American Beauty
1999 | 122 min | Drama
Why it’s a Friday Night Flick
Audiences adore it (8.0/10), it won 5 Oscars, it made about 24 times its budget and people are still talking about it. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Have you seen it?
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Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic
- AudiencesVery strong
8.0/10 from 13K viewers
- AwardsVery strong
10 wins, 4 other nominations — won Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay; won Academy Award for Best Picture
- Box office & staying powerVery strong
$356 million worldwide on a $15 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
1.1 million Wikipedia readers in the past year
Where to watch in US
HooplaRent or buy: JustWatch TV Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Trailer
Cast & crew
Directed by Sam Mendes
- Kevin SpaceyLester Burnham
- Annette BeningCarolyn Burnham
- Thora BirchJane Burnham
- Wes BentleyRicky Fitts
- Mena SuvariAngela Hayes
- Peter GallagherBuddy Kane
- Allison JanneyBarbara Fitts
- Chris CooperColonel Fitts
- Scott BakulaJim Olmeyer
- Sam RobardsJim Berkley