Drugstore Cowboy

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Drugstore Cowboy

R

Released Oct 6, 1989

1h 40m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) is the leader of a family of drug addicts consisting of his wife, Dianne (Kelly Lynch), and another couple who feed their habit by robbing drug stores as they travel across the country. After a tragedy befalls a member of his group, Bob decides he must leave his dysfunctional clan and go straight. Parting ways with his junkie past proves more difficult than expected when Bob is stalked by an old acquaintance looking to score drugs at any price.

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Critics Consensus

Drugstore Cowboy takes us into a violent, transient world with cool, contemplative style.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Gus Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy is a road movie on opioids.

Feb 27, 2025

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Empire Magazine

One of those cult classics well worth investigating even if you have never so much as smoked a cigarette in your life.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 20, 2010

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

All the actors are used expertly, but it's Burroughs, cropping up near the end, who articulates the film's sociopolitical moral in a contemporary context.

Aug 20, 2010

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Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Drugstore Cowboy understands the pleasures and release that drugs can give people, and also how it finally bottoms out their souls.

Rated: 3/4

May 9, 2023

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Tom Ensign

Toledo Blade

In all, Drugstore Cowboy has a few highs, but generally, this is a light dose of viewing valium.

Aug 3, 2022

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Peter Bowen

OutWeek

Drugstore Cowboy offers a deeply moving and profoundly beautiful film.

May 20, 2020

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Audience Member

Taking place in 1971 starring Kevin Dillon and Kelly Lynch This centers on Bob Hughes, he leads a family of drug addicts He’s estranged from his mother and only lives to sell and distribute by robbing drug stores across the states The feds are also on his case considering he got a fellow officer shot Once tragedy happens Bob must choose to go straight and stop using So many trippy visuals, the film has a grey colorless streak going on, and pulls the viewer into the empty drug-fueled world from Bob’s point of view It’s sad though because the real plot doesn’t kick in until after 1 hour and Kelly Lynch disappears for the rest of the runtime It doesn’t really end on a happy note either making it all the more confusing But for those wondering what a drug user sees on a daily basis it gives an offering how things can get messy real fast

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

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Luca D

Definitely worth a watch if your into 90s crime/drug movies. The soundtrack was lacking but that's the only flaw.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

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Jesse B

The setting, the characters, and the experiences they go through feel all too real. Matt Dillon is a treasure and blended perfectly into Gus' experimental filmmaking style. Drugstore Cowboy is bleak. but filled with a tinge of hope, just enough to make it another day in this crazy world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

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Shioka O

Watched in 2024, it's a 35 years old film but still looks fairly fresh. maybe one of the prominent first point of view voice-over narrate film. you can expect what's gonna happen by seeing the beginning.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

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Dani G

A classic example of an independent production from the 80's-90's. One of the films, or maybe the film that put Gus Van Sant in the map

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

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Madelon C

35 years after its release, Drugstore Cowboy is still a relevant watch about addiction. Not only that, it's a tightly scripted story with excellent direction by Gus van Sandt. William Burroughs is the cherry on top of Matt Dillon's excellent performance (read Naked Lunch).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

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Gus Van Sant

Director

Matt Dillon

Bob Hughes

Kelly Lynch

Dianne Hughes

James Le Gros

Rick

Heather Graham

Nadine

James Remar

Gentry

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Synopsis

Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) is the leader of a family of drug addicts consisting of his wife, Dianne (Kelly Lynch), and another couple who feed their habit by robbing drug stores as they travel across the country. After a tragedy befalls a member of his group, Bob decides he must leave his dysfunctional clan and go straight. Parting ways with his junkie past proves more difficult than expected when Bob is stalked by an old acquaintance looking to score drugs at any price.

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Karen Murphy, Nick Wechsler
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
Production Co: Avenue Pictures Productions, Lionsgate
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 27, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.2M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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