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Drama

The Son (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Son (2022) movie poster

The Son is a 2022 drama directed by Florian Zeller, starring Hugh Jackman as Peter, Vanessa Kirby and Laura Dern. It is based on The Son by Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes and earned $3.6 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. Critics gave it 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 45 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
28%
worldwide gross
$3.6M
Echo Score
45
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The Son (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 3m (123 min)
Director
Florian Zeller
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Son About?

The premise of The Son without spoilers, adapted from The Son by Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A man's life is thrown into turmoil when his teenage son unexpectedly comes to live with him. As he attempts to navigate the challenges of fatherhood and a budding relationship, he’s forced to examine his own difficult upbringing. Balancing the weight of past mistakes with the demands of the present proves difficult, and he risks missing the opportunity to build a meaningful connection with his son.

The Son Themes & Keywords

· 46 tags
  • father son relationship
  • son
  • suicide
  • depression
  • baby
  • bare chested male
  • man in a shower
  • attempted suicide
  • psychiatric hospital
  • 17 year old boy
  • partner
  • love
+34 more
  • life
  • hairy chest
  • man in swimsuit
  • majorca
  • father
  • teen angst
  • alienation
  • loner
  • family conflict
  • weeping man
  • crying man
  • emotional distress
  • washington d.c.
  • new york city
  • self harm
  • washing machine
  • apartment
  • confrontation
  • gun shot off camera
  • skipping school
  • step mother step son relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • school
  • classroom
  • self mutilation
  • flashback
  • boat
  • hat
  • beach
  • australian actor playing american character
  • domestic drama
  • psychological drama
  • depressione
  • based on play
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Cast & crew

The Son Cast & Characters

Hugh Jackman leads the cast as Peter, with Vanessa Kirby as Beth and Laura Dern as Kate. Directed by Florian Zeller; 14 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Florian Zeller

One more film directed by Florian Zeller: The Father.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Son Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Son 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 45 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

45 /100

The Son Echo Score Breakdown

The Son elicits a mixed response, with its standout ensemble cast unable to overcome structural and tonal shortcomings. Critics commend the strong performances but repeatedly fault the direction, pacing, and screenplay for feeling uninspired and overly bleak. User commentary reflects similar divisions, noting moments of emotional resonance alongside a narrative that often drifts into heaviness. Consequently, the film’s lasting appeal is limited, positioning it as a competent but flawed drama that struggles to sustain repeat viewings.

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

  • Art & Craft 40

    In terms of direction and visual craft, the film is perceived as uneven and overly conventional. Critics describe the direction as uninspired and the overall style as resembling high‑budget television rather than cinema. A few reviewers note occasional beautiful moments, yet these are outweighed by the lack of stylistic confidence. The art and craft therefore register as modest and inconsistent.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to acting and character work, the cast receives considerable praise. Performances by Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby, and Anthony Hopkins are repeatedly highlighted as strong and nuanced. However, reviewers also point out a deficit in character depth, with the script failing to fully develop emotional stakes. Overall, the talent lifts the material, resulting in a solid but not flawless character impression.

  • Story & Flow 35

    The narrative structure is widely regarded as a weakness. Critics label the plot as cloying, the pacing as sluggish, and the conclusion as unsatisfying. Users echo this sentiment, noting that the story’s emotional climax lacks impact and that the treatment of depression feels superficial. The combination of predictable beats and uneven pacing leads to a low assessment of story coherence and engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Sensory elements receive relatively neutral commentary. Few reviewers discuss the soundtrack or sound design, and visual style is mentioned only in passing as occasionally beautiful. The lack of strong sensory highlights suggests an adequate but unremarkable execution. Consequently, the sensory experience is viewed as competent without offering distinctive or memorable qualities.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    Rewatch potential is limited by the film’s heavy tone and narrative shortcomings. Critics describe the viewing experience as misery‑laden, and users indicate that both teenagers and parents may find the film tedious. While some emotional moments linger, the overall bleakness and structural flaws diminish the desire for repeated viewings, resulting in a low rewatch factor.

Plot

The Son Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Son from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In this intimate drama, Peter Miller is newly married to his second wife, Beth, and together they are raising their newborn son Theo. His ex-wife, Kate, arrives unannounced with troubling news: their 17-year-old son, Nicholas, is deeply depressed and has dropped out of school.

Although Peter barely knows Nicholas, he agrees to take him in. He also carries a fraught history with his own father, Anthony, a man who was cruel and often absent, a stain Peter has been trying to move beyond in order to be a better father to Nicholas.

Full summary

The whole story of The Son, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Son Box Office & Budget

The Son grossed $3.6 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, 60% of what it cost. $449,650 came from the US and Canada and $3.2 million (88%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.6M

60% of its budget back

US & Canada
$449.7K
International
$3.2M
Budget
$6M
US & Canada 12% Rest of the world 88%
Videos

The Son Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser Teaser Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Son?

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 portrays the lead character Peter Miller?

Cars

Cars in The Son

11 cars on screen, including the 2015 BMW 528i F10 and the Lincoln Town Car.

All 11 cars
  • 2015 BMW 528i F10 in The Son 2015 BMW 528i F10 Minor role
  • Lincoln Town Car in The Son Lincoln Town Car Minor role
  • 2015 Toyota Camry in The Son 2015 Toyota Camry Minor role
  • 2017 Acura MDX in The Son 2017 Acura MDX Background role

Seen The Son?

FAQ

The Son FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Son?

The Son runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).

When was The Son released?

The Son was released on November 25, 2022.

Who directed The Son?

The Son was directed by Florian Zeller.

More films by Florian Zeller

Who is in the cast of The Son?

The Son stars Hugh Jackman as Peter, Vanessa Kirby as Beth and Laura Dern as Kate, among 14 credited actors.

How much did The Son make at the box office?

The Son grossed $3.6 million worldwide ($449,650 domestic, $3.2 million international) on a budget of $6 million.

How is The Son rated?

The Son has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, 45 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

Is The Son based on a book?

Yes. The Son is adapted from The Son by Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton.

Does The Son have a post-credit scene?

No. The Son has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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