The Butcher Boy
“This little piggy laughed all the way home!”
Synopsis
Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie's world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Butcher Boy ( 1997 ) Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-03-19
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Eamonn Owens
Francie Brady
Alan Boyle
Joe Purcell
Fiona Shaw
Mrs. Nugent
Stephen Rea
Da Brady
Ian Hart
Uncle Arlo
Peter Gowen
Leddy
Sean McGinley
Sergeant
Aisling O'Sullivan
Ma Brady
John Kavanagh
Dr. Boyd
Andrew Fullerton
Phillip Nugent
Rosaleen Linehan
Mrs. Canning
Anita Reeves
Mrs. Coyle
Sinéad O'Connor
Our Lady/Colleen
Brendan Gleeson
Father Bubbles
Milo O'Shea
Father Sullivan
Niall Buggy
Father Dom
Ardal O'Hanlon
Mr Purcell
Tom Hickey
Gardener
Release History & Theatrical Window
Galway Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
April 3, 1998
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 27, 1998
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$5M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Neil Jordan
- Screenplay & Story
- Neil Jordan, Pat McCabe
- Original Score
- Elliot Goldenthal
- Original Title
- The Butcher Boy
- Country of Origin
- Ireland, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Irish, English
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Worldwide Gross
- $5M
- Production Studios
- Geffen Pictures, Butcher Boy Film Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Neil Jordan
Neil Jordan, Pat McCabe
Elliot Goldenthal
Adrian Biddle
Tony Lawson
Neil Jordan, Redmond Morris, Stephen Woolley
Department Leadership Roster
Neil Jordan
Director
Neil Jordan
Screenplay
Pat McCabe
Screenplay
Sandy Powell
Costume Design
Redmond Morris
Producer
Stephen Woolley
Producer
Elliot Goldenthal
Original Music Composer
Adrian Biddle
Director of Photography
Tony Lawson
Editor
Anthony Pratt
Production Design
Patrick Condren
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Butcher Boy.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Butcher Boy.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
Favorite Actors
MNR
Abstrusest 2
Psychological-Thriller
Movies I have watched
As the title says.
Similar Titles to The Butcher Boy
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.4
6.6
7.8
7.2
8.1
7.9
5.0
7.2
4.7
8.1
7.4
6.6
8.0
6.6
8.0
7.4
8.2
More Like The Butcher Boy
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Butcher Boy
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Butcher Boy about?
Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie's world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.
Who directed The Butcher Boy?
The Butcher Boy was directed by Neil Jordan.
Who stars in The Butcher Boy?
The principal cast of The Butcher Boy includes Eamonn Owens, Alan Boyle, Fiona Shaw, Stephen Rea, Ian Hart.
When was The Butcher Boy released and how long is it?
The Butcher Boy was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
How much did The Butcher Boy make at the box office?
The Butcher Boy grossed $5M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Butcher Boy?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Butcher Boy was composed by Elliot Goldenthal.
Is The Butcher Boy based on a book or true story?
The Butcher Boy is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Pat McCabe".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Butcher Boy?
The Butcher Boy holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).