# This Boy's Life (1993) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/this-boys-life-1993/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-24

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 72% |
| Critic Score | 76% |
| Audience Score | 80% |
| Metascore | 60/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.5/5 |
| IMDb | 7.3/10 |
| Director | Michael Caton-Jones |
| Genres | Drama |
| Runtime | 115 min |

## Quick answer

This Boy's Life (1993) earns a 72% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Early DiCaprio opposite De Niro — a stepfather memoir of abuse, rebellion, and becoming Tobias Wolff. Metascore 60/100. Directed by Michael Caton-Jones.

## Critics consensus

Early DiCaprio opposite De Niro — a stepfather memoir of abuse, rebellion, and becoming Tobias Wolff.

## Synopsis

When a son and mother move to Seattle in hopes for a better life, the mother meets a seemingly polite man. Things go south when the man turns out to be abusive, endangering their lives. As the mother struggles to maintain hope in an impossible situation, the son has plans to escape.

## Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, Jonah Blechman, Eliza Dushku, Chris Cooper, Carla Gugino, Zachary Ansley, Tracey Ellis, Kathy Kinney

## Common questions

**Is This Boy's Life worth watching?**
This Boy's Life holds a 72% Celluloid Score. Early DiCaprio opposite De Niro — a stepfather memoir of abuse, rebellion, and becoming Tobias Wolff.

**What is This Boy's Life about?**
When a son and mother move to Seattle in hopes for a better life, the mother meets a seemingly polite man. Things go south when the man turns out to be abusive, endangering their lives. As the mother struggles to maintain hope in an impossible situation, the son has plans to escape.

**Who directed This Boy's Life?**
This Boy's Life (1993) was directed by Michael Caton-Jones.

**What is the Celluloid Score of This Boy's Life?**
72% — the average of five public sources: critics 76%, audience 80%, Metascore 60/100, Letterboxd 3.5/5, and IMDb 7.3/10.

**Where can I watch This Boy's Life?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the This Boy's Life page for current options.

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

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/this-boys-life-1993.md