Ben Is Back

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2:25

Ben Is Back

R

2019

1h 43m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

218 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Nineteen-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve. Ben's mom, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son's drug addiction. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love gets put to the test as Holly does everything in her power to keep Ben clean.

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Critics Consensus

Refreshingly understated, Ben Is Back subverts family drama stereotypes - and provides a forum for terrific performances from Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts.

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Udita Jhunjhunwala

The Quint

Apr 3, 2019

3/5

For all its good intentions, Ben Is Back is at most a satisfactory watch, but a remarkable showcase for both Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Mar 20, 2019

3/5

A gripping entertainment that gets across worthwhile truths about contemporary strains of an ancient disease.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Mar 19, 2019

When Julia Roberts is good, she's really good.

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Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

Jul 14, 2024

3/5

The sense of history you can feel between each character is rich and deep rooted.

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Dan Sareen

Vague Visages

Sep 21, 2023

Even if Ben is Back tries a little too hard to ramp up the stakes, the fact remains that Hedges and Roberts’ performances make for an incredibly powerful on-screen relationship.

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Aug 17, 2022

3/5

Hedges’ film never quite reaches Rachel Getting Married-like heights, but the fine first half is worth your time, even if the uneven second half delves into conventional territory.

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Robert P

@Superbad 6 days ago

Ben Is Back is a 3.5 star Movie!

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Garrett W

@RT89620504 Aug 25, 2026

Makes you think how horrible addiction is, has feel good and heart wrenching moments.

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Jimmy J

@RT26448855 Aug 15, 2026

As a fellow addict this movie is terrible. They took the spiritual side completely out of it. The plot is stupid and the acting is horrible, minus Julia Roberts. They turned a movie that was supposedly about addiction into a stupid action film.

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Troy M.

@RT55690225 May 14, 2026

I hate how abruptly the movie ended and how most of the plot was them trying to get their dog back.

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Fabio A

@RT70885947 Nov 16, 2025

Great movie. Julia Roberts is powerfully!!

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Stephanie G

@RT66122946 Jul 15, 2025

Powerful. Emotional. Stellar performances from the whole cast.

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Peter Hedges

Director

Julia Roberts

Holly Burns

Lucas Hedges

Ben Burns

Courtney B. Vance

Neal Beeby

Kathryn Newton

Ivy Burns

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Synopsis

Nineteen-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve. Ben's mom, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son's drug addiction. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love gets put to the test as Holly does everything in her power to keep Ben clean.

Director: Peter Hedges
Producer: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Teddy Schwarzman, Peter Hedges
Screenwriter: Peter Hedges
Distributor: Lionsgate Films, Roadside Attractions, LD Entertainment
Production Co: Color Force
Rating: R (Some Drug Use|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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