The New Boy

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1:58

The New Boy

2025

1h 56m

Drama

History

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

From acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton, The New Boy takes place in 1940s Australia at a remote monastery with a mission for Aboriginal children run by a renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett). A new charge (Aswan Reid) is delivered in the dead of night – a boy who appears to have special powers. However, the boy's Indigenous spiritual life does not mesh with the mission's Christianity and his mysterious power becomes a threat. Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy, in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

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Critics Consensus

The New Boy bites off more than it can comfortably chew, but this heady exploration of faith and cultural tensions has an ethereal allure.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

05/30/2025

3/4

What happens instead propels both on a spiritual, existential journey that challenges their beliefs. “The New Boy” explores those big questions but leaves it to us to find out the answers.

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Jourdain Searles

RogerEbert.com

05/23/2025

3/4

Newcomer Reid perfectly embodies the spirit of the film, making us feel his confusion and share his joy in the small moments where he’s allowed to be himself.

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Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

05/22/2025

Thornton, who briefly attended a Christian boarding school when he was a child, brings a textured perspective to this story of cultural violence and white guilt.

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John Serba

Decider

Dec 13

An understated, fascinating drama, The New Boy seeps into your psyche, and you’ll be nun the wiser. With apologies.

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Codie Allen

The Curb

07/18/2025

In The New Boy, Thornton has crafted more than a story—he’s offered a gesture of grace. It’s a film that lingers like the scent of eucalyptus after rain, like the echo of a hymn long after the final note fades.

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Alise Chaffins

Movies We Texted About

07/11/2025

3.5

Humanizing those who force assimilation is a risky proposition, but when it is done to show how that pressure applies not just to the victims, but also to those perpetrating the violence, it can help us understand how easily we can fall into that trap.

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Greg C

@RT28307386 Jul 22

Another pretentious and weird Australian film. I am puzzled why Blanchett agreed to star in this art house movie. Unfortunately, I persevered and watched it to the end hoping that it might eventually make sense. Am so glad I did not pay to see it at the cinema.

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Jan 23

As per usual lately, this starts off very promising, but I lost interest halfway through. The cinematography is outstanding and that is pretty much it. This struggles to fill the running time of over 90 minutes.

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Dev T

@RT03555167 Nov 15

Slow. Lacking context. Painfully drawn out scenes. Jumping transitions. I watched at 1.5x then 2.0x speed to recreate a normal human pace of movement / dialogue. I'm sure this film has a lot of potential and I'm just not the target audience who can truly appreciate it.

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Daniel B

@observor Oct 14

Atmospheric and creative, even if it's not really clear, lot of symbolism, cate blanchett is good as always.

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bill e

@C86freak Sep 15

Nice ending, thought-provoking

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Daniel P

@RT45375433 Sep 4

The New Boy is one of those rare films that doesn’t just play on the screen—it reaches inside and grips your spirit. I was deeply moved, to the point of tears, watching this powerful story unfold. The film captures the heartbreaking journey of a child whose innocence and spirit are gradually eroded as he’s forced to assimilate into a religion not his own. The performances are breathtaking across the board. Every actor brings an honesty and rawness to their role that makes the story feel deeply personal. The lead performance, especially, carries a quiet intensity that left me in awe. It’s the kind of acting that lingers long after the credits roll. Adding to the emotional weight is the cinematography. The scenery is absolutely stunning—every frame looks like a painting, yet it never distracts from the story. Instead, it amplifies the beauty and the sorrow, creating a world that feels both intimate and epic. This film struck me at my core. It’s a story that reveals the cost of erasing culture, spirit, and individuality in the name of assimilation. It’s haunting, beautiful, and unforgettable. The New Boy has already earned a place on my favorites list, and I know I’ll return to it again.

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Warwick Thornton

Director

Cate Blanchett

Sister Eileen

Aswan Reid

New Boy

Deborah Mailman

Sister Mum

Wayne Blair

George

Shane McKenzie-Brady

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The New Boy: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

From acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton, The New Boy takes place in 1940s Australia at a remote monastery with a mission for Aboriginal children run by a renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett). A new charge (Aswan Reid) is delivered in the dead of night – a boy who appears to have special powers. However, the boy's Indigenous spiritual life does not mesh with the mission's Christianity and his mysterious power becomes a threat. Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy, in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

Director: Warwick Thornton
Producer: Cate Blanchett, Georgie Pym, Kath Shelper, Andrew Upton
Screenwriter: Warwick Thornton, Warwick Thornton
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: First National Pictures, Dirty Films
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 23, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 30, 2025
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)