Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

A pharmacy-robbing dope fiend and his crew pop pills and evade the law.

Director:

Gus Van Sant (as Gus Van Sant Jr.)

Writers:

James Fogle (novel), Gus Van Sant (screenplay) (as Gus Van Sant Jr.)

Stars:

Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros

12 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Dillon	...	Bob
Kelly Lynch	...	Dianne
James Le Gros	...	Rick
Heather Graham	...	Nadine
Eric Hull	...	Druggist
Max Perlich	...	David
James Remar	...	Gentry
John Kelly	...	Cop
Grace Zabriskie	...	Bob's Mother
George Catalano	...	Trousinski
Janet Baumhover	...	Neighbor Lady
Ted D'Arms	...	Neighbor Man
Neal Thomas	...	Halamer
Stephen Rutledge	...	Motel Manager
Beah Richards	...	Drug Counselor

Storyline

A group of drug users in the 1970's help finance their habit by robbing drug stores. Matt Dillon's character is very superstitious and eventually his luck runs out.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | ambush | amphetamine | ashtray | bed | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dianne (Kelly Lynch) can be seen in the first drugstore robbery scene stealing a copy of Erich Segal's "Love Story." Other books in the shelf are "Dialogues with the Devil" and "Great Lion of God," both by Taylor Caldwell, "Goodbye, Columbus" by Philip Roth, "Thirteen Days" by Robert F. Kennedy, "Search" by Diane Kennedy Pike, "The Angel Inside Went Soar," "Heart of the High Country" by Elizabeth Gowans, and "The Psychic Reader" by Martin Ebon.

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Goofs

When Bob finishes talking to his mom and she closes the back door, a crew member is reflected on the door's glass surface.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bob: I was once a shameless full-time dope fiend.

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Crazy Credits

Home-video-style footage of the characters plays during almost the entire end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Deceived/Necessary Roughness/The Search for Signs of Intelligence Life in the Universe/The Rapture/My Own Private Idaho (1991)

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Soundtracks

The Israelites
Written by Desmond Dekker & Leslie Kong
Performed by Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Courtesy of Island Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Never Put Hat on Bed

Drugstore cowboy is about a group of drug addicts who rob Drugstores to maintain their junkie lifestyle. Unlike the other movies on drugs, Drugstore Cowboy neither glamourises the drug life nor does it portray the health affects in a hazardous manner like Requiem for a Dream.

It's probably the only peaceful movie I've watched on drugs to date. Film primarily focuses on the lead character's transition to a drug free life due to the paranoia and consequences faced by him as a junkie.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drugstore Cowboy

Filming Locations:

Metropolitan Learning Center - 2033 NW Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,805, 9 October 1989

Gross USA:

$4,729,352

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,729,352

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avenue Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1