Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
A24
Access Entertainment
IPR.VC
Square Peg
Not part of a collection.
From his darkest fears comes the greatest adventure.
Following the sudden death of his mother, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man confronts his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic odyssey back home.
BornKnight
Nov 17, 2023 · via TMDB
Not for everyone indeed. But it is A24 and Ari Aster (and yeah I am a fan of his works). It is very difficult to categorize the movie... part thriller, part abstract, part (well mostly) dark comedy. Who knows Ari Aster works of before (Hereditary, Midsommar) knows he likes a lot to put abstract, symbolic and allegorical scenes, and pieces of the plot hidden thorough the movie. Beau Wasserman is unique and pitiless. This one is surely one he put a hell of an effort to put things, and make sense in the senseless... and in chaos that is a definition for what I saw, it is pretty crazy as some flicks from the 70's (see Holy Mountain of 73, or Zardoz of 74 and you will get the LSD level of the scenes). Some more recent movies had that WTF moments too, like the middle part of Triangle of Sadness or some parts of White Noise (both of 2022) and you get the level of non-sense and comic all together. The best definition of the Kafkaesqueness of Beau is to pick some work of the dutch painting Hieronymus Bosch of the XV century and try to grab some meaning on it. It is there but not so obvious. In the case of Beau you can see two things: 1-) he is clearly someone with deeply psychological or psychiatric issues and 2-) he has a deep anxiety and FEAR all along the movie in the hope to not let people down or not to be a disappointment to anybody even he is clearly being it already in his mind. It is on the title of the movie. The most "normal" scenes in the movie are the ones in the start of the movie in the psychiatrist bed (the ones that he must have with lot's of water - I don't know if it is a joke or not but Wass in german means "water" and element that is present since the beginning of the movie). It must be interesting to see Aster working in his works, because neither one is simple, all are complex and relates to parts that we seen before. His passion for his work makes him one of the directors I admire at the most. Some people don't like him - the same way some people don't like Lars von Trier works. It is a matter of taste, and it is totally normal. For me the story told is all above - don't try to pick what is real and what isn't, because out of the clinic door all is in Beau's head. Fragments of reality and inner issues in a bizarre blender that isn't for everyone. I wish I had seen it on the theater there were some scenes that made me laugh a lot and at the same time felt guilty like the one at his attic. On the technical side: Joaquin Phoenix again is a powerhouse in acting (and Academy worthy maybe?), the script is pretty original (well, last year Everything Everywhere All at Once was mostly non-sense but with a sense and won tons of stuff) and the work on editing and art direction are excellent and again long colaborator Pawel Pogorzelski work as cinematography is impeccable. I liked the movie, it isn't the best of Ari Aster (and three hours are heavy on most of the cases), but is pretty good: my score is 8,3 out of 10,0 / A -.
Horseface
Jul 15, 2023 · via TMDB
Zero spoilers in here. Absolutely wonderful. I can't do a big braining on what everything means in this crazy topsy-turvy roller-coaster of a movie, but it's one hell of an entertaining ride if you just sit back and enjoy it. For me, this movie needed to be watched the same way I watched Lost Highway - don't try to understand it, just be open to being frightened and entertained. Suffering from generalized anxiety myself, the first part of the movie is absolutely brilliant, showing the world through the lens of someone with a severe case of anxiety. Everything is over the top, and the attention to detail is stunning. The movie devolves further and further into madness, somewhat akin to the way it did in Mother, except not in a frustrating way, but rather an action-packed and crazy, sometimes touching way. Oh, and hilarious. There are such funny moments in this movie, often absurdly so. I didn't read up on anything before watching this movie, and I had no idea it was going to be three hours. I didn't know Ari Aster made it, and frankly I didn't know who he was. Looking it up afterwards, I see he made Midsommar, which I found tedious and boring, and Hereditary, which I absolutely loved. I can definitely see how someone could hate this movie. I can also sympathize with being frustrated with it if trying to understand everything. I think the best way to watch this is popcorn. Watch this like you'd watch a popcorn flick, except expect absurdities instead of explosions (though we do get explosions here, too). That's how you'll be entertained by this amazing movie. I'll be watching this again. Oh, and Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar for this performance. Absolutely his most impressive performance so far. Watch this. It's special. Even if you hate it, you won't regret watching it.
misubisu
Jul 7, 2023 · via TMDB
It's way too long with no coherent storyline to keep you involved or interested. The production values are very high and the look and feel of the movie are very rich... but it's not enough to hold the three hours together. Beau is the unluckiest person ever... and he is constantly jumping from the frying pan into the fire (and through no fault of his own). This becomes incredibly tedious. I watched the movie in 4 parts. No way I could sit through it in one. I've watched three hour movies that just fly by... this one went by at a snail's pace and you really felt it.
CinemaSerf
May 21, 2023 · via TMDB
Right from the start we appreciate that "Beau" is going to have an hard time with life. Luckily we skip forwards forty years and find him living an almost siege existence in a lawless city where sirens and racket keep him awake for most of the night. It's after one such a lively night that he suddenly awakes realising that he must get to the airport to go and visit his wealthy mother. Suffice to say, events conspire and he doesn't quite make the trip... He calls to alert his mother only to get the UPS man on the phone standing over an headless corpse. His mother? Well he now has to make a journey - without a functioning credit card - in time for her funeral. What now ensue are a series of mildly entertaining but largely just too surreal escapades that marry fantasy and fiction on his trip. This is a very strong effort from Joaquin Phoenix as the gentle but almost permanently bamboozled "Beau". He gives himself fully to the part and engenders frustration and sympathy successfully as the story progresses - in fits and starts - towards it's conclusion. Nathan Lane chips in well - if completely over the top - too, as surgeon "Roger" and we save the best til last with a rather bizarre denouement that sees Patti LuPone (his mother, "Mona") in an whole new light. At times the writing can be witty but for me this is just way, way too long and episodic. It's as if Ari Aster had an accumulation of ideas for his character that he has, almost "Forrest Gump" style, stitched together in the hope that what emerges at the end has been enjoyable to watch. I'm not great at the outlandish. It's not that it needs a solid beginning, middle and end but somehow I prefer the plot to be rooted in something just a bit more tangible than this is. I am glad that I saw it in a cinema, but I can safely say I won't watch it again.
Nathan
May 16, 2023 · via TMDB
Beau is Afraid certainly boasts an incredibly rich and intricate narrative, filled with a plethora of allegories, symbolisms, and thematic elements. However, one may question whether the complexity of the film is worth sacrificing entertainment value. In attempting to weave together these complex themes, Ari Aster has created a narrative that was very difficult for me to fully process. During the first hour of the movie, I found myself engrossed in the story, with tense scenes that blurred the lines between what is real and what is fake. However, as the film progressed, these surreal scenes became increasingly wild and disjointed, leaving me feeling disconnected from the narrative. I found myself constantly asking questions about what was happening, how we got there, and why things were unfolding the way they were. This detachment ultimately detracted from my overall enjoyment of the film. At three hours in length, Beau is Afraid can be a daunting task for audiences to undertake. While a well-paced film can fly by (Avatar: The Way of Water and Babylon for instance), this one felt like a slog at times, and I found myself frequently checking the clock to see how much time was left. However, despite these shortcomings, the technical execution of the film was truly exceptional. Aster's direction was brilliant, with stunning camera work and beautiful cinematography. The acting was also top-notch, with Joaquin Phoenix delivering what was arguably the best performance of the year so far. The supporting cast, including Amy Ryan, Patti LuPone, and Nathan Lane, also gave standout performances. All in all, Beau is Afraid was quite a letdown for me. While Aster undoubtedly has a brilliant mind and a talent for storytelling, this film may have suffered from a lack of restraint. Nonetheless, the technical prowess and stellar performances are certainly noteworthy and should not be overlooked. Score: 41% ❌ Verdict: Poor
Manuel São Bento
May 3, 2023 · via TMDB
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/review-ari-asters-beau-is-afraid-warrants-the-love-hate-reception/ “Beau Is Afraid is by far Ari Aster's most complex, inaccessible film to date, although guilt, extreme anxiety, and a complicated mother-son relationship are clear themes deeply explored throughout five sections - the second is one of the most mesmerizing, visually stunning sequences of the year. The more I think about what I watched, the more I admire the unique, thought-provoking, overwhelmingly surreal storytelling by one of the most authentic voices working today. That said, the three-hour runtime feels really heavy, the analysis of the movie as a whole raises some issues, and while all the technical departments are award-worthy, stating "it's not for everyone" is a perfect description of one of the most divisive films you'll see for a while.” Rating: B-
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand
Plex
Joaquin Phoenix
Beau Wassermann
Patti LuPone
Mona Wassermann
Amy Ryan
Grace
Nathan Lane
Roger
Kylie Rogers
Toni
Denis Ménochet
Jeeves
Parker Posey
Elaine Bray
Zoe Lister-Jones
Young Mona
Armen Nahapetian
Teen Beau
Julia Antonelli
Teen Elaine
Stephen McKinley Henderson
Therapist
Richard Kind
Dr. Cohen
Hayley Squires
Penelope
Julian Richings
Strange Man
Bill Hader
UPS Guy
Alicia Rosario
Liz
Catherine Bérubé
Hero Beau's Wife
Stephanie Herrera
Martha
Bradley Fisher
Birthday Boy Stab Man
Michael Esper
Officer Johnson
Manuel Tadros
Cheapo Depot Cashier
Karl Roy
Man with Face Tattoos
Marc-André Brisebois
Comatose Junkie
Tyrone Benskin
Rattled Businessman
Archie Madekwe
Laughing Man
Luis Oliva
Crust Punk (Eyes Gouged)
Marie-Michelle Garon
Fraught Mother Looking for Boat Boy
Maev Beaty
Angel / Play Narrator
Patrick Kwok-Choon
Orphan Hero
Michael Gandolfini
Beau’s Son
Théodore Pellerin
Beau’s Son
Mike Taylor
Beau’s Son
Ryan S. Hill
Hero Beau's Young Son
Bentley Hughes
Hero Beau's Young Son
Kwasi Songui
Orphan Ladybug Man
Sylvain Landry
Orphan Man w/Mandolin
Tristan D. Lalla
Costume Designer Orphan
Emmanuel Schwartz
Orphan Chorus Member
Cat Lemieux
Orphan Chorus Member
Lily Bird
Samanda
Arthur Holden
Duncan / God on Cloud / Hero Beau’s Wife
Alex Bisping
Orphan Production Designer
Joe Cobden
News Correspondent (Brian Galloway)
Harry Standjofski
Superintendent / Catering Manager
Anana Rydvald
Teen Elaine's Mother
Isabelle Brabant
Nurse
David Mamet
Rabbi
Karim Babin
Caterer
Lee Villeneuve
Mona Henchman Who Throws Lawyer
Gord Robertson
Monster Puppeteer
Marc-André Casavant
Dancer (uncredited)
Ari Aster
A Neighbor of Beau's (uncredited)
Fiona Crombie
Production Design
Teddy Blanks
Title Designer
Pawel Pogorzelski
Director of Photography
Colin Penman
Makeup Department Head
Erik Gosselin
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Billy Mayo
In Memory Of
Hélèna Laliberté
Stunt Driver
Alex Stines
Stunts
Bill Hader
Thanks
Bo Burnham
Thanks
David Fincher
Thanks
Lorene Scafaria
Thanks
Paul Thomas Anderson
Thanks
Rooney Mara
Thanks
Ruben Östlund
Thanks
Spike Jonze
Thanks
Ari Aster
Director
Rod Smith
First Assistant Director
Renato De Cotiis
Second Assistant Director
Lucian Johnston
Editor
Jim Carnahan
Casting
Luca Borghese
Co-Producer
Danny Cohen
Executive Producer
Timo Argillander
Executive Producer
Ari Aster
Producer
Lars Knudsen
Producer
Bobby Krlic
Original Music Composer
Cristóbal León
Animation
Joaquín Cociña
Animation
Ryan Terk
VFX Production Coordinator
Ari Aster
Original Film Writer
Ari Aster
Writer
Ako Ang Lalagot Sa Hininga Mo
Channel Chaos
My Castle My Home
CASHED
Joy of Horses
An Inconvenient Encounter
DCW: THE MOVIE
Piledriver
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-
High Tide
Skin Flick
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Numero 69
Forrest Gump
The Great Dictator
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Dig Your Own Grave
Como en casa
Gombrowicz or The Immaturity
You Love Me I Hate You
Red Velvet
Paper Moon
How Funny (This Country Is)
Donnie Darko
Dune
George Carlin: Doin' It Again
Me and the Big Guy
Brazil
Groundhog Day
Kind Hearts and Coronets
A Man Called Ove
Ninotchka
After Hours
Pretty Woman
As Good as It Gets
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
After Pilkington
Delicatessen
Heathers
Pleasantville
Beans
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
In the Mouth of Madness
The Return of the Living Dead
Blazing Saddles
Six Shooter
Matilda
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Grave Decisions
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Mifune
La Chinoise
The Frighteners
A Pain in the Ass
Fright Night
Lisa Lampanelli: Dirty Girl
Bad Day at the Office
Chhakka Panja
I'm Doing Fine in Middle School
Anderson Bench
Inland Empire
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Dogma
May Fools
Antonia's Line
Babylon 5: A Call to Arms
Sister Act
Secretary
The Hairdresser's Husband
The Butcher Boy
A Real Pain
The Murderer
The Three Musketeers
Nowhere
Reclaim Your Brain
Beaches
No Surrender
The Room Next Door
The Wedding Waltz
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Blue/Orange
Major Grom: Plague Doctor
Ghostbusters II
The Ref
Something Wild
Zombie in a Penguin Suit
Luna
Erbsen auf halb 6
May
Silent Movie
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask
Safe Sex
Looking for Alibrandi
Imaginary Heroes
The Golden Boat
Dudu the Floatie
About Endlessness
Help Me I'm Dying
The Greatest Hits
The Whole Nine Yards
Mars Attacks!
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Love Liza
Carry On Up the Khyber
Jim Norton: Mouthful of Shame
The Hot Chick
Look at Me
The Upside of Anger
Paris When It Sizzles
Assassination Nation
Shrink
My Learned Friend
The Rules of Attraction
Throw Momma from the Train
Dagon
Driving Lessons
Sleepwalkers
Getting Played
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
Elsa & Fred
Monólogos de un hombre incierto
Brothers-In-Law
Intolerable Cruelty
High Strung
Wait for me in Siberia, Darling!
The Meteor Man
Not Another Teen Movie
Saving Silverman
Imbued Life
Joe Dirt
The Hotel New Hampshire
Sex Diary
Borderline
Snow Dogs
Hulk
Mini's First Time
The Man with the Objective Lens
The Haunting
Drowning Mona
Wet Monday
Stuck on You
RATS!
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
It's Better to Be Healthy and Wealthy than Poor and Sick
48 Minutes
Lesbian Vampire Killers
The Exes
Tormented
Genghis Cohn
The Dog Trick
The Creep Behind the Camera
Nightfur
Idol Affair
Totally Awesome
The True Story of Puss 'n Boots
Remembering Phil
Sharknado 5: Global Swarming
The End
America's Deadliest Home Video
Atlanta
Great Great Great
Delirio
Truth Serum
Chaos Toad
Nothing
Love Child
Jonathan Pie: Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire
Viral Blood
Synonymous With
He Who Lives in Hidden Lakes
Od Silvestra do Troch kráľov
Monkey Man: In the Covid World
New Not Normal Trilogy Supercut
High & Dry
My Name Is Max
The Note
Někdo přece musí
Just My Luck
Father
The Anderson Family Breakfast
P*ssy Wagon
My French Amore
Tongue Tied
0. THE FOOL
Faggo
Burial
I'm a Man
Karo the Movie
The Hedonist
Untitled Beetlejuice 3
Barry
Memoria
Hookah Head
Lasagna Run
Wraith
Leonardo
Human Honey
The Onager
Stepfather
Peter Has Something to Say
Deadly Christmas in Groland
Reel to Reel to Reel to Reel
Dunny Derby: The Legend of Derek Dallas & The Underbogs
Oilmagna
Operation Playground: Zero
Fivehead
The Suicide Squad
Strays
Once Upon a Deadpool
Dogma
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Strawberry Mansion
Mickey 17
Sorry to Bother You
Dream Scenario
The Monster Squad
Hulk Vs.
Motorama
The Phoenician Scheme
Heavy Metal
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters
Idiocracy
Pizza Movie
Accident Man
Road Trip
Forbidden Zone
Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
The Brass Teapot
Dark Shadows
Deathstalker
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
All About the Benjamins
Balls Up
Apr 1, 2023
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Brooklyn, New York)
Apr 10, 2023
Los Angeles, California
Apr 14, 2023
Apr 21, 2023
Jun 13, 2023
Jul 11, 2023
May 1, 2026
Tubi
© 2025-2026 MovieNight. All rights reserved.
Versus
Sign in to play →
Seven Dorms of Death
2015
Preview
1982
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
Versus
Sign in to play →
Seven Dorms of Death
2015
Preview
1982
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
We use essential cookies to run MovieNight, plus analytics (Google Analytics) and advertising (Google AdSense) cookies. By continuing to browse, you agree to this — or click No and we won't. See our Terms & Privacy Policy to learn more.