Ben Feinstein, a teenage boy from San Antonio, arrives at Boys State in Austin, Texas, where 1,000 participants form a government from scratch. Divided into the Nationalist and Federalist parties, the boys campaign for the position of Governor. Robert MacDougall and Steven Garza vie for the Nationalist nomination, while Eddy Proietti Conti emerges as the Federalist candidate. The film captures the political maneuvering, debates, and challenges faced by these young boys as they engage in a mock democratic process.

What Critics Say

The gloves and training wheels come off as a group of smart, poignantly naive and utterly insufferable Texas boys get together to simulate government.

Peter BradshawRead full article

August 3, 2020

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Ben Feinstein, a bilateral amputee running for state chairman.
See Steven Garza's campaign and his views on abortion.
Follow the intense political competition in Austin, Texas.

Did You Know

The film won the U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize at Sundance on January 24, 2020.
Boys State was released on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020.
The film has a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 144 reviews.
In 2024, a companion film titled Girls State was released, focusing on the 2022 Girls State Program in Missouri.

Perfect For

Political science enthusiastsTeenage activismDocumentary fans

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

What award did Boys State win at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival?

Boys State won the U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

When was Boys State released on Apple TV+?

Boys State was released on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020.

What is the average rating of Boys State on Metacritic?

Boys State has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Awards & Festivals

Emmy Awards

2020 • Award

Sundance Film Festival

2020 • Award

DOC NYC

2020 • Official selection

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

2020 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

1h24m

Jesus Camp

2006•1h24m•★7.0TMDB

Three children at a North Dakota summer camp are taught to develop their "prophetic gifts" and encouraged to promote conservative Christian values.

Jesus Camp

2006

52m

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan

2010•52m•★5.4TMDB

Bacha bazi, a practice involving the sexual exploitation of boys as young as ten, thrives in Afghanistan despite being illegal under Afghan law.

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan

2010

1h17m

If I Were Running This Campaign - A look at campaigning

2014•1h17m

A panel of four political strategists, including Joe Trippi and Donna Brazile, discusses campaign strategies at the 2014 New Yorker Festival.

If I Were Running This Campaign - A look at campaigning

2014

49m

Boys Alone (Social Experiment Documentary)

2016•49m

Ten boys aged 11 and 12, from diverse backgrounds, are placed in a house without adult supervision to observe their interactions and behaviors.

Boys Alone (Social Experiment Documentary)

2016

56m

Austin, Texas: The Underbelly Of America's Most Progressive City | Witness

2025•56m

Austin, Texas, known for its progressive culture and booming tech industry, faces tensions between liberal policies and conservative values, exemplified by figures like Alex Jones and Tim Enlow.

Austin, Texas: The Underbelly Of America's Most Progressive City | Witness

2025

24m

The Bootcamp Where Students Train To Be Pro-Life Foot Soldiers

2019•24m

Forty-nine college students receive scholarships to attend a week-long pro-life training camp in Texas, aimed at enhancing their activism skills.

The Bootcamp Where Students Train To Be Pro-Life Foot Soldiers

2019

48m

10 Boys Left Alone In a House with No Adults! (Social Experiment Documentary)

2023•48m

Ten boys aged 11 and 12, from diverse backgrounds, navigate life alone in a house without adult supervision, revealing their interactions and dynamics.

10 Boys Left Alone In a House with No Adults! (Social Experiment Documentary)

2023

55m

Austin: America's Boom Capital - Life Between Big Tech, Cowboys & Conspiracy

2025•55m

50,000 people move to Austin each year, drawn by its booming economy and vibrant culture, while grappling with the challenges of rapid growth.

Austin: America's Boom Capital - Life Between Big Tech, Cowboys & Conspiracy

2025

49m

What Would Happen If 10 Boys Were Left To Live Together?

2021•49m

Ten boys, left alone in a house for five days with food and toys, navigate their interactions and behaviors under constant observation.

What Would Happen If 10 Boys Were Left To Live Together?

2021

28m

How Gen Z is shaping US politics

2024•28m

Aged 27, Sabrina Bousbar aims to become the first Generation Z Congresswoman while facing a primary election against four fellow Democrats in Florida.

How Gen Z is shaping US politics

2024

1h37m

1989 - The fall of Communism

2025•1h37m

More than 30,000 East Germans fled to the West in the late 1980s, prompting massive uprisings and significant political changes in Eastern Europe.

1989 - The fall of Communism

2025

44m

Episode 3: The Success

2021•44m

A childhood experience with the justice department begins after watching 'JFK' and writing a letter.

Episode 3: The Success

2021

Explore Boys State

Trailer People Awards Deep Dive Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

1h24m

Jesus Camp

2006•1h24m•★7.0TMDB

Three children at a North Dakota summer camp are taught to develop their "prophetic gifts" and encouraged to promote conservative Christian values.

Jesus Camp

2006

No digital watch option in your country

1h35m

Girls State

2024•1h35m•★7.3TMDB

Fifteen teenage girls from Missouri participate in a week-long civic experiment to build a government from the ground up.

Girls State

2024

Follow the Leader

2012•2h•★7.0TMDB

Three high school Class Presidents face political challenges and personal beliefs over three years as they align with Republican, Democratic, and Independent factions.

Follow the Leader

2012

1h27m

An American Candidate

2003•1h27m•★10.0TMDB

A filmmaker documents Daniel Byington's campaign against House Leader Dick Gephardt during the 2002 Congressional elections.

An American Candidate

2003

1h30m

ToryBoy the Movie

2011•1h30m•★6.5TMDB

John Walsh self-funded his £15,000 election campaign to become a Conservative candidate in the 2010 general election for Middlesbrough.

ToryBoy the Movie

2011

1h20m

Frontrunners

2008•1h20m•★6.7TMDB

Eight candidates compete for the student body president position at Stuyvesant High School, addressing issues of race, gender, and appearance during the 2008 election.

Frontrunners

2008

1h24m

The Boys of Baraka

2005•1h24m•★7.3TMDB

Twenty boys from Baltimore travel 10,000 miles to a rural boarding school in Kenya, seeking educational opportunities unavailable in their hometown.

The Boys of Baraka

2005

1h42m

A Dangerous Game

2014•1h42m•★6.5TMDB

A referendum in Dubrovnik saw local residents vote against a luxury golf course development, but officials ignored the results.

A Dangerous Game

2014

1h22m

Collapse

2009•1h22m•★7.2TMDB

Fourteen hours of interviews with Michael Ruppert were condensed into an 82-minute monologue discussing societal collapse and its causes.

Collapse

2009

Browse more like this

49m

Boys Alone (Social Experiment Documentary)

2016•49m

Ten boys aged 11 and 12, from diverse backgrounds, are placed in a house without adult supervision to observe their interactions and behaviors.

Boys Alone (Social Experiment Documentary)

2016

No digital watch option in your country

56m

Austin, Texas: The Underbelly Of America's Most Progressive City | Witness

2025•56m

Austin, Texas, known for its progressive culture and booming tech industry, faces tensions between liberal policies and conservative values, exemplified by figures like Alex Jones and Tim Enlow.

Austin, Texas: The Underbelly Of America's Most Progressive City | Witness

2025

No digital watch option in your country

48m

10 Boys Left Alone In a House with No Adults! (Social Experiment Documentary)

2023•48m

Ten boys aged 11 and 12, from diverse backgrounds, navigate life alone in a house without adult supervision, revealing their interactions and dynamics.

10 Boys Left Alone In a House with No Adults! (Social Experiment Documentary)

2023

No digital watch option in your country

55m

Austin: America's Boom Capital - Life Between Big Tech, Cowboys & Conspiracy

2025•55m

50,000 people move to Austin each year, drawn by its booming economy and vibrant culture, while grappling with the challenges of rapid growth.

Austin: America's Boom Capital - Life Between Big Tech, Cowboys & Conspiracy

2025

No digital watch option in your country

49m

What Would Happen If 10 Boys Were Left To Live Together?

2021•49m

Ten boys, left alone in a house for five days with food and toys, navigate their interactions and behaviors under constant observation.

What Would Happen If 10 Boys Were Left To Live Together?

2021

No digital watch option in your country

1h37m

1989 - The fall of Communism

2025•1h37m

More than 30,000 East Germans fled to the West in the late 1980s, prompting massive uprisings and significant political changes in Eastern Europe.

1989 - The fall of Communism

2025

No digital watch option in your country

31m

SEND

2017•31m•★9.0TMDB

A crew of teenage boys prepares mentally and physically for competition in a world filled with high expectations.

SEND

2017

1h18m

The Football Boys

2015•1h18m•★8.2TMDB

Talent scouts from Boca Juniors search for emerging football talent among over 40,000 young boys across Argentina's remote regions.

The Football Boys

2015

48m

Boys Alone

2002•48m•★6.0TMDB

Ten boys aged 11 and 12 live together in a house without adult supervision, revealing their struggles with organization and conflict.

Boys Alone

2002

1h36m

The Last Party

1993•1h36m•★5.2TMDB

A clip featuring Robert Downey Jr. criticizing Wall Street gained viral attention in the 2010s, stating, "If money is evil then that building is hell."

The Last Party

1993