Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Racist violence, unusual filmmaking in book-based drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Nickel Boys
What's the Story?
Set in the 1960s, NICKEL BOYS follows Elwood (Ethan Harisse), a promising—and socially conscious—Black high schooler who gets sent to Black reformatory school Nickel Academy for a crime he didn't commit. Even though Elwood is hopeful that he'll eventually be released thanks to the efforts of his grandmother (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), he still befriends fellow Nickel Academy "student" Turner (Brandon Wilson), who's much more cynical about life. Despite their philosophical differences, the two boys form a fast friendship that helps them survive the harshness of life at the Academy.
Is It Any Good?
The story of two boys surviving the racially motivated horrors of a reformatory school that functions more like modern-day enslavement is a compelling one. But while director RaMell Ross' decision to tell Nickel Boys' story—based on the novel by Colson Whitehead—primarily through first-person camera shots starts out as a cool conceit, it quickly gets confusing. The confusion isn't helped by additional filmmaking tricks like fast-forwarding a scene, flip-flopping between the future and the past, and changing (without warning) which character's eyes we're looking through. These techniques undermine both the story and the cast's impressive acting.
What the film does get right is depicting Black humanity in a sensitive, empathetic way. The surroundings also work as characters in their own right, giving viewers some hints of Elwood's future (such as when the technical institute brochure he received from his teacher starts sliding down his grandma's refrigerator due to a weak magnet). Ultimately, while some viewers might be impressed by Nickel Boys' atypical cinematic style (which also includes long, contemplative scenes of quiet and the choice to leave much of the film for viewers to figure out as they go along), others may be turned off.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Nickel Creek approaches the subject of racism. How does it compare to other films you've seen that tackle this complex topic?
Where was Elwood's life headed before he was sent to Nickel Academy? Why did he get sent there?
What bonds Elwood and Turner together? How do they persevere at Nickel Academy?
How would you describe the film's main themes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 13, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : February 11, 2025
- Cast : Ethan Herisse , Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor , Brandon Wilson
- Director : RaMell Ross
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , African American Movie Actor(s) , Caribbean Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Bisexual Movie Actor(s) , African Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s) , African American Movie Writer(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Amazon MGM Studios
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 140 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic material involving racism, some strong language including racial slurs, violent content and smoking
- Awards : Academy Award - Best Picture Nominee , Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate