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Prescription Thugs

Play trailer 2:03 Poster for Prescription Thugs 2016 1h 26m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Filmmaker Chris Bell examines the pharmaceutical industry and prescription-drug addiction in America.
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Prescription Thugs

Critics Reviews

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Martin Tsai Los Angeles Times 01/21/2016
Despite his casual aura, the filmmaker is eloquent and thoughtful. Go to Full Review
Neil Genzlinger New York Times 01/21/2016
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. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager Variety 01/20/2016
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. Go to Full Review
Maria Vultaggio International Business Times 02/06/2017
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. Go to Full Review
Dana Barbuto The Patriot Ledger 02/02/2016
B
You'll be hooked from the get-go. But like that elusive high, you're left wanting more. Go to Full Review
Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue 01/29/2016
... lacks focus and depth in several spots, but it touches on some important topics in a way that's both accessible and persuasive. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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03/16/2017 i wanna get off all my pillz. See more 07/14/2016 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... See more 05/30/2016 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. See more 04/27/2016 This is an unbelievably terrible documentary. I hate to break it to the people in this documentary, but addiction is a disease. And doctors did not create your addiction. This film is disgusting and inaccurate. There is no medical accuracy in this film and it is unfortunate that so many people are taking the information presented as truth. See more 04/27/2016 Excellent documentary done by an average middle class who've experienced the tragedy of addiction, societies inability to research the consequences, both positive & negative, of the drugs we're pewscribed. Enjoyed the entire family - well done! See more 04/23/2016 Eye-opening documentary about a topic not discussed enough. It was repetitive in places until the message felt drilled in. I wish those moments had been used to investigate further. The personal stories from different walks of life did help to give an idea of how many people this is affecting though. I hope it influences more documentaries, throws a spotlight on the problem and initiates change. See more Read all reviews
Prescription Thugs

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Chris Bell examines the pharmaceutical industry and prescription-drug addiction in America.
Director
Chris Bell
Producer
Chris Bell, Daniel J. Chalfen, Greg Young
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
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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