The Butcher Boy (1998): cast, story & where to watch
1998 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1998, The Butcher Boy is a comedy and drama film directed by Neil Jordan, running about 110 minutes. “This little piggy laughed all the way home!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie's world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.
Who’s in it. The Butcher Boy stars Eamonn Owens as Francie Brady, Alan Boyle as Joe Purcell, Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Nugent and Andrew Fullerton as Phillip Nugent, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Butcher Boy has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Butcher Boy page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Butcher Boy tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Butcher Boy (1998)?
- In US, The Butcher Boy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Butcher Boy worth watching?
- The Butcher Boy holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Butcher Boy?
- The Butcher Boy stars Eamonn Owens, Alan Boyle, Fiona Shaw, Andrew Fullerton and Stephen Rea.
- When was The Butcher Boy released?
- The Butcher Boy was released in 1998, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.