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      Less Than Zero

      R Released Nov 18, 1987 1 hr. 37 min. Drama List
      50% 28 Reviews Tomatometer 63% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score Clay (Andrew McCarthy) comes home to Los Angeles after his first semester of college and encounters some disturbing developments. His former lover, burgeoning model Blair (Jami Gertz), has begun to abuse cocaine. But her addiction pales in comparison to the drug dependency of her new boyfriend, Julian (Robert Downey Jr.), who's also Clay's childhood buddy. Clay tries to help them get sober, but the process is complicated by Rip (James Spader), a callous dealer Julian is indebted to. Read More Read Less
      Less Than Zero

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      Critics Consensus

      A couple of standout performances -- notably Robert Downey, Jr. and James Spader -- and a killer soundtrack can't quite elevate a somewhat superficial adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' story of drugged-out LA rich kids.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Jeffrey P With a soundtrack better than other 80's flicks, this was not as much 80's cringe and cheese as I was expecting. Decent film about addiction that isn't candy coated, has some hard hitting messages despite feeling rushed at times. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Daniel J One of the bests performances of Robert, Completely destructive if you associate the life of the character with the life of the actor at the time, great to know that he managed to recover from all addiction and today is about to win an Oscar for his work in Oppenheimer Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review Charyl R Great soundtrack, excellent cast and a decent story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/16/23 Full Review Brandi W I was 14 when this movie came out. I probably watched it and didn't get it. So I watched it again last night. McCarthy's performance is borderline mentally absent. I didn't realize how much he struggles with playing anything other than a rich love interest with almost no personality. I get why they gave the characters slightly better character. Because in the book they're self entitled narcissistic turds. Spader is the only realistic character, and Downey Jr portrays addiction well enough, probably due to his own issues IRL. But McCarthy man. It must be hard to act with him. He has like 2 facial expressions: constipated and surprised he's constipated. Which pains me to say because I had such a crush on him. And the script is typical 80's: jumping headfirst into this fantastical scenario and filming their (I guess you could call them) reactions and behaviors that have no context to who they are, so it just all seems so... unrelatable, on any level. Less than 6 months and his two best friends sleep with each other and develop cocaine addiction... seriously? and he returns, like a robot, (true to the story's character I suppose- an unempathetic entitled rich kid) to have a lot of unnecessary sex scenes, exist in a periphery of fashion victims at excessive artsy fartsy parties and engage in conversations between 20-somethings that don't exist IRL... none of which further the story, (just how the 80's producers sold their YA movies to the wishful civilians) and feel so Hollywood, it's like Hollywood believes their own fantasy. A writer didn't write this script. The addiction element is the only validation this movie offers, which is to be expected in the Nancy Reagan era. A tiny fleck of homophobia is a notable twist - as well as a weird almost menage á trois feeling only a male script writer would enjoy 🙄. The "sensuality" was forced and didn't belong. This movie is good for one thing: nostalgia. And Spader. He always delivers. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/23 Full Review Royal T We are supposed to believe these 3 lives have changed this much in the 6 months since graduation. Julien has opened and lost a club, been to rehab and burned every bridge. He and Blair fell into bed awfully quick because of their shared loss of Clay, who didnt even leave for college until September. Clay comes home at Thanksgiving to find them in bed together, and by Christmas 3 weeks later is ready to forgive and forget. Nevermind the unrealistic timeline, no parent would give that much money and responsibility to an 18 year old kid fresh out of high school. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/26/23 Full Review James B robert downey jr gives a great performance. sad movie about drugs. good soundtrack. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Ed Lachman's cinematography is letter perfect as always in its handling of light and color (assisted here by Barbara Ling's flashy production design), but it's a pity to see it wasted on such claptrap. Feb 27, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Perhaps this wasn't the best subject matter for British director Marek Kanievska (Another Country) to make his American debut. The feel for this distinctly Southern California story escapes him. Feb 27, 2008 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 3/5 Apr 30, 2004 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Since the best seller could not be filmed, they opted, skillfully, not to film it. This film is something else entirely. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 6, 2022 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) It's an interesting spin on the "coming home for the holidays and finding everyone has changed and so have you" trope found in other Christmas films. Dec 8, 2021 Full Review Ángel Fernández-Santos El Pais (Spain) An exaggerated descriptive vehicle without dramatic function. [Full Review in Spanish] Apr 8, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Clay (Andrew McCarthy) comes home to Los Angeles after his first semester of college and encounters some disturbing developments. His former lover, burgeoning model Blair (Jami Gertz), has begun to abuse cocaine. But her addiction pales in comparison to the drug dependency of her new boyfriend, Julian (Robert Downey Jr.), who's also Clay's childhood buddy. Clay tries to help them get sober, but the process is complicated by Rip (James Spader), a callous dealer Julian is indebted to.
      Director
      Marek Kanievska
      Screenwriter
      Harley Peyton
      Distributor
      20th Century Fox
      Production Co
      20th Century Fox
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Nov 18, 1987, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 30, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $10.8M
      Sound Mix
      Surround