The Boost (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 5.4
Released in 1988, The Boost is a drama and romance film directed by Harold Becker, running about 95 minutes. “Imagine having all the power, passion and pleasure money can buy. Now imagine losing them.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Lenny Brown moves to California to find his fortune in tax shelter investments. When the federal government changes the tax laws, poor Lenny finds himself $700,000 in hock with nowhere to turn. His friend, Joel, introduces him to cocaine to give Lenny that needed "boost". What ensues next is a descent into drug addiction and insanity as Lenny tries to regain control of his life, all the while needing that extra "boost".
Who’s in it. The Boost stars Sean Young as Linda Brown, James Woods as Lenny Brown, John Kapelos as Joel Miller and Kelle Kerr as Rochelle, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, The Boost has proved divisive with audiences. It went on to earn $785K at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Boost page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Boost tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Boost (1988)?
- In US, The Boost is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Boost worth watching?
- The Boost holds an audience score of 5.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Boost?
- The Boost stars Sean Young, James Woods, John Kapelos, Kelle Kerr and John Rothman.
- When was The Boost released?
- The Boost was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.