White Boy Rick

Play trailer

2:29

White Boy Rick

R

2018

1h 51m

Crime

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Rick Wershe is a single father who's struggling to raise two teenagers during the height of the crack epidemic in the 1980s Detroit. Wershe sells guns illegally to make ends meet but soon attracts attention from the FBI. Federal agents convince his son, Rick Jr., to become an undercover drug informant in exchange for keeping his father out of prison. When young Rick gets in too deep, he finds himself seduced by the lure of easy money and becomes a drug dealer himself.

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Critics Consensus

Solid work from the cast - particularly a scene-stealing Matthew McConaughey - helps White Boy Rick make up for a number of missed opportunities in the script.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Mar 4, 2020

Director Yann Demange ('71) seems uncertain whether to play the material as searing drama or black comedy, and so he gives up on establishing a recognizable tone altogether.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Dec 9, 2018

3/5

When you ask yourself: "What's so special about Rick?" The answer is: not much.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Dec 9, 2018

2/5

The music choices inject energy, but it's difficult to care about a character who is too dumb to care about himself.

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Aug 16, 2022

4/5

The film is ultimately held together by a terrific supporting performance by Matthew McConaughey

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 11, 2022

2/4

White Boy Rick attempts to be the next great Hollywood film about the criminal underworld. But with its slow pacing and rather unpleasant cast of characters, the crime drama fails to achieve a Goodfellas-level balance of gangsterism and mordancy.

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Cory Woodroof

Williamson Home Page

Feb 11, 2022

As it stands, White Boy Rick is solid, moving filmmaking, anchored by a bombastic ensemble.

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Matteo D

@Xmattew Jul 28, 2026

Cool action film, good performance by Matthew McConaughey. The writing isn't particulary inspired but it gets the job done.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom May 21, 2026

White Boy Rick is a decent crime drama that captures the late-80s Detroit street and rap-era atmosphere. It leans heavily into the culture and environment rather than action, which gives it a grounded feel. The performances are solid, especially in showing the strained family dynamics and the pressures surrounding the main character’s rise. The film does a good job portraying the mix of ambition and danger in that world. At times the pacing feels uneven, and some moments could have been developed more deeply. Still, it maintains enough tension and interest to keep you watching throughout. Overall, White Boy Rick is an interesting watch with a strong setting and decent storytelling. I would rate it a 6/10, as it works more as a gritty crime snapshot than a standout drama.

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Shelton C.

@filmtistic Nov 29, 2025

I thoroughly enjoyed this film , call me nostalgic I don’t care. Great movie , some pacing issues but other than that it’s a solid film.

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Max M.

@Househuntermax Nov 21, 2025

This movie is hella good!

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Buck M

@ThomH Jul 5, 2025

McConaughey is, in short, not only the film's motor but its moral justification, the fullest representation of a state of affairs and an era marked by social, political and economic decline.

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Adam Y

@Adyacht Jun 24, 2025

White Boy Rick is a solid and moving character-driven drama, carried on the back of its strong cast.

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Yann Demange

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Richard Wershe Sr.

Richie Merritt

Rick Wershe Jr.

Bel Powley

Dawn Wershe

Jennifer Jason Leigh

FBI Agent Snyder

Brian Tyree Henry

Detective Jackson

White Boy Rick: Official Clip - Rick Gets Shot

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - You A Granddaddy

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - Turning Snitch

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - You Took A Life!

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - The Diner

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - Personality Crash

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - Not Saying Nothing

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - Rick Gets Arrested

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - We Are Lions!

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White Boy Rick: Official Clip - We're Going for Custard

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Synopsis

Rick Wershe is a single father who's struggling to raise two teenagers during the height of the crack epidemic in the 1980s Detroit. Wershe sells guns illegally to make ends meet but soon attracts attention from the FBI. Federal agents convince his son, Rick Jr., to become an undercover drug informant in exchange for keeping his father out of prison. When young Rick gets in too deep, he finds himself seduced by the lure of easy money and becomes a drug dealer himself.

Director: Yann Demange
Producer: John Lesher, Julie Yorn, Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky
Screenwriter: Andy Weiss, Logan Miller, Noah Miller
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Studio 8
Rating: R (Drug Content|Brief Nudity|Language Throughout|Some Sexual References|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.0M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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