The Making of Boyhood | Featurette | IFC Films

Now available on Digital HD and in select theaters.

Boyhood is nominated for a total of 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ethan Hawke), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Patricia Arquette), Best Director (Richard Linklater), Best Film Editing (Sandra Adair) and Best Original Screenplay (Richard Linklater).

Boyhood is the Golden Globe Award Winner for Best Picture, Drama and Patricia Arquette is the Golden Globe Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Richard Linklater is the Golden Globe Award Winner for Best Director.

This 10-minute featurette, spanning 12 years, gives an extensive look at the process of creating what The New York Times calls "one of the most extraordinary movies of the 21st century." Go behind-the-scenes with Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater as they delve into how they created this groundbreaking epic.

Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason's parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay's Yellow to Arcade Fire's Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. It's impossible to watch Mason and his family without thinking about our own journey.

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[JJBerthume]

It's so fascinating to me how many people hate this movie. It has affected me emotionally more deeply than any other film ever has. It moved me to the core, and changed the way that I think about the world. It reminded me how short life is, and how important it is to spend it with family and friends having experiences, not focusing on making money and purchasing things. It also reminded me that even the most misguided and harmful person has a reason that they act the way that they do. It was, to me personally, an incredibly powerful film. It's definitely not a Saturday-night popcorn film for the purpose of sheer entertainment. It is an experience that touches on some of the deepest levels of what it means to be human.

[saraht]

Everybody thinking this movie is not to the normal movie standards: this is supposed to be like a film being about a regular family in real life. It isn't supposed to be dramatic or action-packed. It's supposed to be about the struggles of a single mother and father

[rahuldavidbeckham]

One of the best creative experience ever. When you are watching the movie, you just don't realize it but once you walk out of the theater, that's when it hits you hard. To understand and digest what you just witnessed for the last 3 odd hours. I myself felt little grown up when I walked out after watching this. This will definitely be one of those movies that people talk about for ages. To Linklater and to the whole crew, Thank you for this gem.

[WCMPromotions]

This film provokes thought and curiosity about life and growing up in a way that no other show has before. The subtle beauty that unravels throughout this movie, scene after scene is almost so subtle that you could watch it twenty times and still not fully recognize all of the small beautiful moments that Linklater has crafted. It isn't that heroic, it isn't even that dramatic, which is what sets it apart from practically every other movie out there. It's the perfect portrait of life, and it has affected me very deeply. Definitely one the best movies I have ever seen. 

[dSHERMAN]

My dumbass thought "damn how did they cast boys that look so much alike"

[RafaGomesCinema]

This making of just brought tears to my eyes. :D

[anthonys.]

Having divorced parents and growing up in the exact same period this kid did....man. This is one of the most personal films I've ever seen. Very beautiful movie.

[hbeemarie]

This movie is truly beautiful. I think it's crazy how you don't normally recognize how much your life is changing right in front of you until you compress 12 years into a 3 hour long movie. And then you start to realize time goes by really fast and change happens quickly. Also, I'm 18, so watching Ellar grow up in this movie is pretty cool because that was my childhood, you know, everything from pop culture to fashion and the way things were done I mean I can't explain it, throughout the entire movie I'm constantly making these personal connections and it was absolutely amazing to watch, definitely brought tears to my eyes. Well done.

[sb]

it was a bit risky not knowing if the kids were going to be good at acting as they aged huh?

[allegricl]

The movie felt like I lived a decade and have known the characters for ages... Pretty good and so factual and real. You learn something actually a lot. Actors are amazing...

[eggmancorp]

Don't look for a plot, script, twist or anything like that.  This is not a movie you watch.  This is an experience you share.  What that movie did for me doesn't come close to anything I've seen in a long while.  This film will mean different things to different people.  You just got to let yourself feel.

[sanduru]

I like this film because, as opposed to your regular growing-up movie, the director is not manipulating time. Instead, he lets time manipulate him and everybody else involved. Is almost like his role was to wait, be patient, and slowly keep unearthing a script whose co-author was time itself.

[sangeetadass]

This movie I think answered the question I've been asking for a long time. I'm 31 years old and a mother of a 3 year old son and I guess it's true that there is no real point to life. All you can do is feel the moment and experience the journey.

[abelign]

For those criticizing the movie for "having no plot" or for not being "dramatic enough"--THAT'S the fucking point! Geez I really do hate dumb people. I mean, it's completely fine if you didn't like the movie and if Linklater's style doesn't do it for you then by all means, you're definitely allowed to hate it. But to nag and question WHY it doesn't have elements of what's traditionally considered action-filled movies means you're too stupid to know that's the freakin' INTENTION of the movie. And that's why most people actually like it, because they're able to actually relate to it in some way or another. Like they said in this video, it's the periods of time between the milestones that actually make up life, not the milestones themselves. 

[gloriac]

From the shifts in fashion, music, and american slang, Boyhood is a movie that beautifully encompasses life's transitions and everything it has to offer. Beautifully done! One of my favorite movies.

[elegalalien]

This film really touched me, not just cuz of the concept of 12 years and the occurrences that unfold, but it was just so relatable, and I left the movie with a totally different look on my life. Rather than being sad about how fast it's moving and trying to grab onto the past, look back fondly and appreciate the present.

[WowNaoiseLook]

one of the best films i've ever seen in my entire life

[owaingarside]

My heart felt heavy during every second I watched this movie, and it still remains touched afterwards.

[SebColina]

i wonder if linklater will do another project with this dude again and title it "manhood".

[aberuiz]

It's crazy watching this movie because I'm the exact age as Ellar and seeing the time go by and reliving these moments was something I never had done before with a movie. By far one of the best/crazy experiences I've had with film.