Adult World

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Adult World

R

2014

1h 37m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

An aspiring poet (Emma Roberts) takes a job as a clerk at an adult bookstore and tries to make her contemptuous literary idol (John Cusack) take her on as his protege.

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Critics Consensus

A mixed bag of uneven tone occasionally saved by John Cusack's astute performance leaves the audience to fend for themselves in this Adult World.

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Jenni Miller

Film.com

Adult World is more aggravating than endearing, although there's an interesting idea buried beneath all the cutesy plot details.

Rated: 5/10

Jun 9, 2017

Full Review

Bruce Ingram

Chicago Sun-Times

Adult World does have some smart, funny and wincingly painful things to say about the desire to make art vs. the desire to be famous for it.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 7, 2014

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Roberts is completely over-the-top here, her frantic, unfunny performance serving only to highlight Cusack's caginess and restraint.

Mar 6, 2014

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Theresa Smith

Independent Online (South Africa)

There is potentially a good movie bubbling under the surface in the interaction between Amy and Rat and especially in the hinted-at desperation of her struggle to make a success of her life, but this is overtaken by the tedious melodramatic whining.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 7, 2016

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Cusack is fabulously droll as the reluctant mentor, while Armando Riesco delivers a touchingly off-kilter performance as the drag queen who also provides the heroine with lessons in life.

Aug 25, 2014

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Clayton Davis

AwardsCircuit.com

Completely stealing the show and delivering my favorite supporting turn of the year so far is Armando Riesco.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 4, 2014

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Stephen C

Unfunny in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

Jerod S

Ironic that Roberts is a terrible writer in a film with terrible writing. Cusack is supposed to be her poetry muse - but it's all just dumb.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/18/24

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Morten B

poorly directed. the worst 'indie' movie ever made with obnoxious characters

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/24

Full Review

Brian C

This was a breakthrough for Emma Roberts. A different character for her; naive, inspired, pained and ridiculous. Cusack is flawless, as always, and Evan Peters is charming and sweet. This one sneaked by me when it was released, but my daughter found it and shared it with us. We loved it. Haters are, frankly, lame. The script is wry and ahead of it's time. Recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/23

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Abigail M

funny movie, made me laugh a lot.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

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Audience Member

An alternative independent movie that's well-acted with a little charm to it. I don't know what else to say about it... it didn't entangle itself or lose my interest, and that's alot compared to what I've been watching recently.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Scott Coffey

Director

Emma Roberts

Amy

John Cusack

Rat Billings

Evan Peters

Alex

Armando Riesco

Rubia

Cloris Leachman

Mary Anne

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Synopsis

An aspiring poet (Emma Roberts) takes a job as a clerk at an adult bookstore and tries to make her contemptuous literary idol (John Cusack) take her on as his protege.

Director: Scott Coffey
Producer: Justin Nappi, Manu Gargi, Alex Goldstone, Joy Gorman Wettels
Screenwriter: Andy Cochran
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Anonymous Content, Tree House Pictures
Rating: R (Some Drug Use|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.4K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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