Back in 2017, Netflix dropped To The Bone, a film that should’ve been a prestige hit. It starred Keanu Reeves, had a raw, character-driven premise, and promised to explore the dark psychology of eating disorders.
Instead, To The Bone ended up as one of those movies that everyone heard about but almost nobody actually finished watching. It wasn’t a disaster, but it vanished faster than a limited-release art film on opening weekend. Maybe it would have had a chance if there hadn’t been a push to get the movie banned.
What Is To The Bone
To The Bone follows Ellen (Lily Collins), a young woman battling anorexia under the unconventional care of Dr. Beckham (Keanu Reeves, who plays the world’s calmest, most detached therapist). It’s well-acted, Collins throws herself into a painfully real performance, but the film can’t decide what it wants to be.
Surrounded by other patients struggling with eating disorders, Ellen forms tentative bonds. Through their experiences and setbacks, Ellen confronts her denial and begins to see how her illness has consumed her identity. The story tracks her slow, uneven journey toward self-acceptance and survival.
Is it a gritty exploration of mental illness, a redemption arc, or an offbeat, almost romantic coming-of-age story? Instead of picking one, it drifts between tones like a Netflix algorithm testing different thumbnails.
Activists Campaign To Get Keanu Reeves’ Movie Banned
Director Marti Noxon, best known for her work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and UnREAL, tried to bring authenticity. She’s spoken openly about her own struggles, but that wasn’t enough to stave off controversy.
To The Bone was immediately divisive. Advocacy groups voiced concerns over the movie’s depictions of anorexia and other eating disorders. Some believed that certain scenes could potentially trigger vulnerable viewers, arguing that the graphic visuals and discussions related to calorie counting and weight might inadvertently glamorize or oversimplify the disorder.
The debate centered on whether the movie was a realistic portrayal or whether it risked exacerbating misconceptions and potentially harmful behaviors. While Keanu Reeves wasn’t at the center of these aspects of the film, his role was important in the overall narrative.
Lily Collins in To The Bone
Adding to this was the spotlight on Lily Collins’s weight loss for the role, which raised questions about the ethical implications and the potential dangers for an actress to undergo such a transformation, especially given that Collins herself has spoken about her own past struggles with eating disorders.
Critically, To The Bone was divisive. It earned praise for Collins’ bravery and for starting a conversation, but it was also accused of glamorizing anorexia. Viewers couldn’t agree if it was powerful or irresponsible, and that kind of moral whiplash killed its momentum.
Netflix Abandons The Movie
Netflix never promoted To The Bone heavily after the first wave of controversy, and Reeves’ presence, while a nice touch of star power, wasn’t enough to save it from cultural obscurity. It’s still available to watch on Netflix, but don’t expect the streaming platform to recommend it.
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