The Son
Performance & Direction: The Son Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Son (2022) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.7/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Son features a noteworthy lineup led by Hugh Jackman . Supported by the likes of Zen McGrath and Vanessa Kirby , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Son
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2022, The Son is a Drama film directed by Florian Zeller. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Hugh Jackman.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. A successful lawyer, with a new wife and infant, agrees to care for his teenage son from a previous marriage after his ex-wife becomes concerned about the boy's wayward behavior. The screenplay takes time to develop Hugh Jackman's journey, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Hugh Jackman's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Ending Explained: The Son
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Florian Zeller, The Son concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Hugh Jackman, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Son reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Son?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Hugh Jackman or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: The Son
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $3.6M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Top Cast: The Son
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Where to Watch The Son Online?
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Apple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeThe Son Parents Guide & Age Rating
2022 AdvisoryWondering about The Son age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Son is 123 minutes (2h 3m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.7/10, and global performance metrics, The Son is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2022 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Son worth watching?
The Son is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.7/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Son parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Son identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Son?
The total duration of The Son is 123 minutes, which is approximately 2h 3m long.
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How The Son Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Son
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/the-son-spoiler-free-review-lff-2022 "The Son is an emotionally devastating film with a shocking yet important cautionary message for all parents. A gradually sadder, depressing, frustrating story that grips the audience through its tension-filled dialogue, but the lack of something new and impactful directly about those primarily affected by mental health issues could be an uncomfortable trigger for many viewers. Hugh Jackman stands out with one of the best performances of his career in a genuinely powerful, tear-inducing display. Florian Zeller's movie will get an understandably divisive reception, but I definitely consider it a must-watch flick." Rating: B+
Despite more experienced and lauded stars, this film only really belongs to the young Australian Zen McGrath in the title role. He is "Nicholas", a young man who lives with his divorcee mother (Laura Dern) while his father (Hugh Jackman) has a new family with "Beth" (Vanessa Kirby) and baby "Theo". His mother reaches the end of her tether when it transpires that the young man has been skipping school. She feels genuinely intimidated by him and so a move to dad's is soon on the cards. Settling in ok? Going to a new school? Well that's when we begin to spot signs that this lad has problems. Signs of self harm ring alarm bells and indicate a spiralling descent for "Nicholas" that perhaps only his father can arrest? The story is interesting, but the writing is frankly terrible and the acting from both Jackman and the always limited Dern is truly wooden. For such an emotive subject there is no sense of involvement; no personal touches - he is never to referred to as "Nick" or anything that might illustrate that there any intimate love here. It's all just a bit sterile with join-the-dot scenarios that accumulate towards an ending that serves no purpose at all. That's not to say it had to be all rose covered cottages, but the last twenty minutes really defy even the most devoted of parental logic before a rather abrupt denouement. It might offer a beginners guide to warning signs for parents, but otherwise this is a weakly constructed and frankly, rather implausible, drama that really disappoints.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
