Wonder Boys

Play trailer

1:58

Wonder Boys

R

Released Feb 25, 2000

1h 52m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read 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

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

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Curtis Hanson

Director

Michael Douglas

Grady Tripp

Tobey Maguire

James Leer

Frances McDormand

Sara Gaskell

Robert Downey Jr.

Terry Crabtree

Katie Holmes

Hannah Green

View more videos

Primary Colors

80%

64%

Primary Colors

Watchlist

Varsity Blues

45%

76%

Varsity Blues

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Varsity Blues

Mean Machine

33%

72%

Mean Machine

Watchlist

Dinner Rush

91%

85%

Dinner Rush

Watchlist

The Best Man

72%

86%

The Best Man

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Wonder Boys: Trailer 1

1:58

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now