American Beauty
Directed by Sam Mendes8.387%93%8.0
A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.
Where to Watch American Beauty
American Beauty Ratings & Reviews
- BostonJanuary 10, 2026White people am I right?
- JakeysDecember 24, 2025Phenomenal film, time has not been kind to this one but it still holds up for me. The common criticisms seem to be about the obvious problem between Spacey and Suvari, which is always addressed for what it is in the movie. I think because of Spacey's behaviour outside of the film people have re-evaluated it, but the story is sound. You should be able to understand Lester as a character even if you don't agree with him. There is also just the fact that the American dream the movie portrays is unobtainable by younger generations, so the evaluation is whether it's right for Lester to be unhappy about his cookie cutter life when people today would kill for such safety and security. That's a fairer criticism, but you should view the story in context of the time it was made. It's a grass is greener kind of thing too. There was a great Bill Burr quote kind of related to this, "Realize that sleeping on a futon when you're 30 is not the worst thing. You know what's worse, sleeping in a king bed next to a wife you're not really in love with but for some reason you married, and you got a couple kids, and you got a job you hate. You'll be laying there fantasizing about sleeping on a futon."
- CallumDecember 21, 2025⭐⭐⭐⭐½ – American Beauty — Control, Collapse, and the Search for Meaning American Beauty is a modern classic — a sharp, unsettling drama about control, dissatisfaction, and the quiet desperation of trying to find yourself before it’s too late. It’s one of those films that leaves you staring at the screen when it’s over, not because of what it shows you, but because of what it makes you reflect on. The performances across the board are undeniably strong. Every character feels lived-in, flawed, and painfully human. Kevin Spacey — pre-allegations — delivers a top-notch performance as a man who feels invisible within his own family, slowly unravelling as he tries to reclaim some sense of agency and joy. Whatever one thinks of him now, the performance itself is impossible to dismiss. What’s striking is how the film manages to balance its tone. It’s deeply disturbing in places, acerbically funny in others, and often both at once. The subject matter it’s known for is handled in a way that’s provocative without being sensationalist, and it’s not a stretch to view this as a modern echo of Nabokov’s Lolita — less about scandal for its own sake and more about obsession, projection, and moral decay. Despite its darkness, there’s something oddly life-affirming running through it. Beneath the satire and discomfort is a reminder about awareness, presence, and the fragile beauty in ordinary moments. It’s not a film that offers easy answers, but it does make you want to feel more, notice more, and maybe live a little more honestly. Brilliantly acted, highly sophisticated, and still uncomfortably relevant, American Beauty earns its place as one of the standout dramas of its era. 🍷 Pairing: A glass of red wine, sipped slowly — complex, unsettling, and something that lingers in your thoughts long after the last taste.
- ayayronApril 19, 2025Plastic bag was snubbed the Oscar for best inanimate object
- mickerdooJune 26, 2025A classic drama about control and finding yourself. The whole cast puts in undeniably amazing performances. Makes you want to live.
- CubaneDecember 1, 2025If it involved Spacey lusting over adolescent boys instead, would it be biographical? That's horrifying to think about. But still a good movie tho.
- alihoneycuttNovember 25, 2025Inspiring film about a man breaking free of the life his wife ruined as he discovers self-meaning. This film couldn't be made today. The idea of making a film about a man bettering himself would make every feminist in America shit their panties with cartoon-level fury. Can't have that, can we?
- Ensamhetens-biografOctober 23, 2025Exellent flick! Really enjoyed it!
- AikoWolfOctober 1, 2025Repressed republican homosexual can't handle rejection
- CharlotteCOSMICJuly 15, 2025A movie written by perverts and highly reviewed by perverts. A teenage girl, specifying the fact she was aware from the age of 12yrs old, that men stare at her in a manner that no man should ever be looking at a child. Gross. And as a woman, the answer is 'no'.. no young girl ever thought an older guy staring was 'sexy'..
American Beauty Trivia
American Beauty was released on October 1, 1999.
American Beauty was directed by Sam Mendes.
American Beauty has a runtime of 2h 2m.
American Beauty was produced by Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks.
A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.
The key characters in American Beauty are Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening), Jane Burnham (Thora Birch).
American Beauty is rated R.
American Beauty is a Drama film.
American Beauty has an audience rating of 9.3 out of 10.
American Beauty had a budget of $15M.
American Beauty has made $356.3M at the box office.