BEN IS BACK (15)

WHO’S IN IT?

Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich), Lucas Hedges (Manchester By The Sea), Kathryn Newton (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Courtney B. Vance (Blind Faith), David Zaldivar (film debut), Michael Esper (The Drop), Rachel Bay Jones (film debut), Alexandra Park (12 Feet Deep), Jakari Fraser (film debut)

WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?

Peter Hedges (Pieces of April), director, writer, producer; Nina Jacobson (Crazy Rich Asians), Teddy Schwarzman (The Imitation Game) and Brad Simpson (Gardener of Eden), producers; Dickon Hinchliffe (Winter’s Bone), composer; Stuart Dryburgh (The Piano), cinematographer; Ian Blume (Drawing Home), editor

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Holly (Roberts) is shocked to learn that her son Ben (Hedges), who is in rehab for a drug addiction, has unexpectedly returned home for Christmas. Although she is delighted to see her son again, she is weary of his potential to slip back into his bad habits, and over the course of a difficult twenty-four hours Holly’s undying love for her son is tested…

IN ONE SENTENCE, WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?

Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges – whose father Peter Hedges is the director, writer and producer of this film – give outstanding performances in this grim but bittersweet tale of young drug addiction.

WHEN’S IT OUT?

FRIDAY 15TH MARCH 2019

Search from over ten years of movies here:

Other recent reviews:

BFI London Film Festival 2025 Reviews: Hamnet, Jay Kelly and more!

Our coverage of this year’s BFI London Film Festival continues with our exclusive write-ups on some of the most buzzed titles from this year’s edition, including Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, It Was Just an Accident and others!

Black Phone 2 (dir. Scott Derrickson)

Finney confronts his former kidnapper in unexpected ways…

Roofman (dir. Derek Cianfrance)

An escaped criminal hides out in a Toys “R” Us store…

Good Fortune (dir. Aziz Ansari)

A guardian angel meddles in the lives of a wealthy entrepreneur and a struggling gig worker…

Plainclothes (dir. Carmen Emmi)

An undercover police officer falls for his latest target…

Tron: Ares (dir. Joachim Rønning)

A super-intelligent program is sent from the digital world to ours for a bold mission…

Good Boy (dir. Ben Leonberg)

A loyal dog witnesses his owner succumb to supernatural forces…

I Swear (dir. Kirk Jones)

A young man with Tourette’s syndrome struggles to live with his condition…

BFI London Film Festival 2025 Reviews: The Secret Agent, Twinless and more!

Our first collection of reviews from this year’s BFI London Film Festival includes write-ups on some of the most anticipated titles from this year’s edition, including Sirât, Left-Handed Girl and others!

Him (dir. Justin Tipping)

An aspiring football player is put through a testing regime by a former quarterback…

Optimized by Optimole