✓ YES — Watch it

Ben Is Back

Name: Ben Is Back
Director: Peter Hedges
Genre: Drama
Released: 2018-12-05
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance, Kathryn Newton, Rachel Bay Jones

2018 · 1h 43m · Drama

IMDb 6.7 Metacritic 66 RT 81%

Watch it if you're in the mood for an emotionally grounded drama about addiction and family bonds—Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges deliver solid performances, and the 81% RT score reflects genuine substance. Just know this is a heavy, intimate character study, not a feel-good holiday movie, so save it for when you're ready to sit with something real.

Plot

19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben's mother, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love for her son is tested as she does everything in her power to keep him safe.

Director: Peter Hedges

Cast: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance, Kathryn Newton, Rachel Bay Jones

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