The History Boys
“History. It's just one bloody thing after another.”
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.
Where to watch The History Boys in United States
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Apple TV StoreClick a service to open The History Boys there. Availability last verified on June 21, 2026.
Where is The History Boys streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store |
| France | — | Apple TV Store |
| Spain | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Japan | — | Apple TV Store |
About The History Boys
The History Boys is a 2006 English-language drama film directed by Nicholas Hytner. The cast is led by Richard Griffiths, Stephen Campbell Moore, Dominic Cooper. It has a runtime of 1h 49m. Viewers rate it 6.6/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies.
The History Boys was produced by DNA Films, UK Film Council, and BBC Two and made in United Kingdom. It was released on October 2, 2006, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $4 million, it went on to gross $13 million worldwide.
- Director
- Nicholas Hytner
- Writers
- Alan Bennett
- Release date
- October 2, 2006
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Budget
- $4 million
- Box office
- $13 million
- Production
- DNA Films, UK Film Council, BBC Two
The History Boys cast & crew
The History Boys was directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Alan Bennett.
The cast features Richard Griffiths as Hector, Stephen Campbell Moore as Irwin, Dominic Cooper as Dakin, Samuel Barnett as Posner, James Corden as Timms, and Russell Tovey as Rudge.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by George Fenton, cinematography is by Andrew Dunn, and it was produced by Charles Moore and Allon Reich.
Is The History Boys worth watching?
The History Boys holds an audience score of 6.6/10 from 215 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 1h 49m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, The History Boys is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The History Boys
The History Boys isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of The History Boys
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
The History Boys — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The History Boys in United States?
The History Boys is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies and YouTube.
▸What language is The History Boys in?
The History Boys is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The History Boys?
The History Boys runs 1 hours 49 minutes (109 minutes).
▸What is The History Boys rated?
The History Boys is rated R. It holds a 6.6/10 audience score from 215 ratings.
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