Beats(2019) Apr 2026

The Netflix film Beats is a coming-of-age drama set in the South Side of Chicago. It centers on August Monroe, a reclusive teenage music prodigy, and Romelo Reese, a struggling former producer.

: The film is set against the backdrop of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which effectively banned raves featuring "repetitive beats".

: Director Brian Welsh based the story on his own past and used a soundtrack featuring era-authentic artists like The Prodigy, Orbital, and LFO . The American Beats: Trauma and Hip-Hop Beats(2019)

In 2019, two distinct films titled Beats were released, each exploring music culture and youth in different urban settings. One is a Scottish coming-of-age drama directed by Brian Welsh, and the other is a Netflix original set in Chicago directed by Chris Robinson.

Outside of cinema, the term "Beats" was prominent in several other contexts in 2019: Beats (2019) - IMDb The Netflix film Beats is a coming-of-age drama

: Much of the film is shot in gritty black and white, though it transitions into a "flooded with color" expressionistic sequence during the rave scene to mirror the characters' sensory experience.

: It features performances by Khalil Everage and Anthony Anderson, with reviewers noting its naturalism and lived-in charm. Other Significant "Beats" of 2019 : Director Brian Welsh based the story on

: It explores the "burnout" of young male friendship as the two boys face diverging futures—one moving to a "better" neighborhood and the other stuck in a cycle of poverty and abuse.