SummaryProvoked by forbidden passions, Lester Burnham (Spacey) decides to make a few changes in his rut of a life, changes that are less midlife crisis than adolescence reborn. The freer he gets, the happier he gets, which is even more maddening to his wife, Carolyn (Bening), and daughter Jane (Birch) --especially when he turns his lustful gaze toward J... Read More
Directed By:Sam Mendes
Written By:Alan Ball
American Beauty
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
84
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.7
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
88% Positive
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
100
A movie that will endure.
100
Spacey is diamond-brilliant in a role that plays as if custom-made for him.
User score
Universal Acclaim
94% Positive
806 Ratings
806 Ratings
4% Mixed
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
2% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
Feb 11, 2026
10
Classic movie about how to heal/save your soul to release fear and avoid pervert behaviour. The movie starts a bit weird, but after a while it is clear, that everybody is a bit psycho and few of them change.
Feb 2, 2025
10
A bold character study, a tale of american society and a great reflection on life. The acting is all-time level. It's been even better with time. Probably one of the greatest movies in history. I think nobody behind this had idea what they did here. It's special.
90
A blood-chilling dark comedy with unexpected moments of both fury and warmth, a strange, brooding and very accomplished film that sets us back on our heels from its opening frames.
89
A brilliant, exhilarating piece of filmmaking. It may even be the best mainstream film of the year thus far.
83
Though excellent in many ways, American Beauty is, finally, an uneasy mix of assured technique and simplistic satire.
70
If it is never really as profound as it seems to think it is, American Beauty is consistently entertaining, and it earns points simply for acknowledging that all may not be perfect in the current boom years.
25
The deeper American Beauty tries to get, the shallower it reveals itself to be.
Jul 7, 2023
6
not bad movie, but not good either. The story is really miss & match, visual is decent, and the voice is also decent
Apr 16, 2023
6
It was a ok movie. I didn't like Kevin Spacey creeping on a young teenager, but other then that it was a good movie.
Jun 17, 2021
3
When I came to know that "The Sixth Sense" lose Oscar to this movie, I had great expectations for this movie. After watching, I can say that it is too much overrated.
Movie's plot was simple, boring and over-dramatic. The direction was good. The movie's pacing could have been improved. Only thing I liked about this movie was the acting of Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham.
Overall, would not recommend. You may watch it if you like overrated movies which undeservingly won Oscars.
Sep 13, 2018
3
It's always interesting to see a movie about someone who let's go of societal norms, starts living for themselves, telling people what they really think with reckless abandon. We all daydream about acting like that. What really turns me off about American Beauty is the way every antagonist is portrayed as a complete idiot. There's no subtlety to anyone's character. The guy who hates gay people is **** and his wife is a mute. Jane's friend isn't promiscuous, she's a total ****. Their friendship is baffling. Lester's wife is so materialistic that she shoots him in the head. Everything is over the top and trying to hold the mirror to society in one breath. It comes off as really preachy and righteous.
Production Company:
- DreamWorks Pictures
- Jinks/Cohen Company
Release Date:Sep 15, 1999
Duration:2 h 2 m
Rating:R
Tagline:... look closer
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 5 Wins & 8 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 3 Wins & 6 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 10 Wins & 18 Nominations
