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The Sure Thing

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The Sure Thing

PG-13

1985

1h 34m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Gib (John Cusack), a college freshman, keeps striking out with women. When he learns that a beautiful Californian (Nicollette Sheridan) wants to have a tryst with him, he decides to carpool all the way to the West Coast to meet her. Unfortunately, one of the other passengers on the trip is Alison (Daphne Zuniga), an attractive but domineering girl who has rejected Gib once before. The journey is a nightmare until a funny thing happens -- Gib and Alison start to fall in love.

Critics Consensus

Though its final outcome is predictable, The Sure Thing is a charming, smartly written, and mature teen comedy featuring a breakout role for John Cusack.

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Neil Jillett

The Age (Australia)

The promise, far from being fulfilled, is smothered under a slow, predictable attempt to make a cross between a road movie and a romantic comedy.

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

Linda Deutsch

Associated Press

Reiner displays a deft touch in balancing the real-life world of today's college students with the fairy tale quality of the script by Steven L. Bloom and Jonathan Roberts.

Mar 4, 2019

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

That's the problem with "The Sure Thing." All the good lines are given to Cusack -- he's always "on," narrating his own life in the revved-up spiel of a sports announcer.

Jan 4, 2018

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Jas Keimig

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

A charming, mild affair.

Dec 8, 2021

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David Elliott

Copley News Service

The Sure Thing is one of those movies that start to fade right after you've seen it, but while you're watching there's pleasure to be had in its craft.

Jul 19, 2019

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[ * UPDATED 2024 BLU-RAY REVIEW * ] In a decade largely defined by raunchy teen sex comedies, here's a film that stood out from the pack thanks to its sweetness and sincerity.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 4, 2015

Full Review

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Augustine J

This is a really fun movie. John Cusack's deadpan sarcastic delivery is great. It's insane that he was only sixteen when filming this. It's not quite as zany as Better Off Dead, it's a more grounded film and it's great. Ya'll should check this one out. You'll like it, it's a sure thing.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

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Alec B

Should be remembered over a lot of other 80s romantic comedies, both for the cast and the sharp screenplay.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

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Steve D

John Cusack's character is so loathsome and self-entitled it is hard to watch.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

John Cusack in another one of his earlier hits he co-stars with Daphne Zuniga in this road-trip romance flick by Rob Reiner 'Gib' wants to get laid badly so when an opportunity presents itself to have it with a beautiful blonde across the country he decides to make the journey the thing is though he's stuck on the road with Alison which of course they can't stand each other Alison has a respectable, intellectual boyfriend that's safe and sensible, for Gib though he just wants the experience of being able to please a real woman this blonde in California may be the 'sure thing' for him but how long before Gib and Alison unexpectedly fall for one another? The ending we all know what’s coming but the chemistry of these two is surefire and the film handles the topic of polar opposites coming together in a very mature manner Spontaneity is key to being happy, it’s not always about sticking to a schedule, you don’t always have to feel repressed, the real thing is usually better than the ‘sure thing’ Cusack and Zuniga are so cute together Sometimes all it takes is one goal going towards to recognize the real thing that matters

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

Tonya B

One of my favorite Cusak movies. Too bad its not streaming anywhere!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Milan C

Personal I really like this movie I thought it was very funny and good

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/22

Full Review

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Rob Reiner

Director

John Cusack

Walter 'Gib' Gibson

Daphne Zuniga

Alison Bradbury

Nicollette Sheridan

The Sure Thing

Anthony Edwards

Lance

Boyd Gaines

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Synopsis

Gib (John Cusack), a college freshman, keeps striking out with women. When he learns that a beautiful Californian (Nicollette Sheridan) wants to have a tryst with him, he decides to carpool all the way to the West Coast to meet her. Unfortunately, one of the other passengers on the trip is Alison (Daphne Zuniga), an attractive but domineering girl who has rejected Gib once before. The journey is a nightmare until a funny thing happens -- Gib and Alison start to fall in love.

Director: Rob Reiner
Producer: Roger Birnbaum
Screenwriter: Steve Bloom, Jonathan Roberts
Production Co: Embassy Pictures, Monument Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Aug 5, 2003
Runtime: 1h 34m