Boys Don't Cry
1999 · 118 min · Director: Kimberly Peirce
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing, and he charms the young women, who've never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon, now that he's one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana; however, he's forgotten to mention one important detail. It's not that he's wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena was actually born a woman named Teena Brandon. When his best friends make this discovery, Brandon's life is ripped apart.
Emotional fingerprint
Boys Don't Cry (1999) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Empathy 35%, Sadness 30%, Tension 15%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
- Empathy35%
- Sadness30%
- Tension15%
- Love10%
- Inspiration10%
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Empathy, Sadness, Tension. Genres: Drama, Crime, Biography. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Empathy, Sadness and Tension. Its IMDb rating of 7.5/10 suggests a generally positive audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 74/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Tension
- Disturbing
- Sadness
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Tension
Dominant emotion: Hope
Dominant emotion: Love
Dominant emotion: Sadness
Dominant emotion: Disturbing
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Tension | Disturbing | Sadness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 3′ | Tension | 53 % | 50 % | 35 % | 10 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 9′ | Tension | 53 % | 48 % | 34 % | 16 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 15′ | Hope | 46 % | 35 % | 25 % | 16 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 21′ | Hope | 41 % | 25 % | 19 % | 11 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 27′ | Love | 36 % | 19 % | 14 % | 11 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 32′ | Love | 40 % | 26 % | 14 % | 10 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 38′ | Tension | 53 % | 45 % | 25 % | 9 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 44′ | Tension | 53 % | 48 % | 29 % | 15 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 50′ | Hope | 51 % | 35 % | 15 % | 18 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 56′ | Love | 56 % | 26 % | 6 % | 10 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 62′ | Love | 56 % | 33 % | 13 % | 16 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 68′ | Sadness | 56 % | 44 % | 20 % | 33 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 74′ | Love | 64 % | 57 % | 36 % | 34 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 80′ | Tension | 79 % | 76 % | 66 % | 40 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 86′ | Disturbing | 91 % | 86 % | 88 % | 61 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 91′ | Disturbing | 92 % | 83 % | 90 % | 74 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 97′ | Disturbing | 84 % | 64 % | 65 % | 63 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 103′ | Love | 81 % | 57 % | 46 % | 54 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 109′ | Disturbing | 85 % | 59 % | 49 % | 68 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 115′ | Sadness | 83 % | 38 % | 32 % | 75 % |
Riches to rags
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Boys Don't Cry. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
0 responses so far
Feeling details appear after at least 3 viewers respond, to protect privacy.
Cast
Nicole
Sheriff
Dave (Deputy)
Girl in Car
Trucker
Kwik Stop Cashier
April
Trucker in Kwik Stop
Details
- Directed by
- Kimberly Peirce
- Written by
- Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 1999
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Country
- United States
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Empathy
- Data updated
Where to watch
Rent
Also on
Availability varies by country
Feels similar
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