The History Boys
“History. It's just one bloody thing after another.”
Synopsis
The story of an unruly class of bright, funny history students at a Yorkshire grammar school in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge. Bounced between their maverick English master, a young and shrewd teacher hired to up their test scores, a grossly out-numbered history teacher, and a headmaster obsessed with results, the boys attempt to pass.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The History Boys - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-10-27
Top Cast
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Richard Griffiths
Hector
Stephen Campbell Moore
Irwin
Dominic Cooper
Dakin
Samuel Barnett
Posner
James Corden
Timms
Russell Tovey
Rudge
Samuel Anderson
Crowther
Jamie Parker
Scripps
Andrew Knott
Lockwood
Sacha Dhawan
Akhtar
Clive Merrison
Headmaster
Frances de la Tour
Mrs. Lintott
Penelope Wilton
Mrs. Bibby
Adrian Scarborough
Wilkes
Georgia Taylor
Fiona
Patrick Godfrey
Sleeping Clergyman
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 2, 2006
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$13.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.35x
+$9.4M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Nicholas Hytner
- Screenplay & Story
- Alan Bennett
- Original Score
- George Fenton
- Original Title
- The History Boys
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Production Budget
- $4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $13.4M
- Production Studios
- DNA Films, UK Film Council, BBC Two, National Theatre
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Nicholas Hytner
Alan Bennett
George Fenton
Andrew Dunn
John Wilson
Charles Moore, Allon Reich, Pádraig Cusack, Damian Jones, Andrew Macdonald
Department Leadership Roster
Andrew Dunn
Director of Photography
Alan Bennett
Screenplay
John Wilson
Editor
Pádraig Cusack
Producer
Damian Jones
Producer
Nicholas Hytner
Producer
Nicholas Hytner
Director
Kevin Loader
Producer
George Fenton
Original Music Composer
Justine Luxton
Costume Design
John Beard
Production Design
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 History Boys.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The History Boys.
Coming of Age
LGBTQ+
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Frequently Asked Questions About The History Boys
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The History Boys about?
The story of an unruly class of bright, funny history students at a Yorkshire grammar school in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge. Bounced between their maverick English master, a young and shrewd teacher hired to up their test scores, a grossly out-numbered history teacher, and a headmaster obsessed with results, the boys attempt to pass.
Who directed The History Boys?
The History Boys was directed by Nicholas Hytner.
Who stars in The History Boys?
The principal cast of The History Boys includes Richard Griffiths, Stephen Campbell Moore, Dominic Cooper, Samuel Barnett, James Corden.
When was The History Boys released and how long is it?
The History Boys was released in 2006 with a total runtime of 1h 49m.
What was the box office and production budget of The History Boys?
The History Boys had a reported production budget of $4M and grossed $13.4M at the worldwide box office (3.35 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The History Boys?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The History Boys was composed by George Fenton.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The History Boys?
The History Boys holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).