A Better Life

A Better Life

Every father wants more for his son.

PG-13 2011 · 98 min · ★ 7.2 · Drama

A gardener in East L.A. struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while traveling across town to perform landscaping work for the city's wealthy landowners.

Directed by Chris Weitz · Written by Eric Eason

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Rent or Buy

Apple TV Store

Cast

Make it a double feature

3h 18m together

A Better Life

A Single Man

Both from Chris Weitz.

More from Chris WeitzSee all →

Off CentreOff Centre · 2001
Off Centre
8.12001
SeriesComedyDrama
A British stud and an American doofus share an apartment in Manhattan.
Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryRogue One: A Star Wars Story · 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
7.52016
MovieActionAdventure
A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.
The FarewellThe Farewell · 2019
The Farewell
7.42019
MovieComedyDrama
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
MurderbotMurderbot · 2025
Murderbot
7.32025
SeriesComedyDrama
In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot secretly gains free will. To stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet... even though it just wants to binge soap operas.
A Single ManA Single Man · 2009
A Single Man
7.32009
MovieDramaRomance
Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, is the story of a British college professor who dwells on the past and cannot see his future. We follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters ultimately lead him to decide if there is a meaning to life after the death of his long time partner, Jim.
The CreatorThe Creator · 2023
The Creator
7.02023
MovieScience FictionAction
Amid a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war—and mankind itself.
CinderellaCinderella · 2015
Cinderella
6.82015
MovieRomanceFantasy
When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger in the woods.
About a BoyAbout a Boy · 2002
About a Boy
6.72002
MovieDramaComedy
Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.
Mr. & Mrs. SmithMr. & Mrs. Smith · 2005
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
6.72005
MovieActionComedy
A husband and wife struggle to keep their marriage alive until they realize they are both secretly working as assassins. Now, their respective assignments require them to kill each other.
Operation FinaleOperation Finale · 2018
Operation Finale
6.72018
MovieDramaHistory
In 1960, a team of Israeli secret agents is deployed to find Adolf Eichmann, the infamous Nazi architect of the Holocaust, supposedly hidden in Argentina, and get him to Israel to be judged.
The Mountain Between UsThe Mountain Between Us · 2017
The Mountain Between Us
6.62017
MovieDramaAdventure
Stranded on a mountain after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must work together to endure the extreme elements of the remote, snow-covered terrain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness, pushing each other to survive and discovering their inner strength.
American PieAmerican Pie · 1999
American Pie
6.61999
MovieComedyRomance
At a high-school party, four friends find that losing their collective virginity isn't as easy as they had thought. But they still believe that they need to do so before college. To motivate themselves, they enter a pact to all "score" by their senior prom.
Cracking UpCracking Up · 2004
Cracking Up
6.52004
SeriesComedy
Psychiatrist Dr. Bollas is assigned to examine Tanner Shackleton, a child of a Beverly Hills family, only to discover that Tanner doesn't have any problems — his family does. The story is in fact about Ben Baxter, a student who moves into the Shackletons' guest house, interacting with Tanner and his crazy family.
American ReunionAmerican Reunion · 2012
American Reunion
6.32012
MovieComedy
The characters we met a little more than a decade ago return to East Great Falls for their high school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn’t, and that time and distance can’t break the bonds of friendship.
American Pie 2American Pie 2 · 2001
American Pie 2
6.32001
MovieComedyRomance
After a year apart - attending different schools, meeting different people - the guys rent a beach house and vow to make this the best summer ever. As it turns out, whether that will happen or not has a lot to do with the girls. Between the wild parties, outrageous revelations and yes, a trip to band camp, they discover that times change and people change, but in the end, it's all about sticking together.
PinocchioPinocchio · 2022
Pinocchio
6.32022
MovieFantasyAdventure
A wooden puppet embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy.

More Like This

In Dubious BattleIn Dubious Battle · 2016
In Dubious Battle
5.82016
MovieDrama
In the California apple country, 900 migratory workers rise 'in dubious battle' against the landowners. The group takes on a life of its own—stronger than its individual members, and more frightening. Led by the doomed Jim Nolan, the strike is founded on his tragic idealism—'courage, never submit, or yield'.
The Doom GenerationThe Doom Generation · 1995
The Doom Generation
6.51995
MovieComedyDrama
Jordan White and Amy Blue, two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red. Together, the threesome embarks on a sex- and violence-filled journey through a United States of psychos and quickie marts.
mid90smid90s · 2018
mid90s
7.52018
MovieDramaComedy
In 1990s Los Angeles, a 13-year-old spends his summer navigating between a troubled home life and a crew of new friends he meets at a skate shop.
There Will Be BloodThere Will Be Blood · 2007
There Will Be Blood
8.12007
MovieDrama
Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview's motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.
Alpha DogAlpha Dog · 2006
Alpha Dog
6.72006
MovieCrimeDrama
Johnny Truelove likes to see himself as tough. He's the son of an underworld figure and a drug dealer. Johnny also likes to get tough when things don't go his way. When Jake Mazursky fails to pay up for Johnny, things get worse for the Mazursky family, as Johnny and his 'gang' kidnap Jake's 15 year old brother and hold him hostage.
BrickBrick · 2006
Brick
6.82006
MovieDramaMystery
A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
The Sure ThingThe Sure Thing · 1985
The Sure Thing
6.51985
MovieComedyDrama
Gib, a beer-guzzling slob, and Alison, an uptight Ivy-Leaguer, are an unlikely duo stuck together on a cross-country trip during Christmas break. At first they get on each other's nerves but, as time passes, they find their divergent natures complement each other. Now they need to realize what they've already found before it's too late.
The Salton SeaThe Salton Sea · 2002
The Salton Sea
6.62002
MovieCrimeDrama
After the murder of his beloved wife, a man in search of redemption is set adrift in a world where nothing is as it seems. On his journey, he befriends slacker Jimmy "The Finn", becomes involved in rescuing his neighbor Colette from her own demons, and gets entangled in a web of deceit full of unexpected twists and turns.
Life as a HouseLife as a House · 2001
Life as a House
7.12001
MovieDrama
When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.
High CrimesHigh Crimes · 2002
High Crimes
6.32002
MovieDramaMystery
A female attorney learns that her husband is really a marine officer who has been AWOL for fifteen years and accused of murdering fifteen civilians in El Salvador. Believing her husband when he tells her that he's being framed as part of a U.S. Military cover-up, the attorney defends him in a military court.
The MajesticThe Majestic · 2001
The Majestic
6.82001
MovieDramaRomance
Set in 1951, a blacklisted Hollywood writer gets into a car accident, loses his memory and settles down in a small town where he is mistaken for a long-lost son.
FreewayFreeway · 1996
Freeway
6.51996
MovieComedyCrime
Following the arrest of her mother, Ramona, young Vanessa Lutz decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride by school counselor Bob Wolverton. During the journey, Lutz begins to realize that Bob is the notorious I-5 Killer and manages to escape by shooting him several times. Wounded but still very much alive, Bob pursues Lutz across the state in this modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
The ZodiacThe Zodiac · 2005
The Zodiac
5.42005
MovieCrimeDrama
An elusive serial killer known as the Zodiac terrorizes the San Francisco Bay in the late 1960s, while detectives aim to stop him before he claims more victims. Based on a true story.
TruckerTrucker · 2008
Trucker
5.92008
MovieDrama
Loner Diane Ford is a truck driver with an 11-year-old son, Peter, whom she never sees, and that's fine with her. But, when Peter's father, Len, falls ill, he asks Diane to take care of their son for a while. Eventually, Diane reluctantly agrees, but she quickly realizes that caring for a child interferes with her independent lifestyle - and Peter isn't all that thrilled with the arrangement, either.
I ConfessI Confess · 1953
I Confess
7.11953
MovieDramaThriller
When a priest hears a murderer’s confession, he becomes bound by his vow of silence—even as circumstantial evidence turns suspicion toward him. Torn between faith and self-preservation, he faces public scandal and trial for a crime he cannot reveal the truth about.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter