Wonder Boys

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Wonder Boys

R

2000

1h 52m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

123 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Grady 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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 29, 2010

4/5

This grand mess of a movie has many pleasures.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Apr 5, 2007

A-

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.

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Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

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.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 2, 2022

B

This outwardly gloomy movie is as gentle and pleasant a film as we’re likely to get from a major studio this year.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Feb 17, 2022

4/4

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.

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Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

Feb 16, 2021

3/5

Classy but listless existential privilege.

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 6 days ago

How could anyone not love Wonder Boys?

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Anya S

@AnyaS Sep 11, 2026

Perfect little gem of a movie, wit a perfect cast: Michael Douglas carries the film through many wonderful moments, with Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey and Frances McDormand at their charming best. No wonder...smart script co-written by Michael Chabon.

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Ben W

@Username618 Jun 25, 2026

Kind of enjoyable. So. Mr Michael Chabon, the author, apparently did really have a spiralling, illegible book problem (that he could laugh about! evidently).

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James L

@FincherArchive Feb 19, 2026

The best on screen love interest Robert Downey jr has ever had was Tobey Maguire.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Feb 6, 2026

Funny in 1 hour and 52 minutes. Rated R for Language and Drug Content.

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Stephen P

@RT71503727 Nov 29, 2025

I have no idea how I managed to miss this film in the past. Hugely enjoyable. Great acting and a funny, quirky story line. Michael Douglas plays his part so well and the supporting cast are superb. The dead dog in the car trunk was strangely hilarious.

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Curtis Hanson

Director

Michael Douglas

Grady Tripp

Tobey Maguire

James Leer

Frances McDormand

Sara Gaskell

Robert Downey Jr.

Terry Crabtree

Katie Holmes

Hannah Green

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Wonder Boys: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

Grady 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)

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