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The Sure Thing

Play trailer Poster for The Sure Thing PG-13 1985 1h 34m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
The Sure Thing

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) A charming, mild affair. Dec 8, 2021 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
The Sure Thing

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Cast & Crew

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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

Jason

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The Sure Thing

The Sure Thing (1985) The Sure Thing (1985) The Sure Thing (1985) The Sure Thing (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

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