Bully

Name: Bully
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 13, 2001
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 45
Cast: Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl

2001

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 108 Ratings

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9.1

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9.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 108 Ratings

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BULLY

Movie Details & Credits

TV-MA

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: July 13, 2001

Starring: Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl

Summary: A film based on the true story of the brutal 1993 murder of high school student Bobby Kent.

Director: Larry Clark

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 113 min

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Awards & Rankings

79	#79 Most Shared Movie of 2001

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

Larry Clark's Bully calls the bluff of movies that pretend to be about murder but are really about entertainment. His film has all the sadness and shabbiness, all the mess and cruelty and thoughtless stupidity of the real thing. Read full review

Salon - Andrew O'Hehir

If you stick with Bully through its seemingly endless repetition of themes and its hurl-inducing hand-held camerawork, it does build a crude, indefinable power. Read full review

Miami Herald - Rene Rodriguez

There's a terrible beauty to the work of Larry Clark, the controversial photographer turned filmmaker, that transcends chic nihilism. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marjorie Baumgarten

If it weren't so rivetingly realistic, it would be an easy film to dismiss. And if it weren't so easily dismissible, it would be an easy film to defend. Read full review

Mr. Showbiz - Kevin Maynard

Oddly, Bully's only moments of power come at the film's end, after the crime takes place.

New Times (L.A.) - Luke Y. Thompson

Like the recent "Baise-moi," Bully is a whole lot of shock and titillation trying to pretend it's saying something. Unlike the French import, however, there's no awareness of its own absurdity, nor anything for the audience to care about in the slightest. Read full review

Variety - Dennis Harvey

By turns turgid, embarrassing and plain off-putting. Read full review

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User Reviews

RobertN.

Aug 11, 2008

I followed the court case and i feel although the characters might not have been portrayed as they looked and for the most part as they felt. Larry Clark did a wonderful job making them real. Every actor and actress in that movie was amazing. I am sorry to see so called "movie critics" cant I followed the court case and i feel although the characters might not have been portrayed as they looked and for the most part as they felt. Larry Clark did a wonderful job making them real. Every actor and actress in that movie was amazing. I am sorry to see so called "movie critics" cant see that… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

frankrog29

Feb 9, 2017

Bully is one of my favorite movies. The style of the movie is stark realism, and I can attest to the realistic nature of the characters because I grew up around similar people in the South. The film is extremely well-executed and extremely disturbing. The plot is simultaneously mundane andBully is one of my favorite movies. The style of the movie is stark realism, and I can attest to the realistic nature of the characters because I grew up around similar people in the South. The film is extremely well-executed and extremely disturbing. The plot is simultaneously mundane and Shakespearean. The story is very specific, yet universal because it could happen anywhere, anytime. The actors are very convincing in their portrayals of these unfortunate young people who have little to no positive influences in their lives. Probably the best thing about the movie is the ending, which is one of the most shocking and devastating that I have ever seen.… Expand

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LP.

Jan 30, 2007

Pretty good, VERY disturbing movie. Though the literary license adds/omits various realities, and many people criticize the film for this...one cannot deny how close to true this scenario is.

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Dr.S.

Mar 12, 2007

I still find this story fascinating and disturbing. The movie did give some gratuitous "clark" shots, but face up; some teens drink, do drugs and have sex. South Florida has been a decadent wonderland since Jackie Gleason owned Miami Beach. Factor in our greed-driven economy which forces a I still find this story fascinating and disturbing. The movie did give some gratuitous "clark" shots, but face up; some teens drink, do drugs and have sex. South Florida has been a decadent wonderland since Jackie Gleason owned Miami Beach. Factor in our greed-driven economy which forces a two-parent income and then wonder why there is no teen supervision. The gloss of the movie combined with the grit of the true story makes this flick get your attention!… Expand

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DerekF.

Jul 31, 2006

I feel this movie was pretty wacked. It made you think, that there are people out there who are capable of killing someone just because they can't take thier abuse.

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MovieGuys

Mar 6, 2014

Bully is intriguing, and the script is pretty razor sharp. The acting is surprisingly good, and the story moves smoothly. Where the movie fails is its plot holes and overused sex scenes. You'd be hard pressed to find a scene in this movie where someone isn't naked.

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TealH.

Jul 11, 2007

While it's true that Bully resembles some of the nitty gritty stuff of angsts working class teens, the myriad of flaws tip the scales and make the movie just awful. I expected MUCH better acting from Brad Renfro, who I'm usually a huge fan of. If someone had told me that this film While it's true that Bully resembles some of the nitty gritty stuff of angsts working class teens, the myriad of flaws tip the scales and make the movie just awful. I expected MUCH better acting from Brad Renfro, who I'm usually a huge fan of. If someone had told me that this film was made by a couple of freshman college film students, I'd believe it unquestioningly. Creepy, often dull, and if it makes any sense, this movie is just plain senselessly mean. No chemistry between characters, no suspense, no point.… Expand

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