From Pulitzer Prize to Oscar? It's too soon to tell, but that's something that will be discussed as people get excited about the 2024 new movie Nickel Boys, based on Colson Whitehead's award-winning and best-selling book. With all the pedigree of the source material, expect this to be one of the buzziest movies for the rest of 2024 (including when it comes to potential Oscar contenders).
This is the second of Whitehead's books that is getting adapted by Hollywood. The previous was The Underground Railroad, which we labeled a "masterful piece of art," a sentiment shared by many as the Prime Video original series was "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes and earned seven Emmy nominations. Nickel Boys and its team of creatives hopes for similar success on the big screen.
So let's take a look at who is involved, what the story is about and when you'll be able to see Nickel Boys right here.
Nickel Boys release date
Nickel Boys is now playing in Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco movie theaters. The movie is going to expand to additional US markets in the coming weeks. In the UK, the movie is expected January 3, 2025.
Nickel Boys cast
The leading roles in Nickel Boys are the two teenagers Elwood and Turner, who will be played by Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson. Herisse is best known for his work in When They See Us, but most recently was seen in The American Society of Magical Negroes. Wilson's credits include Ray Donovan and the Ben Affleck basketball movie The Way Back.
Also in the Nickel Boys cast are Hamish Linklater (Manhunt), Fred Hechinger (Gladiator II), Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Justified: City Primeval).
Nickel Boys plot
Amazon MGM Studios has not provided an official synopsis for Nickel Boys at this time, so here is the description of the book from Amazon Prime:
"When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood's only salvation is his friendship with fellow 'delinquent' Turner, which deepens despite Turner's conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. As life at the Academy becomes ever more perilous, the tension between Elwood's ideals and Turner's skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades."
Nickel Boys trailer
Watch the official trailers for Nickel Boys right here:
Nickel Boys reviews
The first slate of reviews for Nickel Boys have started to come in after the movie's premiere at some of the major fall film festivals. As of December 3, the movie has an 87% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Nickel Boys awards
Here is a list of the award wins and nominations that Nickel Boys has received:
Golden Globes
- Best Motion Picture Drama (nominee)
Boston Society of Film Critics
- Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)
Critics Choice Awards
- Best Picture (nominee)
- Best Supporting Actress — Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (nominee)
- Best Director — RaMell Ross (nominee)
- Best Adapted Screenplay — RaMell Ross & Josyln Barnes (nominee)
- Best Cinematography (nominee)
Gotham Awards
- Best Feature (nominee)
- Best Director — RaMell Ross (winner)
- Breakthrough Performer — Brandon Wilson (winner)
Independent Spirit Awards
- Best Feature (nominee)
- Best Cinematography (nominee)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
- Best Cinematography (winner)
- Best Editing (co-winner)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- Best Director — RaMell Ross (winner)
- Best Cinematography (winner)
Nickel Boys director
Nickel Boys is the narrative feature directorial debut for RaMell Ross. However, Ross is already an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, having received a nomination for Best Documentary for his movie Hale County This Morning, This Evening, which is available to watch via digital on-demand platform if you're interested.
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