Billy Elliot

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Billy Elliot

R

2000

1h 50m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

120 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.

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Critics Consensus

Billy Elliot is a charming movie that can evoke both laughter and tears.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

Independent (UK)

Nov 15, 2017

It's as raw a slice of escapism as you could wish for.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 22, 2010

4/5

Terrific story of young ballet dancer has strong language.

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Robert Horton

Film.com

Jan 1, 2000

The unvarnished, non-enhanced spectacle of a human being executing a display of physical prowess will always have the power to astonish, and the young Mr. Bell proves this very nicely.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Jan 3, 2026

8/10

While the core focus on the film on uplifting themes like choosing one’s own destiny and artistic expression, its situation within the 1984 miner’s strike delivers a texture and a tone that elevates the entire film.

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Andrew Kendall

Stabroek News

Jul 17, 2025

“Billy Elliot” seems to be sustained by the boy’s own agitated sense of growing up. “Billy Elliot” is warm, but never precious. Instead, it develops with a sharp sense of tenacity that mirrors Billy’s own dogged pursuit of his dreams.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Mar 5, 2021

Billy Elliot is not a masterpiece, but it is a work, in the first place, driven by considerable feeling.

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Kyle H

@KyleHartwig1 Sep 4, 2026

Before I review this and being a gay male myself, I would like to say that it is not really a LGBTQ+ movie! It does incorporate a very small portion to the gay male population but it is not apart of that category what so ever! This movie is more to do with understanding one’s self and breaking social norms that are held by the local community. I strongly believe that this movie should hold high value and importance to the USA values especially for today’s society as well as for the global society. This film shows how a family can hold, struggle, deal with, and overcome a negative stereotype that still exists in today’s society and needs to be addressed in the current school environment. I would highly recommend this film to anyone that is currently dealing with self identification issues so they can learn and understand who they are individually.

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John J

@TheRealJohnman Jul 1, 2026

Probably the most mediocre movie that was ever introduced to my eyes. I'd say I regret watching it but there was nothing I could do to stop. It was like an accident - I didn't want to watch yet still did

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Miriam D

@Miriam888 Jul 1, 2026

In my opinion the Film has a very important and interesting Message but Especially for this generation the film is way to old. The language is also very old and doesn’t fit in this time. So maybe the film should be filmed again in a modern way and language to also reach the younger people.

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James E.

@JamesE167 Jun 26, 2026

One of the most heartbreaking and inspiring coming of age stories of its time.

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Dranzer B

@Dizzywizzy Dec 22, 2025

Best movie about your dreams to come true and to be passionate in what you're doing I loved seeing this movie and I got emotional too as because this movie looks so realistic I've never seen such an inquisitive film this movie is so good

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Jordan M

@RT06938215 Sep 23, 2025

Grate film on Billy's young life, the emotion with the actors shows how hard and how much Billy loved to dance.

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Stephen Daldry

Director

Julie Walters

Mrs. Wilkinson

Jamie Bell

Billy

Jamie Draven

Tony

Gary Lewis

Dad

Jean Heywood

Grandma

Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Like Electricity

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Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Private Lessons

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Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Why Don't You Join In?

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Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Royal Ballet Audition

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Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Billy’s Acceptance Letter

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Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Not For Lads

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Billy Elliot: Official Clip - Dancing for Dad

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Synopsis

The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.

Director: Stephen Daldry
Producer: Greg Brenman, Jonathan Finn, Luc Besson
Screenwriter: Lee Hall, Jessica Kaplan
Distributor: Universal Pictures, USA Films
Production Co: Arts Council of England, Working Films, BBC, Studio Canal, WT², Tiger Aspect Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 13, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.0M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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