Drugstore Cowboy
1989 · Movie · R · 102 min · ★ 7.1 · 90% critics
In 1971 Portland, a tight-knit group of addicts survives by stealing prescription drugs from pharmacies and hospital cabinets, chasing the next high while drifting from place to place. As pressure from the law grows and their luck turns, the thrill gives way to consequences that force a hard look at what their life is becoming.
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Details
- Years
- 1989
- Release date
- 1989-10-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.1/10 (617 votes)
- Budget
- $2,500,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a raw, character-driven crime drama that doesn’t glamorize addiction and mixes bleak moments with dark humor; Not for you if you want a fast, feel-good ride like American Gangster.
Pros: gritty, honest addiction portrait; strong lead performances; dark humor throughout | Cons: tough, uncomfortable subject; uneven pacing at times; less tension than expected
Themes
- drug abuse
- support group
- 1970s
- drug addiction
- junkie
- portland, oregon
- drugstore
- group therapy
- melancholy
- addiction
- drug stealing
- drugs
- +4 more
Cast & crew
Matt Dillon
as Bob
Kelly Lynch
as Dianne
James Remar
as Gentry
James Le Gros
as Rick
Heather Graham
as Nadine
Beah Richards
as Drug Counselor
Grace Zabriskie
as Bob's Mother
Max Perlich
as David
William S. Burroughs
as Tom the Priest
Eric Hull
as Druggist
Directed by Gus Van Sant