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Can't Buy Me Love

Play trailer Poster for Can't Buy Me Love PG-13 1987 1h 34m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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48% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything.
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Can't Buy Me Love

Can't Buy Me Love

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Critics Consensus

While Can't Buy Me Love gets some value out of its plucky leads, this romantic comedy struggles to find grace in a cynical conceit that belongs in the bargain bin.

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Critics Reviews

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Time Out 06/24/2006
A slight but not unenjoyable movie. Go to Full Review Caryn James New York Times 05/20/2003
2.5/5
The film thinks it wants to be sincere, when all it truly wants is to be popular, just like the other kids' movies, so it sells off its originality. Go to Full Review Rita Kempley Washington Post 01/01/2000
As written by Michael Swerdlick and guided by Rash, the theme dissolves into a bland parody of pubescent pain. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Jun 22
Too unlikable of characters to work Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 03/06/2021
2.5/4
...a mostly watchable comedy that benefits substantially from the affable work of its two stars... Go to Full Review Ángel Fernández-Santos El Pais (Spain) 04/01/2020
Its conformist happy ending negates the initial nonconformist feeling of the original premise. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Traci F @Trace922 6d This movie was my teenage years. I love this movie with all my heart it was my favorite movie for a very long time. I watched it everyday trust me when I was younger. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Aug 17 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Linda L Aug 14 Great romantic movie, and I'm not even a fan of romance genre. There's probably similar versions of this movie but this is the original. I love this movie! See more Co D May 19 I’m a sucker for the fake relationship trope soooo! Plus Cindy Mancini is a fashion icon 🔥 See more Roselyn D Apr 7 would kill to have cindy's hair. also young patrick dempsey is such a cutie! FELT ronald's pain towards the end i love men groveling and being losers. VERY SUBTLY FUNNY. loved it. See more Michael D Feb 17 Love this guilty pleasure of an "80's young adult ", movie. Amazing how much has changed over the years, but time does move on..... Great Sunday, rainy day, movie. See more Read all reviews
Can't Buy Me Love

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Cast & Crew

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Steve Rash

Director

Patrick Dempsey

Ronald Miller

Amanda Peterson

Cindy Mancini

Courtney Gains

Kenneth Wurman

Tina Caspary

Barbara

Seth Green

Chuckie Miller

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Can't Buy Me Love

Can't Buy Me Love (1987) Can't Buy Me Love (1987) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything.
Director
Steve Rash
Producer
Thom Mount
Screenwriter
Michael Swerdlick
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 28, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.6M
Runtime
1h 34m
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