County Durham, England, 1984. The miners' strike has started and the police have started coming up from Bethnal Green, starting a class war with the lower classes suffering. Caught in the middle of the conflict is 11-year old Billy Elliot, who, after leaving his boxing club for the day, stumbles upon a ballet class and finds out that he's naturally talented. He practices with his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson for an upcoming audition in Newcastle-upon Tyne for the royal Ballet school in London.
Directed by Stephen Daldry
dancing
friendship
dreams
dancing class
northern england
workers' quarter
strike
homophobia
hope
mentor
sadness
socialism
youngster
letter
ballet dancer
street riots
coming of age
ballet
young boy
cross dressing
crying
single father
audition
dance class
retrospective
lgbt
revolt
ballet school
emotional vulnerability
helping children
smart kid
street kid
dance teacher
1980s
miners strike
father son relationship
80s throwback
ballet dancing
gay theme
late 20th century
teen playing kid
ya
generational divide
celebratory
Rank
#12 in 2000·#519 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
4.1 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Jamie Bell
Billy Elliot
Gary Lewis
Jackie Elliot
Julie Walters
Mrs Wilkinson
Jean Heywood
Grandma
Jamie Draven
Tony Elliot
Stuart Wells
Michael Caffrey
Mike Elliot
George Watson
Joe Renton
Gary Poulson
Janine Birkett
Billy's mother
Trevor Fox
PC Jeff Peverly
Charlie Hardwick
Sheila Briggs
Matthew James Thomas
Simon
Crew
Stephen Daldry
Director
Lee Hall
Writer
Stephen Warbeck
Original Music Composer
John Wilson
Editor
Brian Tufano
Director of Photography
Greg Brenman
Producer
Natascha Wharton
Executive Producer
David M. Thompson
Executive Producer
Tessa Ross
Executive Producer
Maria Djurkovic
Production Design
Jina Jay
Casting
Richard Bradshaw
Stunts
Popular Reviews
2255 reviews
Holly
8.0★ · 03/21/26
He just wanted to dance at the ballet
He just wanted to dance at the ballet
2
Holly
8.0★ · 03/21/26
He just wanted to dance at the ballet
He just wanted to dance at the ballet
2
Ash
10.0★ · 04/29/26
Poor kid just wanted to dance and everyone made it a political statement
Poor kid just wanted to dance and everyone made it a political statement
1
oskar
8.0★ · 03/05/26
30 movies in 30 days: day 2
Such a fantastic movie.
Watching this truly warmed my heart and I already know it’s one of those movies I’m gonna end up rewatching for the rest of my life. Everything about this is so special and I’m just glad this was one of my „30 movies in 30 days“ movies.
30 movies in 30 days: day 2
Such a fantastic movie.
Watching this truly warmed my heart and I already know it’s one of those movies I’m gonna end up rewatching for the rest of my life. Everything about this is so special and I’m just glad this was one of my „30 movies in 30 days“ movies.
