To the Bone

Name: To the Bone
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 14, 2017
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Carrie Preston, Dana L. Wilson, Don O. Knowlton, Hana Hayes, Joanna Sanchez

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): July 14, 2017 | TV-MA

Starring: Carrie Preston, Dana L. Wilson, Don O. Knowlton, Hana Hayes, Joanna Sanchez, Liana Liberato, Lily Collins, Rebekah Kennedy, Valerie Palincar, Ziah Colon

Summary: Ellen (Lily Collins) is an unruly, 20-year-old young woman with anorexia nervosa who spent the better part of her teenage years being shepherded through various recovery programs, only to find herself several pounds lighter every time. Determined to find a solution, her dysfunctional family agrees to send her to a group home for youths,Ellen (Lily Collins) is an unruly, 20-year-old young woman with anorexia nervosa who spent the better part of her teenage years being shepherded through various recovery programs, only to find herself several pounds lighter every time. Determined to find a solution, her dysfunctional family agrees to send her to a group home for youths, which is led by a non-traditional doctor.… Expand

Director: Marti Noxon

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Kate Erbland

Jul 14, 2017

Throughout the film, Noxon refuses to offer up easy answers and feel-good conclusions to Ellen’s journey, even when it ratchets up into a literally overheated final discovery. Read full review

Boyd van Hoeij

Jan 29, 2017

Noxon, who also wrote the screenplay, manages to explore dark and complex issues while frequently leavening them with unexpected moments of humor. Read full review

Melanie McFarland

Jul 10, 2017

The film itself is an admirable and empathetic work that does not romanticize anorexia or the young woman being ground into nothingness by the disease, as some have feared. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Jan 29, 2017

It’s not an easy sit, nor a terribly entertaining one, but in the hands of writer-director Marti Noxon, it delivers painful insights in a relatively fresh way. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

Jul 14, 2017

To the Bone isn't all that interested in the actual treatment of the condition, even though the majority of the film takes place in a treatment program. The film also gets hugely distracted by a romantic sub-plot, a sub-plot that is pushy and awkward from the jump. Read full review

Tricia Olszewski

Jul 14, 2017

Noxon, a TV veteran making her directorial debut here, had suffered from an eating disorder herself, as did the film’s star, Lily Collins. It’s surprising, then, that the script offers only generalities instead of any real insight. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jul 13, 2017

It’s a dismal TV movie of the week: trite, shallow, cautiously middlebrow and blandly complicit in the cult of female prettiness that it is supposedly criticising. Read full review

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User Reviews

katewac

Feb 7, 2018

This is by far one the most exceptional films I have ever seen. Although I have never suffered seriously with an eating disorder and cannot vouch if it a accurate representation of a clinic I was enthralled with the journey. It follows a young teenage girl ad her struggles with anorexiaThis is by far one the most exceptional films I have ever seen. Although I have never suffered seriously with an eating disorder and cannot vouch if it a accurate representation of a clinic I was enthralled with the journey. It follows a young teenage girl ad her struggles with anorexia nervosa. It tackles love, loss, stigma and misconceptions. Considering it tackles such a sensitive and potentially triggering issue I found it funny and lighthearted throughout and all the deepest parts were handled with care and attention. I feel educated after watching the film and really felt the emotion she was going through. I rarely feel so connected to a character but it was acted and scripted beautifully.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

yann741

Jul 16, 2017

I still have not bought an anorexia, but after this movie, I know what all the people with anorexia go through, the film delivers what is seen without towing a story of overcoming and challenges, a Lily Collins could not have delivered is perfectly in this Role, what incredible movie thatI still have not bought an anorexia, but after this movie, I know what all the people with anorexia go through, the film delivers what is seen without towing a story of overcoming and challenges, a Lily Collins could not have delivered is perfectly in this Role, what incredible movie that incredible performances, what a beautiful movie… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

buffyobsessed

Jul 17, 2017

I thought that it made a harsh topic somehow interesting to watch with the humour from Noxon. It was lough out loud funny at times and also dark and depressing. Collins performance was raw and i could relate to Ellen at some points.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

goncalocouto

Jan 8, 2019

"To the Bone" é um retrato realista, honesto e, por vezes, incómodo sobre a luta individual contra os distúrbios alimentares e um ótimo estudo da sua protagonista. Collins é uma ótima atriz.
7/10

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CineAutoctono

Jul 25, 2017

"To the bone" was a very good film, with some very good interpretations, and an issue that touches the youth and the psychology of today, the problem of anorexia and bulimia, this was a moving and inspiring story.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

moviemitch96

Jul 15, 2017

At times, this felt like a simple and pretty straightforward film about a real-life and common issue, in this case, anorexia, for many teens and young adults, but at the same time, it also felt rather raw, honest, and even mature with how it handled the subject matter. Lily Collins turns inAt times, this felt like a simple and pretty straightforward film about a real-life and common issue, in this case, anorexia, for many teens and young adults, but at the same time, it also felt rather raw, honest, and even mature with how it handled the subject matter. Lily Collins turns in quite a committed performance both physically and acting-wise. Overall, yes it often times felt like a made-for-TV/Lifetime film (it is a Netflix original after all), but its honest and unflinching portrayal of the subject matter in as mature of a way as possible (although there are still some fun moments to be found throughout here and there to keep things from getting too dark), as well as Lily Collins' more than worthwhile performance makes it worth a watch for those who aren't too easily triggered by some of the depictions of eating disorders found in the film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

phoenixnerd

Jul 20, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. **TW** Whether the creators realize it or not, they end up glorifying eating disorders. What's meant to be shock value to scare people away from eating disorders ends up just showing triggering imagery and ends up as "th*nspo" edits. It also shows ways people with eating disorders use to lose weight in a manner that comes off as very casual which is triggering. It enables viewers of the movie with eating disorders to do the same without realizing it. It has a terrible portrayal of anorexia, making it seem as if only skinny white girls can have it. There are two characters who suffer from eating disorders who aren't a skinny white girl out of six characters, one of them being a plus sized black woman and the other being a skinny white man. They present Ellen's treatment of pushing her to the brink of death as the only correct way to treat her. They also make it seem like fatness is the issue of the root of all eating disorders when the characters admit that the reason they started disordered eating was so they wouldn't be fat and die at 30 which isn't okay and I shouldn't have to explain why.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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