Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

The Education of Charlie Banks (2009): Cast, Ratings & Plot

The Education of Charlie Banks (2009) movie poster

The Education of Charlie Banks is a 2009 drama starring Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter and Eva Amurri. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes. Critics gave it 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
48%
Metascore
50
Loading streaming availability…
The Education of Charlie Banks (2009) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Education of Charlie Banks About?

The premise of The Education of Charlie Banks without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Charlie Banks' privileged life at an Ivy League school is disrupted by the unexpected appearance of Mick, a captivating but troubled man. As Mick quickly integrates into Charlie’s world, their relationship becomes entangled in a complex mix of admiration, jealousy, and underlying fear. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Greenwich Village and a prestigious Upstate New York college, the film explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the challenges of confronting one's true nature.

The Education of Charlie Banks Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • male underwear
  • male nudity
  • male rear nudity
  • student
  • college student
  • teenage boy
  • father son relationship
  • 1970s
  • low budget film
  • bully
  • briefs
  • white briefs
+38 more
  • reference to jacques derrida
  • college
  • campus
  • coming of age
  • dormitory
  • dorm room
  • croquet
  • hot temper
  • sneaking in
  • tuxedo
  • dance
  • fugitive
  • flashback
  • bookend scenes
  • marina
  • bar
  • head butt
  • on the run
  • on the lam
  • library
  • key
  • house party
  • fall from height
  • sex
  • yacht
  • sailboat
  • boat
  • bmw
  • rich kid
  • class differences
  • hot tub
  • beach
  • private plane
  • airplane
  • playing cards
  • roommate
  • bookstore
  • narrated by title character
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Education of Charlie Banks Cast

Jesse Eisenberg leads the cast, with Jason Ritter and Eva Amurri.

Ratings

The Education of Charlie Banks Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Education of Charlie Banks 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

Plot

The Education of Charlie Banks Plot Summary

What happens in The Education of Charlie Banks from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

When the bustling streets of 1970s New York served as a backdrop for ambition and chaos, a young man found himself at a moral crossroads. Charlie Banks (Jesse Eisenberg), a socially aware upper west-sider at just 16, is thrust into turmoil after witnessing the sociopathic behavior of Mick Leary (Jason Ritter), an older friend of his best buddy. That fateful night at a high school party, Charlie is taken aback as Mick brutally assaults two unsuspecting suburban jocks. Troubled by the event, he chooses to confide in his parents before reporting Mick to the authorities—a decision that will haunt him for years to come.

Full summary

The whole story of The Education of Charlie Banks, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Education of Charlie Banks?

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

What year is the film set in?

Seen The Education of Charlie Banks?

FAQ

The Education of Charlie Banks FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Education of Charlie Banks, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Education of Charlie Banks?

The Education of Charlie Banks runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was The Education of Charlie Banks released?

The Education of Charlie Banks was released on March 27, 2009.

Who is in the cast of The Education of Charlie Banks?

The Education of Charlie Banks stars Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter and Eva Amurri.

How is The Education of Charlie Banks rated?

The Education of Charlie Banks has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic.

Does The Education of Charlie Banks have a post-credit scene?

No. The Education of Charlie Banks has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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