The History Boys
Seen it?2006 | 109 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (66% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 49 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
The story of an unruly class of bright, funny history students at a Yorkshire grammar school in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge. Bounced between their maverick English master, a young and shrewd teacher hired to up their test scores, a grossly out-numbered history teacher, and a headmaster obsessed with results, the boys attempt to pass.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
66% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$13 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 86K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
- Richard GriffithsHector
- Stephen Campbell MooreIrwin
- Dominic CooperDakin
- Samuel BarnettPosner
- James CordenTimms
- Russell ToveyRudge
- Samuel AndersonCrowther
- Jamie ParkerScripps
- Andrew KnottLockwood
- Sacha DhawanAkhtar