This Boy's Life
Performance & Direction: This Boy's Life Review
Last updated: February 18, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is This Boy's Life (1993) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.1/10. 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 This Boy's Life features a noteworthy lineup led by Robert De Niro . Supported by the likes of Ellen Barkin and Leonardo DiCaprio , 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: This Boy's Life
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1993, This Boy's Life is a Drama film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. 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 Robert De Niro.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. 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. The screenplay takes time to develop Robert De Niro'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. Robert De Niro'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: This Boy's Life
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, This Boy's Life resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Robert De Niro, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of This Boy's Life reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch This Boy's Life?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Robert De Niro or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: This Boy's Life
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $4.1M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Top Cast: This Boy's Life
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Where to Watch This Boy's Life Online?
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VI movies and tvThis Boy's Life Parents Guide & Age Rating
1993 AdvisoryWondering about This Boy's Life age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of This Boy's Life is 115 minutes (1h 55m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.1/10, and global performance metrics, This Boy's Life is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1993 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Boy's Life worth watching?
This Boy's Life is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.1/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find This Boy's Life parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for This Boy's Life identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of This Boy's Life?
The total duration of This Boy's Life is 115 minutes, which is approximately 1h 55m long.
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Critic Reviews for This Boy's Life
'This Boy’s Life' manages to produce an impressive feat: making me hate Robert De Niro! His character here, that is. I've only seen the guy in likeable roles, 'Meet the Parents' is as close as a portrayal has come to being unlikeable. Dwight, in this, is despicable! All the aforementioned is simply a plus point for the film, though. It's obviously not overly difficult to make a person garner hatred, but I do appreciate that we see how Dwight becomes the way he is - e.g. the shooting scene. It does get a touch repetitive at times, only minorly so. Not only does this flick have De Niro, it also has one Leonardo DiCaprio - in his first leading movie role, no less. Both are excellent throughout, positives can too be remarked about Ellen Barkin's performance. Elsewhere, youthful Tobey Maguire and Carla Gugino also appear. An uncomfortable watch, but it is a very good release from 1993.
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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.
