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DramaRomanceCrime Busan 2019 · A Window on Asian Cinema Editor's Pick

Better Days Review (2019) — 81% Celluloid Score

Directed by Derek Tsang · 2019 ·

Short answer

Is Better Days worth watching?

Yes. Better Days (2019) earns an 81% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

81%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

88% Editorial Rating
85% Audience snapshot · excluded
80 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.9
7.6 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 15m
Age rating
NR (US) · 15 (UK) · 14A (Canada) · PG13 (Singapore) · 15 (South Korea)
Cast
Zhou Dongyu , Jackson Yee , Yin Fang , Zhou Ye
Country
China
Language
Mandarin

Also known as 少年的你 Mejores días Dias Melhores 少年の君 소년시절의 너 Güzel Günler ไม่มีวัน ไม่มีฉัน ไม่มีเธอ Em Của Thời Niên Thiếu

🏆 4 award wins · 1 nomination — Won Best Feature Film, Golden Horse Awards 2019

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Netflix, Disney+ in South Korea. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Better Days by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Hulu, U-NEXT
South Korea Netflix, Disney+

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (88/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (85%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (80/100).
  • Celluloid Score 81% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, romance, crime pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Better Days worth watching?

    Yes — Better Days earns an 81% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, romance, crime pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Devastating and tender — Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee anchor a school-bullying drama that earned global awards attention while navigating censorship with surprising emotional honesty.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Better Days about?

    A bullied high-school girl forms a protective bond with a street-smart teenage fighter as campus violence spirals toward tragedy — Derek Tsang's adaptation became China's Oscar International Feature nominee and a Golden Rooster sweep.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Better Days

    Better Days (2019) Review: Two Outcasts Against the World

    Better Days is Derek Tsang's harrowing Chinese drama about a bullied student and the young street fighter who protects her, a raw, tender and gripping film.

    Yes. It is a harrowing but deeply moving youth drama with two superb lead performances, for viewers ready for difficult themes of bullying and violence.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Better Days stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Better Days production still 1
    Better Days production still 2
    Better Days production still 3
    Better Days production still 4
    Better Days production still 5
    Better Days production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Better Days: frequently asked questions

    Is Better Days worth watching?

    Yes. Better Days (2019) has a Celluloid Score of 81%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Better Days?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home. Elsewhere: Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix, Disney+ in South Korea. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Better Days?

    Better Days runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).

    What is Better Days rated?

    Better Days is rated NR in the United States, 15 in the UK, 14A in Canada, PG13 in Singapore and 15 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Better Days?

    Better Days is directed by Derek Tsang and stars Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Yin Fang, Zhou Ye.

    What is the Metascore for Better Days?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Better Days is 80 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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