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American Beauty

1999 2h 2m
Drama
MOVIEVIBE Rating
8.0/10
13,325 reviews
Your Rating
American Beauty

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

"... look closer"

Top Billed Cast

Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Lester Burnham
Annette Bening
Annette Bening
Carolyn Burnham
Thora Birch
Thora Birch
Jane Burnham
Wes Bentley
Wes Bentley
Ricky Fitts
Mena Suvari
Mena Suvari
Angela Hayes
Peter Gallagher
Peter Gallagher
Buddy Kane
Allison Janney
Allison Janney
Barbara Fitts
Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper
Colonel Fitts

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

T tmdb70752507 Verified TMDB Critic
2020-04-08

The film American Beauty to me is a film about purpose. What is your purpose in life? The film teaches that there is such great beauty in the small things in life and that sometimes you need to take a step back to allow yourself to take in the unfiltered beauty in the small things like a plastic bag dancing in the wind, playing with the leaves. The film tells it's audience that the beauty in the small details is much greater than society's typical image of beauty. The prominent rose in the film is a symbol of false, surface beauty; the expensive and romantic flower is amongst almost every sing...

S stempst0r Verified TMDB Critic
2022-11-19

I first saw this film in my teen years. I didn't understand the plot of the movie back then but found the erotic scenes interesting. I think I was also impressed by Lesters change in attitude back then.
Rewatching it in my early thirties the movie really catches me. The story of every character is catching, because everyone is struggling with different ordinary problems, some of them probably known by every adult.

* Lester is fighting with his midlifecrisis and wants to break the devils-wheel of his boring everyday life. He also hates his job and the responsibility he has to carry becaus...

A Andre Gonzales Verified TMDB Critic
2023-04-16

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....