The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22

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  1. EmmaR.
    Mar 11, 2003
    10
    Love the movie! I especially like the way the comic bits are used to portray escapism and the fantasy world of the boys. Fits beautifully with the storyline. If not for the tragic ending, though, the plot would have been predictable. Good acting, great soundtrack!
  2. ChrisM.
    Mar 2, 2003
    10
    This movie was so great the second it ended it was instantly my favorite movie. I probably enjoyed this movie so much because i come from a catholic school myself. The school that i went to is exactly the way this school is and i can really relate to what the kids are going through in this film. all of the friends that i have showed this movie to loved it also. this is such a great film and sadly it is overlooked but i am glad that i found it.… Expand
  3. JulianaSV
    Nov 20, 2004
    10
    Hi!.. I´m from Argentina, and i ve to say that i love this movie... It s a great film to make us see differentt situations or emotions where the love or the friendship are the most umbreakebles things... I really laugh, cry and stay very quite to cacht any scene... I believe this´s a great movie not just for the great script or the ambientation; the people who made that possible really did a good job... Emile Hirsch is one of the most realist actors that i ve seen...he is just great!!! … Expand
  4. Lil'Buddy
    Nov 8, 2002
    10
    The movie was really great. i'm going to buy it now.
  5. Elena
    Aug 30, 2002
    10
    Oh, it really was wonderful. Emile Hirsch was splendid and Kieran Culkin as well. I was completely happy with this movie. Film doesn't get any better than this.
  6. Kendall
    Feb 16, 2003
    10
    This was such a great movie. Kieran Culkin is so good and he had such a hard character to play. (I'm a huge fan) Emile Hirsch was great as well, but I think had a less challenging role. Jena Malone was good, but it just seems to me that she plays the same character in every movie. Jodie Foster was fantastic as always. I also really liked Jake Richardson and Tyler Long. This movie was so deep and it really showed it from a great point of view. Definitely a must see if you enjoy movies that actually have meaning...… Collapse
  7. LauraB.
    Apr 11, 2004
    10
    I love this movie to death. I recommend it to anyone anywhere. The book rocks harder than the movie so you may want to check it out, too. It's a shame that Chris Fuhrman died of cancer in 1991, only completing The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, but that just makes it even more precious.
  8. BillyL.
    Jan 21, 2005
    10
    This movie was awesome hirsch and culkin are reallllyyyyy hott!!!!
  9. JasmineS.
    Oct 20, 2005
    10
    This movie was really amazing to watch, it makes me think of real life situations, and how it really is like growing up. With tragedy and some predictable, yet unexpected twists.. I loved it! The acting was just great from young people.. I really recommend watching this movie. It touched me, and I loved watching it. It's like me & my friends!
  10. SaraP.
    Nov 10, 2002
    10
    I read the book before i saw the movie so i had an idea of what it'd be like. I thought the movie was beautifully executed. The innovative animation cuts in between live action was great, unique. I've loved the honesty of this story since reading Chris Furhman's novel; Care did a great job of making the story into something so visually interesting. I'm a big Jena Malone fan- she did great as always. Emile embodied Francis perfectly and did a great job with the dramatic scenes. The music for the film was also very good...i believe Joshua Homme did most of it. Everyone needs to go buy this film!… Expand
  11. HollyeC.
    Nov 11, 2003
    9
    I loved this movie, i thought it was great. i would've given it a 10 but it was a bit of a shocker when ...(spoilers omitted)... i guess having a dramatic turn is good in a movie but it did get a bit boring and somewhat lost my attention, maybe i just have a short attention span, oh well. i really liked it because emilie hirsch and kieran culkin are very hott and good actors. that9;s my review on the movie, it's not very specific, but whatever. oh yeah, it would've been a lot better if joey wasn't in the movie, he was kind of wierd.. no offense to you joey lovers out there.. since i know he has so many.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    58
    It's all way too heavy-handed, though nicely acted by Hirsch, Culkin, and, especially, Jena Malone.
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  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Chuck Wilson
    70
    The British music-video director Peter Care (making his feature debut) and screenwriters Jeff Stockwell and Michael Petroni have retained much of the wry, teen-wise dialogue from the late Chris Fuhrman's cult-hit novel, while giving his story arc a fuller, more rounded shape.
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  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    63
    Like watching somebody else's flashback and wondering what you were doing then instead.
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