Nickel Boys — released in theaters as Nickel Boys, adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Nickel Boys — is a 2024 American period drama directed by RaMell Ross, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joslyn Barnes. Unlike this page’s earlier “coming soon” write-up, the film has now been released: it opened in limited theaters on December 13, 2024, and went on to earn a Best Picture nomination at the 97th Academy Awards, plus a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for Ross and Barnes.
The film stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson as two Black teenagers, Elwood and Turner, sentenced to a brutal reform school in the Jim Crow-era South. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, and Daveed Diggs also star.
Quick Facts
| Title | Nickel Boys |
| Type | Feature Film (Historical Drama) |
| Director | RaMell Ross |
| Based On | The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2019 novel) |
| Release Date | December 13, 2024 (limited theatrical) |
| Composer(s) | Alex Somers & Scott Alario |
| Genre | Ambient / Experiential Score |
| Where to Stream | MGM+ (subscription), Prime Video & Apple TV (digital purchase/rental) |
| Status | Released — 2025 Best Picture Oscar nominee |
Who Composed Nickel Boys?
The score for Nickel Boys was co-composed by Alex Somers and Scott Alario, longtime collaborators who built an “experiential” soundscape to match the film’s first-person point-of-view cinematography. Somers and Alario previously composed music together for Ross’s documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening.
Alex Somers is an American visual artist and musician best known for his long collaboration with Sigur Rós’ Jónsi (as Jónsi & Alex) and for co-producing and mixing Sigur Rós albums including Valtari. His solo film-scoring credits include Captain Fantastic (2016) and Honey Boy (2019), and he contributed music (with Jónsi) to The Circle (2017).
Where to Stream Nickel Boys
Nickel Boys is available for digital purchase and rental on Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango at Home, and it streams on demand for MGM+ subscribers. The film’s score has been released by Lakeshore Records and is available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Nickel Boys Cast
- Ethan Herisse as Elwood Curtis
- Brandon Wilson as Turner
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Hattie
- Hamish Linklater as Spencer
- Fred Hechinger as Harper
- Daveed Diggs as Adult Elwood
External Link: Nickel Boys on IMDb
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nickel Boys the same as The Nickel Boys?
The source novel by Colson Whitehead is titled “The Nickel Boys,” but the 2024 film adaptation is officially titled “Nickel Boys,” dropping the “The.”
Who composed the Nickel Boys score?
Alex Somers and Scott Alario co-composed the film’s score, building an ambient, experiential soundscape around RaMell Ross’s first-person camerawork.
Did Nickel Boys win any Oscars?
Nickel Boys was nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards (2025), but it did not win either category; Anora took Best Picture that year.
When was Nickel Boys released?
Nickel Boys opened in limited theaters on December 13, 2024, following festival premieres, and later became available on digital and MGM+.
Where can I watch Nickel Boys?
Nickel Boys is available to buy or rent digitally on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, and it streams for MGM+ subscribers.
Related reading: Browse more movie soundtracks, see what’s on Prime Video, or check our full streaming guide.