Wonder Boys

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1:58

Wonder Boys

R

Released Feb 25, 2000

1h 52m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

124 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Grady (Michael Douglas) is a 50-ish English professor who hasn't had a thing published in years -- not since he wrote his award winning Great American Novel 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another in the company of a new wonder boy author.

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Critics Consensus

Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire do wonders in this clever dark comedy.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

This grand mess of a movie has many pleasures.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 29, 2010

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Michael Douglas gives the best perfromance of his career (to be remembered at Oscar time) in this screwball comedy about a college professor who's pushed into maturity by forces beyond his control; a well-acted coming-of-age saga for adults.

Rated: A-

Apr 5, 2007

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Time Out

Wonder Boys digresses so entertainingly, you forget how quickly Grady got into the mess he's in, and can't imagine where we might be headed.

Jan 26, 2006

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

This outwardly gloomy movie is as gentle and pleasant a film as we’re likely to get from a major studio this year.

Rated: B

Sep 2, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Wonder Boys reminds us that life is about putting one sentence after another, knowing when to start the next chapter, and realizing when it's time to discard your progress altogether and start something new.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 17, 2022

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Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

Classy but listless existential privilege.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 16, 2021

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Max W

This was a fun and endearing story. Toby Maguire was fantastic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

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David H

Quirky and amusing with some fine leading performances. In its lighthearted acceptance of sexual relations across the generations its tone might prevent it being made today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Bahad j

The director has once again managed to make a wonderful movie with good people. I liked it very much.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/24

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Geke g

Tobey Maguire so good in this

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

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Munkhchimeg T

Great movie. Has many high and sensitive moments

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

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Lady S

A beautiful representation of the book, Wonder Boys is supported by an excellent cast and performances by Douglas, McDormand, Downey Jr and Maguire. Probably the best you will get from Holmes, which isn't much - but it's ok.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

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Curtis Hanson

Director

Michael Douglas

Grady Tripp

Tobey Maguire

James Leer

Frances McDormand

Sara Gaskell

Robert Downey Jr.

Terry Crabtree

Katie Holmes

Hannah Green

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Good Boy Poe

1:05

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - James Figures Out the Affair

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Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Fit as a Fiddle

1:25

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Suicide Savant

1:12

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - I'm Not Letting You Sleep at the Bus Station

0:45

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - You Didn't Really Make Any Choices

1:24

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - I Take it Back...Shoot Him

1:17

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Getting There

0:57

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Wonder Boys: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

Grady (Michael Douglas) is a 50-ish English professor who hasn't had a thing published in years -- not since he wrote his award winning Great American Novel 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another in the company of a new wonder boy author.

Director: Curtis Hanson
Producer: Curtis Hanson, Scott Rudin
Screenwriter: Michael Chabon, Steve Kloves
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Scott Rudin Productions, Mutual Film Company, BBC, MFF, Curtis Hanson Productions, Paramount Pictures, Marubeni Corporation
Rating: R (Language|Drug Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 25, 2000, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2000
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.4M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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