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About a Boy
2002 101 min United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany PG-13 12+
★7.8
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
🎭 Based on
«About a Boy»
byNick Hornby
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.
Budget:
$27M
US Gross:
$41.39M
Worldwide:
$129M
Starring
Hugh Grant
Actor
Nicholas Hoult
Actor
Toni Collette
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2003
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 2003
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
BAFTA 2003
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2003
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 2003
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Key opinion
About a Boy is widely praised as a warm, emotionally resonant character study that avoids typical genre clichés. While some viewers feel the ending is overly convenient or sentimental, the central relationship between the characters anchors the film and provides meaningful thematic depth.
| Acting | Hugh Grant anchors the film with a standout, charismatic performance that successfully subverts his typical typecasting. | |
| Acting | Nicholas Hoult delivers a sophisticated and convincing debut performance that balances vulnerability and wit. | |
| The film effectively explores the theme that human connection is essential and that adults and children can teach each other valuable life lessons. | ||
| Score | Badly Drawn Boy’s score provides an essential, mood-enhancing atmosphere that perfectly complements the film's pacing. | |
| Ending | While some viewers find the resolution heartfelt and earned, others critique the conclusion as cheesy, formulaic, or an underwhelming departure from the source material. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is appreciated for its calm, contemplative nature, though some critics argue that the plot occasionally drags. |