1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
28 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
The Butcher Boy
"This little piggy laughed all the way home!"
1998 1h 50m EN
π
6.8
SOLID
π
79%
FRESH
β
7.1
IMDB
β
6.8TMDB Β· 131π
79%Rotten Tomatoesβ
7.1IMDB Β· 11,943
ComedyDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
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.
βThis little piggy laughed all the way home!β
Cast
Eamonn Owens
Francie Brady
Alan Boyle
Joe Purcell
Fiona Shaw
Mrs. Nugent
Stephen Rea
Da Brady
Ian Hart
Uncle Arlo
Peter Gowen
Leddy
Sean McGinley
Sergeant
Aisling O'Sullivan
Ma Brady
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Neil Jordan
- Writers
- Neil Jordan, Pat McCabe
- Languages
- Irish, English
- Countries
- Ireland, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Irish, English.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: Ireland, United States of America.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Neil Jordan, shot by Adrian Biddle. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Original score by Elliot Goldenthal. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Tony Lawson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Eamonn Owens and Alan Boyle and Fiona Shaw carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "This little piggy laughed all the way home!".
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Neil Jordan directs. Adrian Biddle behind the camera. Elliot Goldenthal scores. Tony Lawson cuts. Produced in Ireland, United States of America. Dialogue in Irish, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 128 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Irish, English.
- 3International production across 2 countries: Ireland, United States of America.
- 4Directed by Neil Jordan, shot by Adrian Biddle. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Elliot Goldenthal. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Tony Lawson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Eamonn Owens and Alan Boyle and Fiona Shaw carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "This little piggy laughed all the way home!".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0118804 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 13 themes, including "friendship", "suicide", "based on novel or book", "pig".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Adrian Biddle
- Original score
- Elliot Goldenthal
- Editing
- Tony Lawson
- Production design
- Anthony Pratt
- Costume design
- Sandy Powell
- Makeup / hair
- Dee Corcoran
- Stunt coordinator
- Patrick Condren
- Runtime
- 110 min Β· 1h 50m
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $5,000,000
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 79% π Fresh
- IMDB rating
- 7.1/10 Β· 11,943 votes
- MPAA
- R
Awards
10 wins & 11 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- European Film Award for Best Cinematographer
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Neil Jordan
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- deepkino
A darkly comic and disturbing look at childhood gone wrong in 1960s Ireland. Between Francie Bradyβs wild imagination, religious satire, and Sinead OβConnor as a vision of the Virgin Mary, itβs one of the most unique coming-of-age films Iβve ever seen. Funny, tragic, and haunting all at once! The film is a strange one, centering on a sweet and lovely kid who becomes a victim of ostracism.
Production companies
Who made it
Geffen Pictures
US
- BU
Butcher Boy Film Productions
IE
Key crew
- Costume DesignSandy Powell
- Dialogue CoachGerry Grennell
- Dialogue CoachCharmian Hoare
- NovelPat McCabe
- Executive ProducerNeil Jordan
- ProducerRedmond Morris
- ProducerStephen Woolley
- CastingSusie Figgis
- Set DecorationJosie MacAvin
- EditorTony Lawson
- Production DesignAnthony Pratt
- Art DirectionAnna Rackard
- HairstylistDee Corcoran
- Makeup ArtistMorag Ross
- Makeup TraineeDenise Watson
- Special Effects Makeup ArtistMatthew Smith
- SoundPauline Griffiths
- SoundJenny Lee Wright
- Stunt CoordinatorPatrick Condren
- ElectricianAlbert Cassells
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- friendship
- suicide
- based on novel or book
- pig
- boarding school
- angel
- difficult childhood
- dark comedy
- insane asylum
- alcoholism
- murder
- ireland
- irish
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)1998-04-03R
- Physical1998-10-27RΒ· VHS
- Physical1998-11-03Β· LaserDisc
- Physical2007-02-13RΒ· DVD
Also known as
International titles
- ΠΠ°Π»ΡΡΠΈΠΊ-ΠΌΡΡΠ½ΠΈΠΊRU
- Butcher BoyFR
