Honey Boy is a 2019 American drama film directed by Alma Har'el and written by Shia LaBeouf, loosely based on his childhood and his relationship with his father.

Honey Boy had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019, and was released on November 8, 2019, by Amazon Studios.

The film received largely positive reviews from critics, who praised Har'el's direction as well as the performances of LaBeouf, Hedges and Jupe.

Dr. Moreno, Otis' counselor, tells him that if he leaves the facility before they say he is ready, the court will send him to prison for his violent offenses.

Going back a decade earlier to 1995, Otis remembers working as a child actor, often accompanied on set by his father James, a former rodeo clown.

Returning to his memories, Otis remembers Tom coming over for the barbecue, along with James throwing him into the pool and violently threatening him.

When he is offered a part in a movie that will be shot in Canada, Otis calls his mother, who is unsure if James can accompany him because of his status as a registered sex offender.

[5][6] LaBeouf wrote the script as a part of his rehabilitation program in Connecticut, where he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and his therapist encouraged him to write about his upbringing.

[9] In May 2018, Clifton Collins Jr., Maika Monroe, Natasha Lyonne, Martin Starr, Byron Bowers and Laura San Giacomo joined the cast of the film.

[2][13] In August 2022, LaBeouf revealed that he had taken creative liberties with the character portrayal of his father and Honey Boy was not an autobiographical depiction of his childhood.

LaBeouf stated that he called his father after the Honey Boy premiere and "took accountability for all of that and knew very clearly that I couldn't take it back.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Honey Boy serves as an act of cinematic therapy for its screenwriter and subject – one whose unique perspective should strike a chord in audiences from all backgrounds.

"[20] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

[22] Lindsey Bahr of Associated Press included Honey Boy as number seven on her list of the top 10 motion pictures of 2019.