The powerful and emotional sequel to the Oscar-winning Boys Don’t Cry is on the horizon. Titled Boys Still Cry, this 2025 drama revisits themes of identity, trauma, and resilience in modern America, striking a chord with a new generation of viewers.
Directed by rising filmmaker Ava Levinson, the film stars Hunter Schafer as Rae Monroe, a non-binary teen fighting a legal battle over gender rights in a conservative Nebraska town. Jenna Ortega co-stars as Amy Keller, a relentless local journalist uncovering a series of hate crimes eerily similar to those from Brandon Teena’s story. The film explores how past wounds still echo through today’s struggles for visibility and justice.
💰 Production & Budget
Backed by A24 and Netflix, Boys Still Cry boasts a $45 million budget, with much of the funding going toward location shoots, powerful visual storytelling with Canon Cinema Lenses, and an original score by Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker, Chernobyl).
🎞️ Trailer Buzz & Early Reactions
The official teaser trailer dropped last week and has already garnered over 18 million views in just 72 hours. Social media is buzzing with praise for Schafer’s emotional depth and Ortega’s fierce authenticity. The trailer’s cinematography, naturalistic tone, and raw performances have drawn comparisons to Moonlight and The Hate U Give.
🗓️ Release Date & Distribution
Boys Still Cry is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on October 11, 2025 — National Coming Out Day — followed by a global streaming premiere on Netflix. It is also set to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this September.
