American Beauty is a 1999 American drama film directed by Sam Mendes. It stars Kevin Spacey as office worker Lester Burnham, who hates his job and boring routine. He has a midlife crisis when he becomes obsessed with his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari). Annette Bening co-stars as Lester's materialistic wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter, Jane. The film has been described by academics as a satire of American middle class ideas about beauty and personal satisfaction. Critics have focused on the film's explorations of romantic and paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, alienation, freedom, and freeing oneself from sin.
American Beauty was positively received by critics and audiences alike. It was the best-reviewed American film of the year and grossed over $350 million worldwide. It won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for Spacey), Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography. The years since have seen its critical regard wane. In 2005, Premiere named American Beauty as one of 20 "most overrated movies of all time". Mendes accepted the criticism, saying: "I thought some of it was entirely justified—it was a little overpraised at the time." The movie review site Rotten Tomatoes says: "American Beauty is a smart, provocative high point of late '90smainstream Hollywood film."
