American Beauty (1999): cast, story & where to watch
1999 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1999, American Beauty is a drama film directed by Sam Mendes, running about 122 minutes. “Look closer.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.
Who’s in it. American Beauty stars Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham, Annette Bening as Carolyn Burnham, Thora Birch as Jane Burnham and Wes Bentley as Ricky Fitts, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, American Beauty sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $356.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch American Beauty page.
If you liked it. Fans of American Beauty tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch American Beauty (1999)?
- In US, American Beauty is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is American Beauty worth watching?
- American Beauty holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in American Beauty?
- American Beauty stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley and Mena Suvari.
- When was American Beauty released?
- American Beauty was released in 1999, with a runtime of about 122 minutes.