The Boys in the Boat, a period drama based on the best-selling 2013 book by Daniel James Brown, is now streaming on BBC iPlayer, and viewers are praising it as "remarkable" and a "must watch".
The film stars Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner and follows the University of Washington rowing team as they aim for Olympic glory. Set during the Great Depression, it centres on Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), a struggling student who joins the rowing team to earn enough money to stay in college. He and his teammates face financial hardship but rise through the ranks with their rowing skills, guided by their coach Al (Joel Edgerton). Their journey leads them to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Directed by George Clooney
Directed and co-produced by George Clooney, the movie first made a splash when it was released in 2023. It is now winning over a new audience since being added to BBC iPlayer.
One fan wrote on Reddit that the movie was "remarkable", while others called it "outstanding". Several viewers noted how emotional it made them, with one posting on Letterboxd that it "had me crying" when they tuned in.
Viewers' emotional reactions
"I got goosebumps, my heart was racing, I cried," said someone else, as another described it as "an emotional rollercoaster". Another person said that it left them "sobbing", and someone else wrote online: "Made me laugh, it made me cry a little, it inspired me."
One fan said they were "choked up several times" watching as Joe and the rest of the team strove to make their dream of Olympic glory come true. Discussing a part of the film in Frontpage magazine, one person said: "I swear to deity, I started crying right then; I would go on to cry multiple times throughout the film."
Cast and availability
The Boys in the Boat also stars Peter Guinness, Jack Mulhern, Thomas Elms and Luke Slattery. Actress Hadley Robinson stars as Joyce Simdars, Joe's love interest, in the film.
The Boys in the Boat is available on BBC iPlayer.
