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

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/this-boys-life-1993/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 70% |
| Editorial Rating | 76/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 80% (excluded from composite) |
| 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 70% 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.

## Celluloid verdict

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

## Where to watch

Indonesia: Disney+, KlikFilm
India: Vi Movies & TV
Turkey: Disney+
South Korea: Disney+
Japan: Disney+
South Africa: Prime Video
Malaysia: Disney+

## Common questions

**Is This Boy's Life worth watching?**
This Boy's Life holds a 70% 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?**
70% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (76/100), Metascore (60/100), Letterboxd (3.5/5), and IMDb (7.3/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**Where can I watch This Boy's Life?**
This Boy's Life is on Disney+, KlikFilm in Indonesia; on Vi Movies & TV in India; on Disney+ in Turkey; on Disney+ in South Korea; on Disney+ in Japan; on Prime Video in South Africa; on Disney+ in Malaysia. Availability varies by region.

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

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