Beau Is Afraid
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:34:48 PM Wikipedia source
Beau Is Afraid is a 2023 American epic surrealist tragicomedy film written, directed, and co-produced by Ari Aster. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the title character, and also includes a supporting cast consisting of Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Kylie Rogers, Parker Posey, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Michael Gandolfini, Zoe Lister-Jones, Armen Nahapetian, and Richard Kind. Its plot follows the mild-mannered but paranoia-ridden Beau as he embarks on a surreal odyssey to get home to his mother's house, realizing his greatest fears along the way. Distributed by A24, Beau Is Afraid premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on April 1, 2023, and began a limited theatrical release in the United States on April 14, 2023, before a wide release the following week. The film received generally positive reviews from critics but was a box-office bomb, grossing $12 million against a net production cost of $35 million. Phoenix received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
Infobox
Directed by
Ari Aster
Written by
Ari Aster
Produced by
mw- Lars Knudsen Ari Aster
Starring
Joaquin Phoenix Nathan Lane Amy Ryan Stephen McKinley Henderson Hayley Squires Denis Ménochet Kylie Rogers Parker Posey Patti LuPone
Cinematography
Pawel Pogorzelski
Edited by
Lucian Johnston
Music by
Bobby Krlic
Productioncompanies
A24 Square Peg
Distributed by
A24
Release dates
April 1, 2023 (2023-04-01) (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema) April 14, 2023 (2023-04-14) (United States)
Running time
179 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$35 million (net) $50 million (gross)
Box office
$12.3 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Golden Trailer Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
Award
Golden Trailer Awards
Date of ceremony
June 29, 2023
Category
Most Original Trailer
Nominee(s)
"Beyond" (AV Squad)
Result
Nominated
Best Drama Poster
Best Drama Poster
Award
Best Drama Poster
Date of ceremony
"Payoff" (AV Print)
Category
Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards
Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards
Award
Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards
Date of ceremony
June 30, 2023
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
Joaquin Phoenix
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Date of ceremony
Patti LuPone
Category
Nominated
Indiana Film Journalists Association
Indiana Film Journalists Association
Award
Indiana Film Journalists Association
Date of ceremony
December 17, 2023
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Beau Is Afraid
Result
Longlisted
Best Lead Performance
Best Lead Performance
Award
Best Lead Performance
Date of ceremony
Joaquin Phoenix
Category
Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Best Adapted Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Ari Aster
Category
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Date of ceremony
Pawel Pogorzelski
Category
Nominated
Best Ensemble Acting
Best Ensemble Acting
Award
Best Ensemble Acting
Date of ceremony
Beau Is Afraid
Category
Nominated
Original Vision
Original Vision
Award
Original Vision
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Date of ceremony
January 7, 2024
Category
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominee(s)
Joaquin Phoenix
Result
Nominated
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Award
Satellite Awards
Date of ceremony
February 18, 2024
Category
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Nominee(s)
Nominated
ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards
ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards
Award
ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards
Date of ceremony
February 10, 2024
Category
Excellence in Production Design for a Contemporary Film
Nominee(s)
Fiona Crombie
Result
Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Award
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Date of ceremony
April 4, 2024
Category
Best Actor in a Horror Movie
Nominee(s)
Joaquin Phoenix
Result
Nominated
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Golden Trailer Awards | June 29, 2023 | Most Original Trailer | "Beyond" (AV Squad) | Nominated | |
| Best Drama Poster | "Payoff" (AV Print) | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards | June 30, 2023 | Best Actor | Joaquin Phoenix | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Patti LuPone | Nominated | |||
| Indiana Film Journalists Association | December 17, 2023 | Best Film | Beau Is Afraid | Longlisted | |
| Best Lead Performance | Joaquin Phoenix | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Ari Aster | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Pawel Pogorzelski | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble Acting | Beau Is Afraid | Nominated | |||
| Original Vision | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Globe Awards | January 7, 2024 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Joaquin Phoenix | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | February 18, 2024 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards | February 10, 2024 | Excellence in Production Design for a Contemporary Film | Fiona Crombie | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | April 4, 2024 | Best Actor in a Horror Movie | Joaquin Phoenix | Nominated |
References
- Aster later said in a 2023 Reddit AMA that the title was a cover-up, meant to be a distraction from the early draft of s
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- Disappointment Blvd.https://deadline.com/2021/06/ari-aster-joaquin-phoenix-disapointment-boulevard-nathan-lane-patti-lupone-amy-ryan-1234778939/
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