The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7.8
72%
70
7.6
A man who ages backward experiences an extraordinary lifetime of love, separation, and mortality in reverse.
Ember's analysis
- MoodWarm
- EnergyEnergetic
- PacingMeasured
- IntensityStrong
- ComplexityLayered
- ViolenceNone
More about the film
Overview
A poignant tale of love and loss that defies the boundaries of time.
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a richly made, emotionally moving fantasy epic elevated by strong performances and David Fincher’s delicate visual direction.
What sets it apart
- Caroline reads Benjamin’s diary to the dying Daisy, which unfolds the central life story retrospectively.
- Benjamin is born with the physical conditions of old age and becomes younger throughout his life.
- Benjamin and Daisy reconnect when their apparent ages align, but his continued rejuvenation separates their lives again.
- Fincher’s subdued historical palette is integrated with CGI and digital effects to depict Benjamin’s changing body.
Films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and why
- Forrest Gumpsweeping life-spanning romance, retrospective storytelling, and tender meditation on mortality
- The Age of Adalinemagical aging premise, wistful romance, and emotionally expansive fantasy drama
- About Timepoignant fantasy about altered aging, love, and the passage of time
- Big Fishliterary magical realism, nonlinear life reflection, and bittersweet humanism
Movie Details
- Director
- David Fincher
- Release Date
- 2008-12-25
- Runtime
- 166 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (14192)
Common questions
- What is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button about?
- A man who ages backward experiences an extraordinary lifetime of love, separation, and mortality in reverse.
- What is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
- What did critics think of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a richly made, emotionally moving fantasy epic elevated by strong performances and David Fincher’s delicate visual direction.
- Which films are like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- Films with a similar feel include Forrest Gump, The Age of Adaline, About Time, and Big Fish.
- How long is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button runs 166 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
- In United States, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button streams on Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free.
Cast
- David FincherDirector
- Brad PittBenjamin Button
- Cate BlanchettDaisy Fuller
- Taraji P. HensonQueenie
- Julia OrmondCaroline Fuller
- Jason FlemyngThomas Button
- Tilda SwintonElizabeth Abbott
- Mahershala AliTizzy Weathers
- Jared HarrisCaptain Mike
- Elias KoteasMonsieur Gateau
- Phyllis SomervilleGrandma Fuller
