Drugstore Cowboy

97%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) is the leader of a "family" of drug addicts consisting of his wife, Dianne (Kelly Lynch), and another couple who feed their habit by robbing drug stores as they travel across the country. After a tragedy befalls a member of his group, Bob decides he must leave his dysfunctional clan and go straight. Parting ways with his junkie past proves more difficult than expected when Bob is stalked by an old acquaintance looking to score drugs at any price.

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Critics Consensus

Drugstore Cowboy takes us into a violent, transient world with cool, contemplative style.

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Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine

One of those cult classics well worth investigating even if you have never so much as smoked a cigarette in your life.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 20, 2010

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

All the actors are used expertly, but it's Burroughs, cropping up near the end, who articulates the film's sociopolitical moral in a contemporary context.

Aug 20, 2010

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Variety Staff

Variety

No previous drug-themed film has the honesty or originality of Gus Van Sant's drama Drugstore Cowboy.

Jul 6, 2010

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Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Drugstore Cowboy understands the pleasures and release that drugs can give people, and also how it finally bottoms out their souls.

Rated: 3/4

May 9, 2023

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Tom Ensign

Toledo Blade

In all, Drugstore Cowboy has a few highs, but generally, this is a light dose of viewing valium.

Aug 3, 2022

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Peter Bowen

OutWeek

Drugstore Cowboy offers a deeply moving and profoundly beautiful film.

May 20, 2020

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Audience Reviews

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Luca D Definitely worth a watch if your into 90s crime/drug movies. The soundtrack was lacking but that's the only flaw. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Jesse B The setting, the characters, and the experiences they go through feel all too real. Matt Dillon is a treasure and blended perfectly into Gus' experimental filmmaking style. Drugstore Cowboy is bleak. but filled with a tinge of hope, just enough to make it another day in this crazy world. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/29/24 Full Review Shioka O Watched in 2024, it's a 35 years old film but still looks fairly fresh. maybe one of the prominent first point of view voice-over narrate film. you can expect what's gonna happen by seeing the beginning. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review Dani G A classic example of an independent production from the 80's-90's. One of the films, or maybe the film that put Gus Van Sant in the map Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Madelon C 35 years after its release, Drugstore Cowboy is still a relevant watch about addiction. Not only that, it's a tightly scripted story with excellent direction by Gus van Sandt. William Burroughs is the cherry on top of Matt Dillon's excellent performance (read Naked Lunch). Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/22/24 Full Review KB B It's okay but got kind of long. I'd never want to watch it again. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/06/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Drugstore Cowboy

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Cast & Crew

Gus Van Sant Director Matt Dillon Bob Hughes Kelly Lynch Dianne Hughes James Le Gros Rick Heather Graham Nadine James Remar Gentry

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Drugstore Cowboy

Drugstore Cowboy: Official Clip - Hospital Robbery