American Beauty

Year: 1999

Runtime: 122 min

Language: English

Director: Sam Mendes

Budget: $15M

Drama

A poignant drama about a man named Lester Burnham experiencing a midlife crisis. Dissatisfied with his stagnant life, he begins a transformative journey that challenges the conventions of suburban existence. His unconventional behavior causes friction with his wife and daughter, who find it difficult to understand his sudden change. As Lester seeks freedom and joy, his attention turns to Angela Hayes, the alluring friend of his daughter Jane, leading to a provocative exploration of desire and identity.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen American Beauty yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – American Beauty (1999)

Explore the full timeline and setting of American Beauty (1999). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:09

Main Characters – American Beauty (1999)

Meet the key characters of American Beauty (1999), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:09

Major Themes – American Beauty (1999)

Explore the central themes of American Beauty (1999), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:09

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies that expose suburban malaise like American Beauty

Films that expose the quiet desperation and hidden dysfunction beneath manicured lawns.If you liked the way American Beauty revealed the dark secrets of suburbia, explore these movies like it. This collection features similar dramatic stories about dysfunctional families, hidden desires, and the unsettling truths behind quiet neighborhoods.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically center on characters trapped by societal expectations, whose seemingly stable lives begin to crack under the weight of their unfulfilled desires or deep-seated unhappiness. The narrative often builds towards a confrontation with the artificiality of their world, leading to transgressive acts or a shattering of the status quo.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped because they share a critical and darkly humorous lens on middle-class life. They create a specific mood of claustrophobic unease, driven by steady pacing, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on characters rebelling against or succumbing to their stifling environments.

Movies about midlife crises and moral collapse like American Beauty

Stories of men confronting emptiness, leading to radical and often destructive transformation.Fans of Lester Burnham's journey in American Beauty will find similar stories here. These movies like American Beauty focus on characters having an existential crisis, breaking conventions, and the heavy emotional fallout of their transformative, often obsessive, actions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character who, feeling trapped and invisible, actively dismantles his old life. This journey is marked by obsession, rebellion against social norms, and a re-evaluation of identity. The arc is often one of tragic self-discovery, where the pursuit of authenticity leads to conflict and a poignant, sometimes bleak, reckoning.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by a specific character arc: the midlife unraveling. They share a dark tone, high intensity, and a heavy emotional focus on themes of identity, desire, and the tragic cost of seeking radical change. The pacing is often steady, building tension as the protagonist's actions escalate.

Unlock the Full Story of American Beauty

Don't stop at just watching — explore American Beauty in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what American Beauty is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

American Beauty Summary

Read a complete plot summary of American Beauty, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

American Beauty Timeline

Track the full timeline of American Beauty with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

American Beauty Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of American Beauty that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About American Beauty

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about American Beauty: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to American Beauty

Discover movies like American Beauty that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.