Genre : Drama

Runtime : 2hr 20min

Language : English

IMDb : 8.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes : 91%

Letterboxd : 4.0/5

Metacritic : 91%

Wikipedia : Link

Director : RaMell Ross

Cast

Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Daveed Diggs, Hamish Linklater, Najah Bradley

Plot

Nickel Boys is a harrowing drama adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Set in the 1960s, it follows Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse), a bright African American teenager with aspirations of attending college, whose life takes a tragic turn when he is wrongfully sent to the brutal Nickel Academy, a reform school in Florida. There, he forms a bond with Turner (Brandon Wilson), a more cynical and streetwise fellow inmate. The film employs a first-person perspective to immerse viewers in the oppressive and violent environment of the institution. Through Elwood’s eyes, the narrative unfolds, highlighting themes of systemic racism, injustice, and the resilience of the human spirit. Director RaMell Ross’s innovative storytelling and the powerful performances of the cast bring this poignant tale to life, offering a profound commentary on the enduring impact of historical injustices.