The Most Beautiful Boy in the World (2021): Cast & Ratings
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World is a 2021 biographical documentary directed by Kristian Petri and Kristina Lindström, starring Björn Andrésen, Melanie Hubert and Riyoko Ikeda. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $10,443 worldwide. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Supporting Actor at the Critics' Choice 2019. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Directors
- Kristian Petri and Kristina Lindström
- Genres
- Biography , History , Documentary
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Amstelfilm
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Most Beautiful Boy in the World About?
The premise of The Most Beautiful Boy in the World without spoilers.
This documentary explores the life of Björn Andrésen, who achieved international fame as "the most beautiful boy in the world" after starring in Luchino Visconti's 1971 film, Death in Venice. The film examines the peaks and valleys of Andrésen's journey, offering reflections on a career shaped by glamour, stardom, and the lasting impact of that iconic role. It reveals the challenges and complexities of navigating life under the intense scrutiny of global fame over five decades.
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Themes & Keywords
· 47 tags- beach
- death in venice
- exploitation
- old man
- japan
- scandinavia
- teensploitation
- child star
- venice italy
- pop idol
- teen actor
- celebrity
+35 more Show fewer
- orphan
- loss of mother
- trauma
- fatherless son
- family relationships
- dysfunctional family
- sweden
- italy
- cannes film festival
- child labour
- sexual harassment
- japanese idol
- bishounen
- manga
- lady oscar character
- paris france
- actor
- musician
- loss of a child
- depression
- father daughter relationship
- shyness
- sensitivity
- loneliness
- physical beauty
- film industry
- love
- 1970s
- 20th century
- 21st century
- 2010s
- 1980s
- death of mother
- eastern europe
- eastern scandinavia
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Cast
Björn Andrésen leads the cast, with Melanie Hubert and Riyoko Ikeda. Directed by Kristian Petri and Kristina Lindström; 11 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Kristian Petri
- Co-director Kristina Lindström
- Björn Andrésen as themselves
-
Melanie Hubert - Riyoko Ikeda as themselves
- Ann Lagerström as themselves
Also Starring in The Most Beautiful Boy in the World
· 7 more- Annike Andresen Themselves
- Johanna Lidén Themselves
- Margareta Krantz Themselves
- Masatoshi Sakai Themselves
- Miriam Sambol Themselves
- Robine Román Themselves
- Silva Filmer Themselves
More from Kristian Petri and Kristina Lindström
More films directed by Kristian Petri and Kristina Lindström: Feature 136, Astrid, Palme and Bad Faith.
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Most Beautiful Boy in the World 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 69/100, strongest in character & emotion (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (58).
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Echo Score Breakdown
The documentary offers a thoughtful look at the rise and fall of a child star, balancing moments of visual subtlety with a sometimes uneven narrative structure. Critics note the film’s ability to convey emotional weight and industry critique, yet its pacing and thematic focus can feel diffuse. The overall impression is that the work succeeds in its intent but falls short of a consistently compelling viewing experience.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 65
In terms of direction and visual style, the film presents an impressionistic, understated palette that some reviewers find evocative. However, several critics point to a lack of cohesive editing and vague artistic focus, which weakens its overall craft. The net result is a moderately crafted work that shows artistic ambition but does not fully realize it.
- Character & Emotion 78
When it comes to character depth, the documentary captures the emotional resonance of its subject, highlighting his lingering impact and personal determination. Performances and archival material are praised for conveying nuance, though occasional narrative gaps reduce full immersion. Overall, the film delivers a nuanced portrayal that largely succeeds in eliciting empathy.
- Story & Flow 60
Regarding plot and pacing, the documentary balances a compelling rise‑and‑fall arc with moments that feel repetitive or under‑developed. Critics note the story’s originality yet cite diffuse pacing and a lack of conclusive thematic resolution. Consequently, the narrative engages but does not maintain consistent momentum throughout.
- Sensory Experience 65
In terms of sensory experience, the film employs a subtle visual approach that some reviewers find appealing, while others remark on limited sound design and soundtrack impact. The modest auditory and visual choices support the tone but do not elevate the sensory immersion. Overall, the sensory layer is adequate but not striking.
- Rewatch Factor 58
As for rewatch value, the documentary offers insightful moments that may reward repeat viewings, particularly for those interested in industry critique. Nonetheless, its uneven pacing and occasional thematic redundancy reduce its long‑term appeal. The film holds modest replay potential, especially for niche audiences.
-
IMDb 6.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 78% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 79%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 73 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
7 ratings
See on Letterboxd
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Box Office
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World grossed $10,443 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$10.4K
- International
- $10.4K
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Awards & Nominations
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World earned 3 award nominations, including Best Supporting Actor at the Critics' Choice 2019. The 3 nominations come from 3 ceremonies.
3 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Timothée Chalamet
-
Actor Awards (SAG) 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Timothée Chalamet
-
Golden Globes 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Timothée Chalamet
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 1 trailer and 5 featurettes.
- Featurette Reflecting on Björn Andrésen
- Featurette Reading the Ending
- Featurette Power Dynamics
- Featurette Objectification
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Maailma kõige ilusam poiss” and “Der schönste Junge der Welt - Björn Andrésen - Viscontis blonder Engel”.
- Also known as
-
- Maailma kõige ilusam poiss
- Der schönste Junge der Welt - Björn Andrésen - Viscontis blonder Engel
- Fallegasti drengur í heimi
- Pasaulē skaistākais zēns
- Самый красивый мальчик в мире
- 세상에서 가장 아름다운 소년
- El chico más bello del mundo
- Il ragazzo più bello del mondo
- 世界第一美少年
- Der schönste Junge der Welt
- L'ange blond de Visconti
- Verdens vakreste gutt
+6 more Show fewer
- Najpiękniejszy chłopiec na świecie
- Nejkrásnější chlapec na světě
- 世界で一番美しい少年
- Το Πιο Όμορφο Αγόρι Του Κόσμου
- O Rapaz Mais Belo do Mundo
- O Garoto Mais Bonito do Mundo
Seen The Most Beautiful Boy in the World?
Movies Like The Most Beautiful Boy in the World
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Death in Venice, Best and Most Beautiful Things and Boys.
-
Death in Venice 1971 -
Best and Most Beautiful Things 2016 -
Boys 1977 -
Life After the NeverEnding Story 2024 -
On Beauty 2015 -
Beauty Boys 2020 -
Beautiful Losers 2008 -
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful 2020 -
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki 2017 -
The Golden Boy 2023 -
The Best of Youth 2005 -
A Most Beautiful Thing 2020
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Most Beautiful Boy in the World?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was The Most Beautiful Boy in the World released?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World was released on September 24, 2021.
Who directed The Most Beautiful Boy in the World?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World was directed by Kristian Petri and Kristina Lindström.
More films by Kristian Petri Who is in the cast of The Most Beautiful Boy in the World?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World stars Björn Andrésen, Melanie Hubert and Riyoko Ikeda, among 11 credited actors.
How much did The Most Beautiful Boy in the World make at the box office?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World grossed $10,443 worldwide.
How is The Most Beautiful Boy in the World rated?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
Was The Most Beautiful Boy in the World nominated for any awards?
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World received 3 nominations across 3 ceremonies.
Does The Most Beautiful Boy in the World have a post-credit scene?
No. The Most Beautiful Boy in the World 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
