Watch
American Beauty

American Beauty

1999
Romance, Comedy
2h 2m
Provoked by forbidden passions, Lester Burnham (Spacey) decides to make a few changes in his rut of a life, changes that are less midlife crisis than adolescence reborn. The freer he gets, the happier he gets, which is even more maddening to his wife, Carolyn (Bening), and daughter Jane (Birch) --especially when he turns his lustful gaze toward Jane's friend, the sultry Angela (Suvari). (Dreamworks SKG)
Your probable score
?

American Beauty

1999
Romance, Comedy
2h 2m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 68.1% from 22789 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(22789)
Compact view
Compact view
Rated 30 Jul 2012
3
73rd
White People Problems: The Movie
Rated 09 Jun 2021
40
10th
This movie did what no other movie had done, nay, what no other movie could have done and suggested that suburban life contains problems. This had previously been outlawed by the Hays Code which stated that if you could afford a house within a metropolitan area, you were therefore not to be harmed by the trivialities of actuality. Breaking with 65 years of tradition, this film was bolstered by its fearless depiction of a man quitting his own job. Several audience members were hospitalized.
Rated 29 Aug 2008
100
98th
This is not just another 'silly crap of Hollywood'. It's certainly an exception. Watch it without any prejudice and you'll see what I mean. I really understand why Ingmar Bergman liked this film and why he was so misunderstood ...
Rated 17 Dec 2006
65
30th
Eh. It has some good moments (I actually quite liked the much-maligned "paperbag blowing in the wind" scene), but it's nowhere near as profound as it wants to be. It's like someone took a standard sit-com plot and tried to make an Important, Meaningful Movie out of it, but forgot to take out some of the sit-com parts. But again, it has some nice moments, and Kevin Spacey is very good.
Rated 03 Jun 2009
3
38th
The more I see it, the less melodramatic it seems and the funnier it becomes.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
14
14th
What a normal movie. Yes the acting is fair, but the plot is far from "groundbreaking" and or "revolutionary." I bet there are thousands of families just like this all over America. Visit your next-door neighbor for a more exciting ride... You might even get a free dinner!
Rated 03 Mar 2008
85
91st
Wonderful simile about how people can fool themselves into thinking that anything in life is more important than being happy. As another user summed up perfectly, the characters were basically "hyperbolized caricatures" of themselves. I percieve this to be a strength of the movie, as it seems very intentional. It influences the viewer to note the "fakeness" of the characters, as they are simply "acting" and trying to force themselves into being content with their miserable lives.
Rated 05 Jan 2009
75
79th
Spacey might be my favorite actor. Let down by the overwhelming pretentiousness of the movie. Here's a bag blowing in the wind. Well here's a 75 and a less than stellar review on the internet, prick!
Rated 08 Jul 2009
45
22nd
Haven't seen it since it came out, so I have no detailed recollection, but one of those films that seems to be designed to make the average movie watcher believe they've seen something deep and profound.
Rated 22 Jan 2007
87
88th
I really don't know why this film is classified as a "drama." Through and through it's a comedy for me. When there aren't direct jokes between characters the sheer absurdity and hatred of "suburban living" the film portrays is itself hilarious. Spacey is actually, and ironically, captivating as his role of the average uninteresting and pacified american male. Bening is hilarious as well as the "20th century woman" clashing with "the ideal wife" role. Hilarious film, well worth seeing.
Rated 11 May 2007
10
3rd
Extremely overrated film about nothing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
40
17th
*YAWN* Wake me when it ends. A talented cast wasted on a film with zero interest or substance.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
35
19th
Wildly over-praised. A phenomenon of which I have become aware is that, between the mid- and late-1990s, films featuring Kevin Spacey attracted more praise than they deserved. I would submit as evidence L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, SEVEN, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and this film, which probably represents the peak of this phenomenon.
Rated 16 Mar 2008
93
75th
It's not the brilliant drama it aspires to be, full of insight into the social problems of the American middle class. Instead, it's a comedy that takes itself far too seriously but is still just a bit too enjoyable. I think the thing that gets me is the fact that Kevin Spacey seems delighted to be making this movie throughout; his charm really pours over into me.
Rated 17 Apr 2009
1
8th
Cheesy uneven rubbish. I hate the relationships and how characters come to be and so much about this. Even monotone delivery made me wanna throw up, luckily there was a beautiful bag dancing in the wind for me to use. Trash.
Rated 18 May 2009
45
17th
What a bunch of pretentious dreck. Alan Ball is solely at fault here, penning a brainless script with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the groin.
Rated 01 Jul 2011
50
28th
It was a bit shocking how utterly simplistic and obvious everything about this movie was. Boy, monogamy sure is hard! Drugs sure are fun! Pretty girls sure are boring! Marines sure are strict and homophobes unless they, uh oh, hide a dark secret! A mainly piano soundtrack sure make simplistic things seem profound! The acting of everyone whose character wasn't an insultingly simplistic caricature was decent at least.
Rated 25 Nov 2006
0
0th
By the end of the title credits you already know that the moral of the story is "be happy with what you've got" or so, and then you get beaten over the head with it bluntly for the next two hours. One of the stupidest, lousiest movies I've ever endured.
Rated 01 Feb 2007
91
96th
Making peace with your own desires is the hallmark of maturity, even if it can lead you in some strange directions now and again. Eventually you'll be better for it, despite everything else.
Rated 07 Mar 2007
4
74th
If its message and themes are heavy-handed and corny, they're at least always true-to-life and poignant. It does a great job of portraying starkly contrasting emotions without losing its aim or power. Spacey gives an almost iconic performance supported by equally deranged and compelling characters that are probably some of the most memorable of the 90's.
Rated 18 Mar 2007
90
86th
American Beauty is a great movie that depicts suburban families with issues that everyone can relate to. Though it's a little exploitive of basic family emotions it's still an excellent provacative movie that will surely be enjoyed by anyone who isn't intimidated by corrupted morality in a movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
97
98th
A fantastic film about fighting the mundaneness of suburban life. Passion, beauty, humor, and plastic bags on film are all part of what make this one of the most breathtaking films ever made. Kevin Spacey's Academy Award winning leading role is supremely deserved for his performance in this incredible film, and Thomas Newman's leitmotif's will keep your ears happy, even if you think the plastic bag thing is weird. Awesome!
Rated 10 Jul 2008
100
99th
One of the best movies I've ever seen. Especially the superb humour and the brilliant dialogues are what i've loved in this film. Just brilliant if you like this kind of humour.
Rated 10 Jan 2009
100
98th
Lester Burnham's "last temptations" as a crying wink to the family of today. An instant american classic in a Golden Era way.
Rated 14 Jul 2009
90
93rd
What a beautiful & inspirational story this was. This film takes you behind the locked doors of a typical sub-urban home and shows you the true price of the American dream. The timing of this movie was impeccable, meaning it came out right when America needed to be humbled. One thing I loved is how relateable every single character is. This was only made applicable through stellar acting. American Beauty... I couldn't think of a better title - or a better way to describe this movie.
Rated 25 Mar 2010
90
93rd
ban this sick filth
Rated 26 Jul 2010
70
26th
Not bad, but watching it after 6 years since the last time I saw, it looks a lot less intelligent.
Rated 27 Sep 2010
40
14th
Overrated as shit. This is one of those movies casual movie watchers bring up to me to try to show how advanced they are with their movie tastes. Once I tell them I really don't like it (and that I dislike the Boondock Saints because they always seem to like it too) they think I am a movie elitist. Just because something tries to act really deep doesn't mean it is. Who doesn't think a plastic bag caught in the wind in awe-inspiring?
Rated 28 Mar 2011
95
98th
People need to give up bitching about the plastic bag. That is not what makes this movie good or give anything to the meaning. If somebody tells you the bag has meaning, feel free to kick them in the dick (or punch their tit or something if its a chick). But I say it is impossible to not find Spacey hilarious in this, he rules and is why this movie is worth watching.
Rated 05 Oct 2011
90
94th
A great little film that can be interpreted in so many ways. Through colors, cues, music, set pieces, props and camerawork, Mendes masterfully crafts the Burnham family's journey through escaping the imprisonment and artificiality of suburban life in America. Spacey and Bening are great at the lead, but some scenes in the last act (particularly ones involving the Ricky Fitts character) seem a bit pretentious and bog it down. Still, a great look into true happiness. Funny, too.
Rated 14 Sep 2012
93
94th
Ruined by real world Kevin Spacey context & I can no longer recommend this movie to anyone. Pre-scandal review: The atmosphere alone creates a tense and uncomfortable vision that puts emphasis on the duality of Subarban life; more specifically, it makes effective use of lighting to display the difference in superficial appearance (daytime) and the darker truths (nighttime). Heavy handed at times and a little full of itself, it's still a benchmark American film & Spacey is brilliant.
Rated 31 Dec 2006
96
99th
Awesome introspect of upper class suburbia.
Rated 20 Mar 2007
78
76th
A dark dramedy featuring a great performance from Kevin Spacey. The Oscars ate it up, and so did a sizable audience, but I wasn't totally sold out for it.
Rated 02 May 2007
25
26th
A film that mocks and caricatures the suburbs, then expects us to take it seriously? Filled with stereotypical characters and predictable outcomes.
Rated 12 Jul 2007
100
99th
One of my favorite movies. A great screenplay, and Kevin Spacey is fantastic.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
81
87th
Works great as a comedy. Don't go in expecting to get your life changed though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
99
99th
A movie like this only comes along once in a great while. One that's emotional, moving, inspiring, funny, and tragic all at the same time. Kevin Spacey won a deserved Academy Award for this film. For all naysayers about the film, just ignore the plastic bag and you'll still get through the movie all right.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
98
97th
Spacey is the everyman's aspiration and following his journey to paradisiacal salvation amongst the beauty of the world is thought-provoking. This film could have been wrong, every bit of it. What makes it so amazing is not just the wonderful script by Ball, but the talent that was recruited to bring it to life. Newman's score is so haunting and poignant, Hall's cinematography is free and unique, and Mendes' direction in conducting all of this together is truly admirable. Perfect.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
7
68th
I like this movie but the scene with the bag is beyond terrible. Wanna see the most beautiful thing I ever filmed? Then he shows her a video of a bag blowing in the wind. Wow scene, you are a cunt
Rated 14 Aug 2007
96
99th
Best film ever made IMHO. Incredible sound track, perfect performances all round, and a great look at the death of the American Dream (even moreso than the film version of Death of a Salesman)
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
49th
Though it loses a lot upon repeat viewings, the initial effect of the movie is still powerful.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
88th
Good movie. Dark, sad, depressing and at times, surprisingly funny. Spacey gives a stellar performance- he totally deserved the Oscar.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
92
95th
This has more and more poigniancy as I get older. The first two times I saw it, I was relatively unphased. Everytime thereafter, however, I've wept at the closing montage.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
45
12th
Overrated bullshit.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
94th
Extremely well-crafted across the board, with numerous moments of greatness. Probably the most tragic of funny films since THE GRADUATE. Or is it the funniest tragedy?
Rated 20 Dec 2007
91
88th
Great soundtrack, the way the film was directed kept me entertained.
Rated 31 Dec 2007
85
76th
It's cliched by this point, but that's not the film's fault so much as the fault of the unworthy pretenders.
Rated 08 Feb 2008
82
72nd
The plastic bag scene was really important for me at the time, as I remember feeling that very same way about alot of things. To see it expressed so clearly on film was a thrill.
Rated 29 Mar 2008
97
99th
One of the first movies to pick up on the disturbing currents beneath the calm waters of suburbia, and possibly the best.
Rated 05 Apr 2008
94
98th
A really thought provoking picture. A must see.
Rated 13 May 2008
68
44th
It feels like it's trying too hard to be weird and by the end it just becomes annoying.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
97
96th
One of my favorite films. Great characters and excellent writing.
Rated 31 Jul 2008
96
97th
I had my doubts on this one, but it really came through in the end. At first, the movie seemed very flat to me, and my expectations were low, but the character development towards the end of the movie was a very pleasant surprise. Very good all in all.
Rated 02 Sep 2008
82
79th
Chicks covered in rose petals and Kevin Spacey. Can it get any better than that?
Rated 22 Sep 2008
90
97th
Everything is at it's place in this movie. Some comedic elements actually turn this film in to tragedy towards the end. Great story of one's attempt to change his life in the middle of american dream.
Rated 29 Nov 2008
100
95th
My Favorite
Rated 10 Jan 2009
5
56th
Although it lacks any subtlety and isn't nearly as profound as it wants to be, it is still competently made and often very funny, for the first half at least.
Rated 25 Jan 2009
85
94th
a midlife crisis. Great acting by Kevin Spacey.
Rated 07 Mar 2009
60
15th
Some good ideas here, but it's about as steeped in eye-rolling, cloying pretension as any film I've ever seen (almost Garden State bad). The painful script and acting aside, it has its moments, with good humour and an impressive performance from the unknown Bentley. The soundtrack, of course, is beautiful. Thomas Newman was undermined by the film in my opinion. -- To paraphrase a quote from the film: "Sometimes life is hard, but it's not supposed to be easy, because easy things aren't hard."
Rated 08 Jun 2009
79
89th
Kevin Spacey wanking in the shower, 16-year old tits, and a gay army officer. Sounds a bit off doesn't it, but they really pull it off.
Rated 26 Jun 2009
88
92nd
Spacey is awesome
Rated 20 Aug 2009
86
98th
Like it or not; if you haven't seen this you are movie-illiterate.
Rated 03 Sep 2009
75
35th
idk man I liked it as a teen but haven’t seen it in over 15 years but the whole yeahhhh man society is shit just go flip burgers and lust after a child trash is beautiful thing makes me think i probably never will again!!!
Rated 13 Sep 2009
88
95th
Funny, tragic, sad. For some reason I was expecting not to like it, but I actually enjoyed it a lot.
Rated 03 Nov 2009
87
91st
Bening is fantastic and Lester Burnham may be one of the most entertaining characters to grace the screen in a long time. Mendes does his thing by creating a visually beautiful film, but there are WAY too many cliches to make this a masterpiece. Nearly every line out of Wes Bently's mouth is complete nonsense and pretentious drivel. This film said enough without this character trying to force messages down the viewer's throat. Still, an entertaining film to say the least.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
80
42nd
Good performances, but pretentious and overrated.
Rated 07 Jan 2010
90
97th
Intoxicating and sobering.
Rated 21 Jan 2010
53
24th
Tries far too hard. Perhaps a bit unintentionally funny.
Rated 05 Feb 2010
61
69th
This movie has some moments of beauty, but unfortunately it also has moments where it only THINKS its being beautiful. I think my major problem is that the film is set up for the audience to identify with Ricky Fitts, while I kind of find him to be a self-important, pretentious teenage douche.
Rated 30 Aug 2010
100
99th
This to me is an example of a brilliant, brilliant film. Powerful in it's message and delivery, the characters have a depth and realness that reflects on and asks questions of society at the time and they are brought to life by superb acting. The cinematography and soundtrack tell as much of the story as the characters and within all of this is a breathtaking and unforgetable element of seen and unseen "beauty", and what it can truly mean.
Rated 20 Sep 2010
60
39th
Good acting almost but not quite redeems the hamfisted writing.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
90
97th
Sue me I liked it AND I thought the bag floating around was kinda pretty. Cuter than Mena Suvari anyways.
Rated 06 Dec 2011
90
97th
It took 11 years for me to come to an understanding of the plastic bag that I was comfortable with.
Rated 16 Dec 2011
68
44th
It's entertaining, however I didn't really find the social commentary particularly insightful or interesting. It boils down to just being a pretty good melodrama with some strange moments thrown in.
Rated 26 Jan 2012
5
4th
Another recommendation that I just didn't get. The shrillness of Annette Bening's character was grating, the plot was thin and boring. I couldn't care about this movie at all.
Rated 01 Jun 2012
97
98th
Denne filmen er så på kornet at det nesten er morsomt. Lester Burnham, spilt av Kevin Spacey, har ikke noe å tape og satser alt. Dette er kunst fra Sam Mendes' side. Fortellingen om plastposen for eksempel. Skjønnhet er individuelt, og man må se dypt for å forstå den.
Rated 30 Jun 2013
40
4th
One word as I finished watching this movie: weird. Like the trailer says, on the surface, you see this "typical" family in a typical suburban neighborhood. Look closer, and you see a broken family with problems plain and obvious. There were so many quirky characters in this movie that I could not relate to any of them and really sympathize.
Rated 20 May 2015
6
32nd
Sam Mendes's direction is more than competent and the cast--especially Spacey--is splendid, but "American Beauty" falls short due to its insistence on painting the detestable character of Lester Burnham as a misunderstood soul while condemning its other comparable characters in a near-pretentious fashion.
Rated 13 Apr 2016
60
40th
I was generally disappointed in American Beauty. Technically its very well put together. Kevin Spacey gives the smarmiest role of his life and pulls it off with relative ease. Annette Bening is also fantastic as his ball crushing wife. Obviously the content is a little controversial, but sometimes art can give insights into topics that make us uncomfortable. I don't believe American Beauty accomplishes that.
Rated 04 Aug 2017
85
98th
It's hard to imagine any movie tackling suburban ennui better than American Beauty has. My only criticism is that it's a bit lacking in self-awareness, as it can be a little too cruel to the characters it satirises, and a little too on-the-nose.
Rated 06 Dec 2017
64
56th
This movie has qualities sure, but it's also another addition to the list of movies that depict an arsehole as their main character and sneakily attempt at redeeming him.
Rated 27 Nov 2006
70
58th
I didn't think it was as great as all of the hype it got, but I definitely enjoyed watching it.
Rated 30 Nov 2006
100
98th
One of the best screenplays of all times and a film you can watch over and over again, it even gets better everytime you watch it. Basically one of the best stories ever put to the screen.
Rated 04 Dec 2006
89
63rd
One of my favorite
Rated 11 Dec 2006
87
69th
pretty good
Rated 12 Dec 2006
95
97th
Kevin Spacey owns this role. Too good.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
90
33rd
Would be perfect sans Mena Suvari's awful performance.
Rated 22 Dec 2006
82
61st
A tad overrated
Rated 25 Dec 2006
98
98th
If you haven't seen it, you need to.
Rated 02 Jan 2007
53
18th
Oh bugger off with your soft soap acting, Spacey. And up yours film for trying to be all deep and sensitive.
Rated 28 Jan 2007
40
13th
It's watchable and isn't boring, but there was nothing here that really impressed me. I really don't see what the fuss is about.
Rated 02 Feb 2007
50
35th
predictable twist, unoriginal and over rated...some pretty visuals...
Rated 17 Feb 2007
100
0th
O buraco é mais embaixo... e o roteirista Alan Ball usa da estética do American Way Of Life, não (apenas) como crítica à sociedade americana, mas toma-a num plano muito maior, como ilustração de um tema comum a todos: o medo das críticas alheias que nos impede de assumirmos nossa personalidade, e a vida infeliz que essa fraqueza pode nos levar. Na realidade, é uma grande mensagem sobre como devemos ser pessoas mais autênticas. É um exame de consciência que vale para todos nós.
Rated 21 Feb 2007
89
98th
A film that brilliantly delves into the mundanity of suburbian life without so much as a mundane moment. Suvari, Cooper, Bently, Spacey, and Birch give excellent performances, but all are exceeded by Bening's hilariously destroyed wife.
Rated 26 Feb 2007
80
95th
Excellent.
Rated 22 Mar 2007
80
61st
A potent reminder that I don't have nearly as many problems in my life as I think I do.
Rated 27 Mar 2007
86
88th
Very surreal feeling film. It scares me for all the wrong reasons.
Rated 31 Mar 2007
90
86th
The mainstream-sitcom version of _Happiness_, but still very good for what it is
Rated 11 May 2007
10
55th
In his directorial debut, Mendes ends up churning out a complex yet somewhat simple modern day classic filled with philosphical conflicts, all intelligently conveyed by smart camera work, brilliant acting, and Mise-en-scene.
Rated 16 May 2007
83
53rd
Moderately interesting.

Collections

(154)
Compact view
Showing 1 - 24 of 154 results

Similar Titles

Loading ...

Statistics

Loading ...