200 Cigarettes (1999)

29% of critics liked it
(59 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(31,458 ratings)

On New Year's Eve, no one wants to be alone. On this night in 1981, several different groups of young desperate people begin a journey from around New York City to a big party hosted by Monica (Martha Plimpton) and new friend Hillary (Catherine Kellner). As the hours pass and no one shows, Monica… More On New Year's Eve, no one wants to be alone. On this night in 1981, several different groups of young desperate people begin a journey from around New York City to a big party hosted by Monica (Martha Plimpton) and new friend Hillary (Catherine Kellner). As the hours pass and no one shows, Monica begins to unravel. She must bribe Hilary to stay with the promise of a clear shot at Monica's old boyfriend, Eric (Brian McCardie). Eric, at that moment is drinking in a nightclub with his new girlfriend, Bridget (Nicole Parker) and her friend Caitlyn (Angela Featherstone). When Bridget learns the host of the party is Eric's ex-girlfriend, she moves in on the bartender (Ben Affleck). Another group consists of two teenagers from Long Island, Monica's cousin Val (Christina Ricci) and Stephie (Gaby Hoffmann). The two get lost on the way when they run into a pair of punk rockers, Tom (Casey Affleck) and Dave (Guillermo Diaz). In a nearby diner, Lucy (Courtney Love) commiserates with her best friend Kevin (Paul Rudd) who has just been dumped by performance artist Ellie (Janeane Garofalo) so she could move in with her therapist. As they bar hop it slowly dawns upon the two that they could be more than friends. Elsewhere, new acquaintances Jack (Jay Mohr) and Cindy (Kate Hudson) are celebrating more than the new year. Cindy lost her virginity to Jack the night before, though is afraid Jack is with her out of sense of obligation. Now if only everyone can get to the party by midnight. Linking the different stories is the disco cabbie (Dave Chappelle) in whose cab the party never stops. ~ Ron Wells, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Risa Bramon Garcia
Written By: Shana Larsen
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 26, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Aug 31, 1999
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail
There's no sign of the writerly derring-do that is really essential to daisy-chain storytelling.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Hit-and-mostly-miss retro comedy.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A light comedy, pure and simple (and hardly unfamiliar), but its makers sustain its energy through the unraveling of an intricate plot and bring to it a certain edge through a witty, sharp sense of observation.
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
Everybody vamps and preens as if it were amateur night in SoHo, and a few of the performers, such as Kate Hudson, appear ill-used.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Seeing a film like this helps you to realize that actors are empty vessels waiting to be filled with characters and dialogue.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Director Risa Bramon Garcia and writer Shana Larsen obviously know their history and geography, and they've nailed the feel of the early '80s in the East Village.
Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media
Ensemble cast drinks and flirts through lame New Year's Eve.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
New Years Eve, 1981. Disco was on its way out, and the "New Wave" was pounding on the shore, bringing in a fresh tide of angst for a new decade . . . good for a laugh
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
In the hands of director Risa Bramon Garcia and writer Shana Larsen, their predicament is funny, sad and wistful as only young lust can be.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
An underrated, entertaining lark of a Tarantinoesque film.
Louis B. Hobson, Jam! Movies
If you find too many of these people boring, inconsequential or annoying, you're going to find the film has the same effect.
Jason Clark, Matinee Magazine
Oddly uninvolving and boring.
Melissa Morrison, Boxoffice Magazine
Garcia orchestrates her New Wave symphony deftly, making each character distinctive.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Like Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the story concludes that love makes fools of us all.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

This is my New Years movie! Like folks watch A Christmas Story or The Grinch for Christmas.... this is New Years for me!
MisterYoda ?

three stars....
Lafe F

Misadventures of an interesting set of characters in New York on New Year's Eve. Great 80's atmosphere and music. Fun stuff. I enjoyed it.
Yinalí R

Absolutely brilliant, and funny!!
Sunil J

Nothing happens in the movie. It's so blah but kinda funny.
Chosen 7

Great film with diverse characters and intersecting storylines, and it's hilarious. A classic in my book.
Sarah P

Funny ensemble movie, but a "one-time watch"
Donna D

One of the funniest New Years movies! I always watch this every year, just to remind me of how we are all scrambling to get to a party before the midnight rolls in. With an all star cast with a kick ass 80's soundtrack, it all begins with the funny Martha Plimpton that plans a… More
One of the funniest New Years movies! I always watch this every year, just to remind me of how we are all scrambling to get to a party before the midnight rolls in. With an all star cast with a kick ass 80's soundtrack, it all begins with the funny Martha Plimpton that plans a party to which appears no one is going to show and tries to amuse her only guests on why she thinks people hate her. The whacky taxi driver with his life's motto played by Dave Chappelle, giving tactful advice to all his passengers throughout the movie. Then there's the clumsy Kate Hudson paired with the Jay Mohr, the melancholy Paul Rudd with Courtney Love, and many more actors that all bring this hilarious movie to see who will be able to find love before midnight. The ending is classic when Plimpton tired of waiting for people to show, drinks herself into a coma, and misses out on one of the best parties she threw. Its funny and crazy, and I just love this movie! Great to watch during the holidays.
Leo L

Funny