2
  • Clip "Stay With Me" Clip
  • Clip "Play The Part" Clip
  • Clip "Jared Tells Parents" Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Boy Erased?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the main character Jared in 'Boy Erased'?

Cars

Cars in Boy Erased

1 car on screen: the 1968 Hillman Super Imp.

  • 1968 Hillman Super Imp in Boy Erased 1968 Hillman Super Imp Featured role
Details

Boy Erased Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “Исчезнувший мальчик” and “Vite cancellate”.

Also known as
  • Исчезнувший мальчик
  • Vite cancellate
  • Garçon effacé
  • Silinmiş Çocuk
  • Identidad borrada
  • Стертая личность
  • Boy Erased: Uma Verdade Anulada
  • Изтритото момче
  • 보이 이레이즈드
  • ילד מחוק
  • Зниклий хлопчик
  • Wymazać siebie
+16 more
  • 被抹去的男孩
  • Corazón borrado
  • Boy Erased: O Rapaz Que Sou
  • Der verlorene Sohn
  • Boy Erased - Vite cancellate
  • Eltörölt fiú
  • Vymazaný kluk
  • Ištrinta tapatybė, გამქრალი ბიჭი
  • ある少年の告白
  • Boy Erased - Confesiunile unui băiat
  • Trại Chữa Đồng Tính
  • บอย อีเรสด์
  • 被消除的男孩
  • Izbrisani dječak
  • الولد الذي تم محوه
  • खुद की तलाश में

Seen Boy Erased?

FAQ

Boy Erased FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of Boy Erased, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Boy Erased?

Boy Erased runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).

When was Boy Erased released?

Boy Erased was released on November 2, 2018.

Who is in the cast of Boy Erased?

Boy Erased stars Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons, Russell Crowe as Marshall Eamons and Nicole Kidman as Nancy Eamons, among 19 credited actors.

How much did Boy Erased make at the box office?

Boy Erased grossed $11.9 million worldwide ($6.8 million domestic, $5.1 million international) on a budget of $11 million.

How is Boy Erased rated?

Boy Erased has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

Is Boy Erased based on a book?

Yes. Boy Erased is adapted from Boy Erased by Garrard Conley.

What awards did Boy Erased win?

Boy Erased won 2 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the AACTA Awards 2018.

Does Boy Erased have a post-credit scene?

No. Boy Erased has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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