American Beauty
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American Beauty is a 1999 drama film directed by Sam Mendes, starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
Lester Burnham, a middle-aged media executive in suburbia, despises his job and is unhappily married to neurotic, status-obsessed Carolyn. Their 16-year-old daughter and only child, Jane, resents her parents and has low self-esteem. Retired Marine colonel Frank Fitts, his near-catatonic wife Barbara, and their teenage son Ricky move in next door. Ricky documents the world around him with a camcorder, collecting recordings on videotape in his bedroom, as he finds beauty in unexpected places and things; he pays for supplies by dealing marijuana, using his part-time catering and waitstaff jobs as a front. A strict and abusive disciplinarian, Frank previously had Ricky sent to a psychiatric hospital and military school.
Production
Written by Alan Ball, the film was produced by DreamWorks Pictures. Thomas Newman composed the score. Conrad Hall handled the cinematography. The film runs 122 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $15,000,000, American Beauty grossed $356,296,601 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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