Candy

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Candy

R

2006

1h 48m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A fatherly chemistry professor (Geoffrey Rush) indulges two young lovers (Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish) in their ever-increasing heroin habits. Eventually the pair, an artist named Candy and an aspiring poet named Dan, become caught in a harrowing downward spiral of drug dependency and failed efforts to get clean.

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Critics Consensus

Stars Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish look better than they should as heroin addicts, and their characters are too absorbed and self-pitying to be totally compelling.

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Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

05/15/2009

C

Davies has no new insights into the heroin spiral, but this silly melodrama benefits from the palpable chemistry between Ledger and Cornish

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Katey Rich

Film Journal International

02/06/2007

Without real characters or a fresh take on drug addiction, Candy has little to recommend it for anyone who's seen The Basketball Diaries or Requiem for a Dream.

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

01/12/2007

3/4

Undeniably affecting.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

06/15/2020

3/5

A tentative, inconclusive take on what it's like to be young, in love and on heroin.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

12/09/2019

3/4

No one would ever mistake this for a "feel-good" romp, but its potency is unwavering.

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

11/03/2018

3/5

There is nothing harder to do well on screen than a picaresque drama about drug addiction... Despite good performances and excellent cinematography, this is a struggle that the filmmaker loses.

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theresa F

@Moviemonster194 Dec 19

Your first love and your deepest tragedy. Beautiful Abby Cornish "Candy" in all her innocence spiraling deep into addiction with blinding love as Heath Ledger "Dan" the romantic poet enjoys the feeling of splendor ravishing both their souls. Tragedy tends to follow as their addiction rules their beautiful love story. The reality of withdrawals and the painful truth. Sometimes when you really love someone you must let them go because the risk of returning could ruin their lives. Such a beautiful but sad love story that will hit the nerve leaving you in tears.

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Abigail K.

@curtcobainzzzzz 07/26/2025

Really good showed what it’s like for people struggling and the acting was top tier I loved it so much I revoked

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Nicole C

@RT41250372 06/22/2025

Excellent acting, It has realistic feel, helping to better understand the minds of people suffering from addiction and mental illness. I see some people were harsh, since they’re addicts but it’s ok to have some sympathy for humans experiencing pain we don’t understand. Heath always delivers rest in peace

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Mari F

@RT38568295 06/11/2024

Heavy, heartbreaking, sad love story about two people clinging to each other while engrossed in their mind-numbing drug use. Great acting by Geoffrey Rush as their supportive druggie buddy.

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Ionela C

@Ionela95 04/26/2024

Bored me a little, but i love Heath Ledger

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Abigail M

@RT73553122 08/01/2023

idk this movie just made me angry and also very uncomfortable, which i think was the goal.

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Neil Armfield

Director

Heath Ledger

Dan

Abbie Cornish

Candy

Geoffrey Rush

Casper

Tony Martin

Mr. Wyatt

Noni Hazlehurst

Mrs. Wyatt

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Synopsis

A fatherly chemistry professor (Geoffrey Rush) indulges two young lovers (Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish) in their ever-increasing heroin habits. Eventually the pair, an artist named Candy and an aspiring poet named Dan, become caught in a harrowing downward spiral of drug dependency and failed efforts to get clean.

Director: Neil Armfield
Producer: Margaret Fink, Emile Sherman
Screenwriter: Luke Davies
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Renaissance Films
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Depiction of Drug Addiction|Nudity|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.7K
Runtime: 1h 48m