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Prescription Thugs

Play trailer 2:03 Poster for Prescription Thugs Released Jan 22, 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

View All (13) Critics Reviews
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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (16) audience reviews
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 Audience Member i wanna get off all my pillz. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Prescription Thugs

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Cast & Crew

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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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