# American Beauty (1999) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/american-beauty-1999/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 83% |
| Critic Score | 85% |
| Audience Score | 87% |
| Metascore | 79/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4/5 |
| IMDb | 8.3/10 |
| Director | Sam Mendes |
| Genres | Drama |
| Runtime | 122 min |

## Quick answer

American Beauty (1999) earns a 83% Celluloid Score — Recommended. IMDb Top 250 #86 (8.3/10) — American Beauty remains one of the most highly rated films of all time. Metascore 79/100. Directed by Sam Mendes.

## Critics consensus

IMDb Top 250 #86 (8.3/10) — American Beauty remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

## Synopsis

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.

## Cast

Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Allison Janney, Chris Cooper, Scott Bakula, Sam Robards

## Common questions

**Is American Beauty worth watching?**
American Beauty holds a 83% Celluloid Score. IMDb Top 250 #86 (8.3/10) — American Beauty remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

**What is American Beauty about?**
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.

**Who directed American Beauty?**
American Beauty (1999) was directed by Sam Mendes.

**What is the Celluloid Score of American Beauty?**
83% — the average of five public sources: critics 85%, audience 87%, Metascore 79/100, Letterboxd 4/5, and IMDb 8.3/10.

**Where can I watch American Beauty?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the American Beauty page for current options.

---
Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/american-beauty-1999.md