The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Name: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Genre: Drama, War, History
Released: 2008-05-07
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, David Hayman

2008 | 94 min | Drama, War, History

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Audiences rate it highly (7.8 out of 10) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for history buffs. If you loved The Great Escape, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood: Intense.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 34 min.
What might put you off: Critics were cooler on it than audiences.

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls.

How it earned its rating

CriticsSolid
65% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesStrong
7.8 out of 10
AwardsBelow par
1 win and 5 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
Box office & staying powerSolid
$20 million worldwide on a $13 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 686K people sought it out in the past year