Prescription Thugs

Released Jan 22, 2016

1 hr. 26 min.

Documentary

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List

69%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmaker Chris Bell examines the pharmaceutical industry and prescription-drug addiction in America.

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michael k

I read some of the more negative reviews and I am not sure what they were expecting. This was a highly personal exploration of a massive problem. Watch it and decide for yoursself.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

troy k

Some interesting information...some of it is laughable though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i wanna get off all my pillz.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

Great subject, although poorly executed. The film was very one sided and lacked scientific perspective. The homeopathic doctor's interview threw all credibility out the window...

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

Seems like a low-budget, blue collar approach to a heavy topic. Very watchable and fairly informative. The blue collar exploration of addiction is kinda refreshing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The very personal focus detracts, at times, from the greater narrative and you cant help but feel that this could have been more skillfully handled. Having said that, its a deeply important documentary that still exposes the deep corruption of the medical industry today. Vital as a piece of information that needs to be heard, less vital as a 'how to' on documentaries.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Chris Bell

Director

Jeff Hatch

Actor

Chris Leben

Actor

Matthew Wiese

Actor

Josh Alexander

Co-Director

Greg Young

Co-Director

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Prescription Thugs: Trailer 1

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Martin Tsai

Los Angeles Times

Despite his casual aura, the filmmaker is eloquent and thoughtful.

Jan 21, 2016

Full Review

Neil Genzlinger

New York Times

Even before a "do as I say, not as I do" twist costs it all credibility, "Prescription Thugs" is a not very good documentary about a very important subject.

Jan 21, 2016

Full Review

Nick Schager

Variety

Engaging and enraging but also, alas, consistently superficial, it's a hot-button work whose easily digested nonfiction methods will appeal to mainstream documentary audiences, even if they also leave viewers hungry for greater substance.

Jan 20, 2016

Full Review

Maria Vultaggio

International Business Times

If you want to see a documentary about the director's life and how drugs affected him personally, then go see this film. If you're looking for something about what society can do to combat a problem that has turned into an epidemic, look the other way.

Feb 6, 2017

Full Review

Dana Barbuto

The Patriot Ledger

You'll be hooked from the get-go. But like that elusive high, you're left wanting more.

Rated: B

Feb 2, 2016

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

... lacks focus and depth in several spots, but it touches on some important topics in a way that's both accessible and persuasive.

Jan 29, 2016

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Chris Bell examines the pharmaceutical industry and prescription-drug addiction in America.

Director: Chris Bell
Executive Producer: Peter Billingsley, Vince Vaughn, Joel Cheatwood
Screenwriter: Josh Alexander
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Naked Edge Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 15, 2016
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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