Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Wonder Boys

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Wonder Boys R Released Feb 25, 2000 1h 52m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 127 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Wonder Boys

Wonder Boys

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (127) Critics Reviews
Nell Minow Common Sense Media This grand mess of a movie has many pleasures. Rated: 4/5 Dec 29, 2010 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Tony Black Cultural Conversation Classy but listless existential privilege. Rated: 3/5 Feb 16, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
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 Full Review Geke g Tobey Maguire so good in this Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Great movie. Has many high and sensitive moments Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review 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 Ryan J This is Michael Douglas at his best. playing a role that is far different from the previous characters he has played. The movie reminds me of James Joyce's short story "The Dead" (only it was a comedy) There is a specific scene that incorporates my statement. While James Leer is standing outside of the university's chancellor's home for the English Department's yearly conference for "Writers and wannabes" professor Tripp (Michael Douglas) accosts James in the dark, apparently holding a cap gun: ________________________ Professor Tripp: Cold James? James: It's colder in there. ________________________ Ryan James Carson Tulsa Oklahoma Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review Barry G "Wonder Boys" certainly deserves a lot more love. Curtis Hanson directed the best 'normal' film ever. It's cute, it's interesting, and most of all it's heartwarming. Everyone should see it right away. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Wonder Boys

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Wonder Boys

Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Good Boy Poe Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Good Boy Poe 1:05 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - James Figures Out the Affair Wonder Boys: Official Clip - James Figures Out the Affair 0:22 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Fit as a Fiddle Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Fit as a Fiddle 1:25 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Suicide Savant Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Suicide Savant 1:12 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - I'm Not Letting You Sleep at the Bus Station 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 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - You Didn't Really Make Any Choices 1:24 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - I Take it Back...Shoot Him Wonder Boys: Official Clip - I Take it Back...Shoot Him 1:17 Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Getting There Wonder Boys: Official Clip - Getting There 0:57 View more videos
Varsity Blues 45% 76% Varsity Blues Watchlist TRAILER for Varsity Blues Primary Colors 80% 64% Primary Colors Watchlist Mean Machine 33% 72% Mean Machine Watchlist Bamboozled 53% 74% Bamboozled Watchlist TRAILER for Bamboozled Outside Providence 52% 65% Outside Providence Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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
Marubeni Corporation, Curtis Hanson Productions, Mutual Film Company, Scott Rudin Productions, MFF, Paramount Pictures, BBC
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)
Most Popular at Home Now