Drugstore Cowboy

R

Now Playing

1 hr. 40 min.

Drama

List

97%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Full Review

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

KB B

It's okay but got kind of long. I'd never want to watch it again.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/06/24

Full Review

Liam N

Matt Dillon's character is based off of my grandfather Thomas Ward. My grandpa Tom was friends with the author of the book that this movie originates from. I've never seen this movie but it's cool knowing that my grandfather was played by Matt Dillon

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

Knstler N

I have NO idea where this high rating comes from. This movie is awful all around. Really, really bad. AVOID

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/23

Full Review

Carlos I

It's a bleak, fatalistic drug movie about petty criminals and the depths to which a junkie will stoop. It's done in the signature realism style of Gus Van Sant, and Matt Dillon delivers a dynamite performance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Gus Van Sant

Director

Matt Dillon

Bob Hughes

Kelly Lynch

Dianne Hughes

James LeGros

Rick

Heather Graham

Nadine

James Remar

Gentry

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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

No previous drug-themed film has the honesty or originality of Gus Van Sant's drama Drugstore Cowboy.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Peter Bowen

OutWeek

Drugstore Cowboy offers a deeply moving and profoundly beautiful film.

May 20, 2020

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Cary Brokaw
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
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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