Beau Is Afraid

Name: Beau Is Afraid
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Comedy
Released: April 14, 2023
Duration: 179 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Amy Ryan, Joaquin Phoenix, Kylie Rogers, Michael Gandolfini, Nathan Lane

2023

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 51 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: April 14, 2023 | R

Starring: Amy Ryan, Joaquin Phoenix, Kylie Rogers, Michael Gandolfini, Nathan Lane, Parker Posey, Patti LuPone, Richard Kind, Stephen Henderson, Zoe Lister Jones

Summary: A paranoid man embarks on an epic odyssey to get home to his mother.

Director: Ari Aster

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 179 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Donald Clarke

May 17, 2023

Beau Is Afraid is all clatter and stress and movement, but the director is in control throughout, engineering both comic set pieces and existential show trials with equal invention. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Apr 10, 2023

While this psychodrama satirises our tendency to scapegoat our parents for our own failings, Aster is even more searing when he takes Beau’s trauma seriously, resulting in a film with meticulously executed tonal command and emotional nuance. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Apr 10, 2023

Beau Is Afraid, an enveloping fantasy laced with mommy issues, is about being doomed from birth. It's Aster’s funniest movie yet. Read full review

Richard Lawson

Apr 11, 2023

Whatever LuPone is doing, it’s undeniable. Here, long into a meandering and fitfully rewarding film, is something worthy of fear—or maybe it’s awe. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Apr 19, 2023

Aster, who also directed the excellent “Hereditary” and the somewhat less excellent “Midsommar,” has the audience where he wants it — off-kilter, uncomfortable, bewildered. It’s his comfort zone, but not ours. Whether you enjoy this kind of manipulation will go a long way toward deciding how much you like the film. Read full review

Alison Willmore

Apr 20, 2023

It packs the screen with witty details, features some brilliantly directed sequences, sets up downright baroque punchlines, and is anchored by an incredibly game performance by Phoenix. But ditching the genre framework doesn’t make it feel more honest — its self-deflating comedy is, ironically, that of someone afraid of being taken seriously. Read full review

The Film Stage Fran Hoepfner

Apr 10, 2023

Beau Is Afraid relies on subverting expectations so frequently that its twists become predictable, if not rote. Read full review

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User Reviews

huginodensen

Jun 22, 2023

Me gusto mucho, tiene todo el formato de sus peliculas anterioes, nos lleva por un lugar donde no sabemos que va a pasar, de un terror psicologico sin igual. De sus mejores peliculas

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

jakeyjake

Jul 3, 2023

Beau is Afraid is not a primary emotion. It's not a primary anything. Trying to sum up this film's content in a binary, black or white, way or description is virtually impossible. So much of this film, it's humor, it's dramatic moments, it's more emotional moments, simply can't be classifiedBeau is Afraid is not a primary emotion. It's not a primary anything. Trying to sum up this film's content in a binary, black or white, way or description is virtually impossible. So much of this film, it's humor, it's dramatic moments, it's more emotional moments, simply can't be classified as "basic". This is a very funny movie, this is a very dark and depressing movie, it is a very thought provoking movie. And it is also very strange. To some, it could be infuriatingly strange. But I think to others, this movie could bring up a lot of alloyed emotions about very sensitive subjects such as trauma, grief, guilt and mental illness.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVGravy

Apr 25, 2023

I liked Hereditary and Midsommar, both of which I've watched in the theater. I believe Ari Aster has shown himself to be a competent director, capable of making interesting films backed with excellent performances. I thought it would be worth it to check out his latest, Beau is Afraid. II liked Hereditary and Midsommar, both of which I've watched in the theater. I believe Ari Aster has shown himself to be a competent director, capable of making interesting films backed with excellent performances. I thought it would be worth it to check out his latest, Beau is Afraid. I found it to be a long, unrelenting, and disturbing film. I wouldn't be surprised if many label it as unwatchable, and I wouldn't blame them. This is going to be a very polarizing film. That said, I loved it. It is exquisitely shot, wonderfully acted, and hilarious. I was chuckling throughout the entire movie, while also feeling a wide mix of emotions scene after scene. It is a lot to take in, and even days after watching it, I still feel like I'm processing this movie. Beau is Afraid is a 179 minute nightmare, but I enjoyed every minute of it.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

rahmanism

Aug 31, 2023

Fantastic acting of Joaquin Phoenix. It starts good, it goes good, but I didn't like the ending of the movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RMckay

Jun 17, 2023

So, first off, I just want to say how much I would love to give this film a higher score just because of the sheer fun I had watching it. Fun factor is surely a 10. But to grade it just by fun-factor would be irresponsible as a amateur critic, haha. It was surely a mess, albeit a controlledSo, first off, I just want to say how much I would love to give this film a higher score just because of the sheer fun I had watching it. Fun factor is surely a 10. But to grade it just by fun-factor would be irresponsible as a amateur critic, haha. It was surely a mess, albeit a controlled one. I've seen these controlled messes before and sometimes they work (Synechdoche NY by Kaufman) and sometimes they just fall flat on their faces (Cloud Atlas by Wachowskis). You gotta admire the depth Aster goes into on this big fat metaphors and slices of life condensed. Lot's of great Oedipal metaphors, mixed with 'seize the day' moods. I just had a blast deconstructing it. But at the end of the day it doesn't tie up nicely with a bow (or Beau, if you will, haha) like something like Kaufman would make. And also at the end of the day, we have to remember that we're dealing with a horror director here. So it's not quite as "heady" as it looks. But we've got some fabulous editing, great mixed media, a different kind of Phoenix shows up for this one, more subdued and quirky than ever, with a supporting cast that does just that, and does it well. Like I said, I would love to give this film a 9. And were it directed or re-written by someone like Charlie Kaufman, maybe it'd get there? But this was also a cluster of metaphors for cluster's sake and got a little messy. Definitely watch it! But I don't think you'll be jumping up to tell your friends afterward. You will have a good time though with this surrealist mind bender. One word to describe, 'fun'. Not mindblowing though. Which is what I was hoping for.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SideOrderoLemon

Apr 24, 2023

Beau is Afraid is certainly a wild ride, but compared to Ari Aster's other works, kinda limps a little bit. However, to compare his other films to this is a disservice to the reason this film is out now, as this started as a passion project gone almost entirely off the rails. To pick at theBeau is Afraid is certainly a wild ride, but compared to Ari Aster's other works, kinda limps a little bit. However, to compare his other films to this is a disservice to the reason this film is out now, as this started as a passion project gone almost entirely off the rails. To pick at the themes of the film is unnecessary, as the movie sorta tells you up front what it's about; Guilt. Beau's anxiety eats at his mind every second of every day, and his past with his mother does not help one bit. One thing for certain is that this is definitely Ari Aster's most surreal film, playing into Beau's mental health problems as well as Aster's adolescent sense of humor, which also makes it his funniest movie so far. What is so polarizing about this movie I feel is that surreal non-linear formatting of scenes, which while I feel fits well with Beau and how he may view people and the world, feel a little out of place and forced, even for this type of film. The worst part I feel, however, is the final 20 or 30 minutes. The ending feels extremely rushed and not warranted in any way and just seems to go all out on the surreal just for the sake of having a memorable conclusion, even if I do agree it ties everything up alright. If you're in the mood to have your brain split in two, then this is a must watch, but if you're looking for a film by one of the greatest thriller/horror directors of our time, well, you're better off with Midsommar or Hereditary.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Cincom

Apr 26, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is overly long. There are parts of it that are very funny but the biggest problem this movie has is its main character. Beau is ineffectual, bland and boring. He's a human being whose spark has been drained from him due to his life circumstances. You feel bad for him but you also don't want to spend 3 hours with the guy. At no point in this movie do you care enough about the character of Beau that you want to see him actually get to any sort of destination. Nor does Beau develop enough as a character that makes his odyssey worth watching. His world is filled with terrible people who do terrible things to each other. Your time is important, use it elsewhere.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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