Beau is Afraid was released this week and it’s already getting some very strong reactions. While the majority of critics seemed to enjoy it, there are those out there who aren’t fans of the film at all. The movie’s director, Ari Aster, has experience with divisive films, as his first two, Hereditary and Midsommar, certainly fall into that category – despite being mostly praised.
Given the unique marketing strategy of Beau is Afraid, and the nature of Aster’s past work, one would think that people aren’t going into it expecting a traditional or “normal” type of movie.
With everything mentioned above, it should come as no surprise that the movie’s theatrical reactions are divided. Some people really enjoyed the movie – and some people didn’t at all, with some being very angry. There seems to be very few people in the middle. Here are some of them:
Just saw Beau Is Afraid (personally loved it) and afterwards a dude stood up in the theater and screamed “FUCK THIS MOVIE. WORST FUCKING PIECE OF GARBAGE I’VE EVER SEEN” and a few other people joined in. I’ve NEVER in seen people get this angry at a movie
10/10 film of the year
— Drew Landry (@MrDrewLandry) April 14, 2023
Just left a screening of “Beau Is Afraid.” Before credits started rolling 1 guy in audience stood up and yelled “I better not hear a single person f***ing clap.” Another dude screamed “that’s the worst movie I’ve ever seen.” A girl yelled “total piece of shit”#BeauIsAfraid
— The Noise FM (@thenoisefm) April 14, 2023
not a bit pic.twitter.com/Fo5st41N5v
— H (@HHElafifi) April 19, 2023
Just got out of BEAU IS AFRAID. Entire theater sat in stunning silence during the end credits.
Very few people can pull of what Ari Aster is doing in film right now. Despite being in his mid 30s, he’s directing at a level of directors in their late 50s/60s.
It’s real inspiring. pic.twitter.com/bw2VyLVvfz
— Albert Pritchard (@Al_YourPal) April 21, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever involuntarily shouted “OH MY FUCKING GOD, WHAT THE FUCK” in a movie theater until I saw THAT scene in Beau is Afraid tonight.#beauisafraid #ariaster #a24
— Zachary Padron (@shotsofpadron) April 21, 2023
After a grueling 3 hours watching #BeauIsAfraid, I’m seriously considering never watching an Ari Aster film again. I’ve never seen an entire theater angrily gather their things and walk out swearing under their breath. Idk wtf that was or who it was for. pic.twitter.com/wnW1XKY6B5
— Cody Leach (@CodyLeachYT) April 21, 2023
There was one other patron at the Beau is Afraid screening I just left. I walked out and said “fantastic!” and then I immediately heard him tell someone “don’t waste your fuckin money.”
— Brook Pridemore (@Brookpridemore) April 21, 2023
Hearing about people booing and getting angry after seeing Beau is Afraid. pic.twitter.com/OoK6edljpc
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) April 14, 2023
Just finished Beau Is Afraid to a silent theater. Finally, someone stands up to leave and shouts, “how’s everyone doing after that?”. So yeah.
— Emma Hodge (@emmamhodge) April 21, 2023
The most divided audience since I saw Infinity Pool. I was enthralled, the college kids next to me that snuck in beers were bored to tears. One guy loudly proclaimed that he loved the first two hours and the final hour ruined it.
Beau Is Afraid is the movie of the year.
— Ross W Berman IV (Also The Pope) (@RossWBermanIV) April 21, 2023
I hope the guy who drank half a bottle of gin during my Beau is Afraid screening and had to be removed after he wouldn’t stop talking to Joaquin Phoenix onscreen made it home okay
— chrisTÁRpher (@Cinemacreep) April 21, 2023
credits rolled for Beau is Afraid and my theater started laughing
— Aryan P (@aryanp_000) April 20, 2023
gonna thread some of my thoughts about the movie itself but Christ the audience for BEAU IS AFRAID was so irony-pilled most of theater was laughing during multiple periods when I was crying. the death of earnestness is….horrible.
— hal (@shestructured) April 21, 2023
Just left a “Beau Is Afraid” screening. As credits rolled someone in the audience stood up & perfectly flipped a water bottle & a guy flinched. Another dude yelled “you flinched, now you have to marry your mother-in-law.” Whole theatre agreed in unison. 8.5/10 #BeauIsAfraid
— (@A__POX) April 21, 2023
Pretty insane how many of those hate tweets i saw for Beau is Afraid. My packed theater was laughing nonstop, seems like most people in my crowd at least enjoyed it if not loved it.
— Mason (@masonscotcam) April 18, 2023
Eight people walked out of Beau is Afraid in my screening
— ajhani (@ajhanideacon) April 21, 2023
credits rolled for Beau is Afraid and my theater started laughing
— Aryan P (@aryanp_000) April 20, 2023
The unhinged cackling from the audience throughout so much of our Beau Is Afraid screening was pretty weird. I guess it was also 420 but still??
— SomePersonalNews (@michaeltrieb) April 21, 2023
beau is afraid. man WHAT THE FUCK,, ari aster u WEIRDO why why why anyway 4.5/5
— iván ☭ (@oneofmyturnz) April 20, 2023
Beau Is Afraid… what the fuck? To all of the people bemoaning the lack of unique, original movies, go out and see this ASAP. I feel genuinely shellshocked in all the best ways possible.
— AlexH (@DryToast2810) April 20, 2023
Beau is Afraid was one of the biggest “WHAT THE FUCK” movies I’ve ever seen.
— Chopped Cheese Sommelier (@feelsbadmanJPEG) April 20, 2023
I seriously can’t contain my random outbursts of laughter today. #BeauIsAfraid had me in stitches last night. Particularly Act I, but plenty of laugh out loud moments throughout the rest. I think it actually might be the funniest movie I’ve ever seen besides Young Frankenstein.
— (@RyanMJones) April 21, 2023
the entire theater when the credits were rolling on Beau is Afraid pic.twitter.com/jumP2NPb5w
— Cash (@traumawardd) April 21, 2023
nothing has convinced me more to watch BEAU IS AFRAID than these tweets because now i HAVE to know what the fuck happens in that damn movie to warrant such a visceral reaction #BeauIsAfraid pic.twitter.com/t0wGmkAsQv
— (@folieadieux) April 15, 2023
Ari Aster himself has even said that he’s aware of the intense reactions the film is getting in a recent interview, saying:
“If anything, I’m very aware of the backlash, people who never want to hear my name again,” he said. “It’s the nature of the internet right now makes it a weird time to create work. The reactions are so immediate, so superficial in so many ways. I’ll have periods where I do engage and it’s always such a bad idea because it gets into my head. A huge part of making new work is about doing my best to divorce myself from that and not have it affect my thinking.”
As you can see, there are definitely some interesting reactions to Beau is Afraid so far – and those will likely only increase as more people discover the film. At the very least, the film seems like an experience – whether you love or hate it. So if that sounds like something right up your alley – you’ll be happy to know that the film is currently playing in theaters.