Amanda Peet, Bill Pullman, Claire Danes

Many movies strive to capture the confused, yearning spirit of The Graduate or The Catcher in the Rye; Igby Goes Down succeeds. Igby (Kieran Culkin) is a teen struggling to find...( read more  read more... ) any purpose or meaning to his life; surrounding him are his tyrant mother Mimi (Susan Sarandon), schizophrenic father Jason (Bill Pullman), wealthy and deceitful godfather D.H. (Jeff Goldblum), and cold brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe)--all of whom have their own problems. While evading being sent to yet another boarding school, Igby seeks solace with two women: Rachel (Amanda Peet), a drug-addicted dancer who's D.H.'s mistress, and Sookie (Claire Danes), a college student who becomes perhaps his only friend. Culkin carries the film, ably supported by the superb cast; script, direction, and performances are razor sharp. Igby Goes Down doesn't let anyone--including Igby--off the hook for their cruelty, hypocrisy, or lack of empathy. --Bret Fetzer

Flixster Users

78% liked it

39,417 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

126 critics

R, 98 min.

Directed by: Burr Steers

Release Date: September 13, 2002

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DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003

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Stats: 1,831 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,831)


  • September 25, 2009
    Quirky. A good turn by Goldblum & Culkin.
  • December 18, 2008
    Another rich dysfunctional family film that's ultimately depressing, but well acted and crafted
  • June 19, 2008
    Brilliant. Kieran Culkin is amazing
  • May 27, 2008
    Kieran Culkin is very talented, he does a decent job with what he's given in this film. Ryan Phillippe always seems to play the same type of role and that is annoying. Daines, Peet, Sarandon, and even Pullman & Goldbloom each hold their own as far as acting. Again, they do the...( read more) best with what they are given. The pretentiousness was annoying but seeing the justice play out for each of them is interesting. This is a coming of age tale which seemed believable enough (although I have no personal experience in the socialite lifestyle) but I would NOT put it on par with a classic like The Graduate.
  • February 2, 2008
    great little movie showcasing the talent of Kieran Culkin
  • November 18, 2009
    This is almost too perfect of an origin story for Sean and Patrick Bateman. Kieran Culkin and Ryan Phillippe were both ruthless in their own way. I think it's great that they just basically make fun of rich, sophisticated people to no end. It's also a really great coming of age s...( read more)tory that doesn't make the protagonist a complete whiny prick. Igby was actually pretty confident person and wasn't the typical clueless teen.
  • November 14, 2009
    L'ho visto tanto tempo fa, ma mi ricordo un qualcosa di veramente bello.
  • November 3, 2009
    Supposed to be good.
  • October 14, 2009
    Harsh & meanness is adolescents' new confusion, anger & rebel expression before taking-off. Bitter-sweet, noir, wicked, queer, unexpected, amusing. Kieran Culkin was so adorable, potential & wonderful in it. Only the character Oliver (Ryan Phillippe) could have been further devel...( read more)oped into a more in-depth & significant one than as a side cast as this. Phillippe's heartless acting was one off the reason too, of coz.
  • September 27, 2009
    The other Culkin! Whadda cutie.

Critic Reviews


October 24, 2003
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

While J.D. Salinger and his Holden Caulfield positively own the territory of runaway upper class malcontents in New York, this funny and touching film does justice to the genre. full review

September 20, 2002
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Like its hero, the film seems unformed and rambling, more like a rough draft than a finished product. full review

September 20, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Mean-spirited and not remotely clever, though it strives for archness at every turn. full review

September 20, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Because the genre is well established, what makes the movie fresh is smart writing, skewed characters, and the title performance by Kieran Culkin. full review

September 19, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A prickly coming-of-age tale in which everybody -- but especially Culkin -- shines. full review

September 18, 2002
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Far too taken with its own rumpled-chino stylishness to be genuinely affecting. full review

September 6, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Darkly hilarious, unexpectedly heartbreaking. full review

View more Igby Goes Down reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • heshaveditoff
    September 27, 2006
    best effing movie in the history of effing movies.

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Igby Goes Down Trivia


  • In which 2002 film do we see Susan Sarandon with a plastic bag over her head?  Answer »
  • small roles in Home Alone, this actor's career has been nothing like his brother's. his most recent films include The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and Igby Goes Down.  Answer »
  • What film contains the line "I'm Pavlov's pothead. I hear a bong clink and my eyes water." ?  Answer »
  • How did Susan Sarandon's character Mimi Slocumb die in the movie "Igby Goes Down"?  Answer »

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