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American Beauty poster

Film · 1999

American Beauty

Directed by Sam Mendes · starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Thora Birch

  • 2 h 2 min
  • 18
  • Drama
  • USA
  • Released in the UK 3 February 2000
  • 8.7 Users77 votes

Synopsis

Lester Burnham, a man in his mid-40s going through an intense midlife crisis; he's grown cynical and is convinced that he has no reason to go on. Lester's relationship with his wife Carolyn is not a warm one; while on the surface Carolyn strives to present the image that she's in full control of her life, inside she feels empty and desperate. Their teenage daughter Jane is constantly depressed, lacking in self-esteem, and convinced that she's unattractive. Her problems aren't helped by her best friend Angela, an aspiring model who is quite beautiful and believes that that alone makes her a worthwhile person. Jane isn't the only one who has noticed that Angela is attractive: Lester has fallen into uncontrollable lust for her, and she becomes part of his drastic plan to change his body and change his life. Meanwhile, next door, Colonel Fitts has spent a lifetime in the Marine Corps and can understand and tolerate no other way of life, which makes life difficult for his son Ricky, an aspiring filmmaker and part-time drug dealer who is obsessed with beauty, wherever and whatever it may be.

Where to watch American Beauty

All the options

Available now in the UK:

The essentials

Runtime
122 min2 hours and 2 minutes
Budget
$15mDreamWorks SKG
Rating
18Suitable only for adults
How long is American Beauty?
2 hours and 2 minutes (122 minutes).
When was American Beauty released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 3 February 2000.
Who directed American Beauty?
Sam Mendes.
Who is in American Beauty?
It stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch and Wes Bentley.
Where can I watch American Beauty?
In the UK you can watch it on subscription on Paramount+ and with a channel on Apple TV.
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Director
Sam Mendes
Writers
Alan Ball
Producers
Alan Ball

Videos and trailers

See the video

Reviews

8.7 77 votes
  • 1019 %
  • 936 %
  • 829 %
  • 79 %
  • 64 %
  • ≤53 %
  • Academy Awards (Oscars) 2000 5 of 8 nominations Won: Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing
  • Golden Globes 2000 3 of 6 nominations Won: Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Directing - Motion Picture
  • BAFTA Awards 2000 6 of 14 nominations Won: Best Film, Film Best Actor
  • Actor Awards 2000 3 of 4 nominations Won: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Soundtrack

All 18 songs
  1. BecauseElliott Smith Spotify
  2. TenderfootZen Dadio Spotify
  3. All Right NowFree Spotify
  4. We Haven't Turned AroundGomez Spotify
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