The Sunshine Makers

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The Sunshine Makers

Released Jan 20, 2017

1h 30m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

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8 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In the 1960s, underground chemists Nicholas Sand and Tim Scully manufacture a massive amount of LSD while staying one step ahead of the law.

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Kimber Myers

Los Angeles Times

This documentary meanders a bit as it goes between time periods, but it's never less than entertaining and illuminating.

Jan 26, 2017

Full Review

G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

Feilding-Mellen clearly sees them as counterculture heroes. As our national attitude toward drug laws evolves, "The Sunshine Makers" makes that case fairly well.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 25, 2017

Full Review

Manohla Dargis

New York Times

Even if you never shake the feeling that there's more to this story, more darkness and scares, there's no question that hanging out with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn on acid has its appeal.

Jan 19, 2017

Full Review

Brent Simon

Paste Magazine

Fiction and nonfiction film alike thrive on characters, and The Sunshine Makers has at least one truly mesmerizing figure -- arguably more.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 25, 2017

Full Review

Louis Proyect

Counterpunch.org

Terrific story of two men and the revolutionary period they lived in made all the more powerful by their defiance of society's norms as septuagenarians.

Jan 17, 2017

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R W.

Haven’t seen it yet but it’s gotta be great ☀️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting history and personalities. Well made.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

delysid d

its annoying how people are nostalgic about the 60s, woodstock and all that and yet psychedelic is still illegal, what a bunch of assholes

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/26/19

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentary about LSD

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wow...very interesting documentary. Today I look at LSD as being pretty bad shit...but back in my youth it was a mind opener that truly did "open my doors of perception". I believe in therapeutic use of it's organic counterparts in full plant form.nevertheless...these chemists were pretty amazing dudes.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

The incredible story of 2 visionary chemists, whose work helped sculpt the cultural landscape for years to come. Essential viewing!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Cosmo Feilding-Mellen

Director

Nick Sand

Self

Tim Scully

Self

Cosmo Feilding-Mellen

Writer

Connie Littlefield

Writer

John Battsek

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

In the 1960s, underground chemists Nicholas Sand and Tim Scully manufacture a massive amount of LSD while staying one step ahead of the law.

Director: Cosmo Feilding-Mellen
Producer: George Chignell, Connie Littlefield, Nicole Stott
Screenwriter: Cosmo Feilding-Mellen, Connie Littlefield
Distributor: FilmRise
Production Co: Passion Pictures, FilmRise, Persephone Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 20, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.9K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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