Wonder Boys
2000 · Movie · R · 107 min · ★ 6.8 · 78% critics
An English professor stuck without new publications faces a chaotic weekend as misadventures pile up around him. Juggling a new, promising author and his own stalled novel, he finds himself pulled into escalating trouble at the university, filled with quirky people and plenty of unexpected problems.
Based on Wonder Boys
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Details
- Years
- 2000
- Release date
- 2000-02-22
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Critic score
- 78/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (665 votes)
About
Choose it if you enjoy quirky character-driven comedy-drama with a university twist and a talky, offbeat vibe; Not for you if you want a straightforward comedy or simple stakes—similar satirical writer funk shows up in Smoke and Night on Earth.
Pros: witty ensemble energy; Quirky character depth; Momentum over weekend | Cons: writer-focused stories drag; Dark comedy can miss; Some subplots feel shallow
Themes
- adultery
- infidelity
- robbery
- based on novel or book
- police
- pennsylvania, usa
- winter
- midlife crisis
- professor
- college
- liar
- coming of age
- +11 more
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 2001 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2001 · nominated
Cast & crew
Michael Douglas
as Grady Tripp
Tobey Maguire
as James Leer
Frances McDormand
as Sara Gaskell
Robert Downey Jr.
as Terry Crabtree
Katie Holmes
as Hannah Green
Rip Torn
as Q
- RK
Richard Knox
as Vernon Hardapple
Jane Adams
as Oola
Michael Cavadias
as Miss Sloviak
Richard Thomas
as Walter Gaskell
Directed by Curtis Hanson