Less Than Zero (1987)

54% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(11,373 ratings)

This drama about affluent Los Angeles teens is taken from the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Clay (Andrew McCarthy) is a college freshman who returns home during Christmas break. Clay's old flame Blair (Jamie Gertz) is now more interested in her new beau Julian (Robert Downey, Jr.), the fun-loving… More This drama about affluent Los Angeles teens is taken from the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Clay (Andrew McCarthy) is a college freshman who returns home during Christmas break. Clay's old flame Blair (Jamie Gertz) is now more interested in her new beau Julian (Robert Downey, Jr.), the fun-loving party boy with a penchant for drugs. While Clay tries to rekindle a thing with Blair, Julian becomes addicted to cocaine and starts freebasing. Julian's friends try halfheartedly to intervene, with no success. Soon he is so far in debt to drug dealer Rip (James Spader) that Julian becomes a male prostitute, whoring for enough money for his next fix. Michael Bowen co-stars with Tony Bill and Nicholas Pryor in this trip into the seamy world of darkness in sunny California. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Marek Kanievska
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Nov 6, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Mar 5, 2002
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Ed Lachman's cinematography is letter perfect as always in its handling of light and color (assisted here by Barbara Ling's flashy production design), but it's a pity to see it wasted on such claptrap.
Variety Staff, Variety
Perhaps this wasn't the best subject matter for British director Marek Kanievska (Another Country) to make his American debut. The feel for this distinctly Southern California story escapes him.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Loosely based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, Less Than Zero refuses to take the risks necessary to capture the keen social observation of the book.
, Film4
The only saving grace of this exercise in futility is the suitably louche performance by Spader as drug-dealer Rip.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Jami Gertz was, is, and ever shall be one of the most egregious actresses in the history of film.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
a bit of a mess
Clint Morris, Moviehole
The anti-teen film that really kicks ass
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Meant to be a statement against the amoral lifestyle of super-rich youth, it misses the mark by a mile.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Has style to spare, but none of the novel's shock value
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)
Bret Easton Ellis's novel is fairly faithfully into a portrait of strung out teenage yuppies in LA during the late 80s.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
A startling tale of alienation and self-destruction. Put Downey on the map, at least for a while.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

This movie helped de-glamorize the life I felt I was missing out on. The sad story of friends as life moves on. Great soundtrack! The movie is not near as powerful as the book, but just because the story mixes in my head made the movie better. The glam life of my generation!! lol
Jason C

This is the story of what happens when very real substances get introduced into a very plastic environment. This has the normal soulless behavior you'd expect from an addiction movie, but it's poorly executed. It's hard to give a shit about the characters.… More
This is the story of what happens when very real substances get introduced into a very plastic environment. This has the normal soulless behavior you'd expect from an addiction movie, but it's poorly executed. It's hard to give a shit about the characters. There's also a crack withdrawal video montage? Come on now. This movie lacks substance, well except for the crack cocaine. Avoid.
AJ V

A beautifully gritty young adult drama about life after high school. The cast is awesome, and so is the story. I love this movie.
jay n

robert downey jr is great and james spader is suitably slimy but they are surrounded by a picture that is utter junk
Michael G

Bret Easton Ellis should've sued. This movie is horrible.
Mike T

Robert Downey, Jr. is exceptional and Andrew McCarthy is fantastic as well in this somewhat formulaic but altogether effective melodrama. Jami Gertz brings the film down a notch with her inconsistent performance, but the story is compelling and overall it's well-executed.… More
Robert Downey, Jr. is exceptional and Andrew McCarthy is fantastic as well in this somewhat formulaic but altogether effective melodrama. Jami Gertz brings the film down a notch with her inconsistent performance, but the story is compelling and overall it's well-executed. Required viewing for fans of either of the leading men.
Lauren D

I haven't read the book so I can't compare it to that, although I'm sure the book is better (as they always are). This was actually a pretty lame movie, but Robert Downey Jr and James Spader pretty much own everything they're in, so it's hard to rate it lower.… More
I haven't read the book so I can't compare it to that, although I'm sure the book is better (as they always are). This was actually a pretty lame movie, but Robert Downey Jr and James Spader pretty much own everything they're in, so it's hard to rate it lower. If they hadn't been in it, it probably would've been really lame, because usually I don't mind Andrew McCarthy but he annoyed me in this and Jami Gertz was horrible. And I hate movies about drugs, I don't know why, but drugs really bore me.
Quinto W

This film made me terrified of drugs because apparently, if you snort anything, you'll become a badly-written, dull, boring, uninteresting character with no depth and a poor adaptation of a book.
Jessica v

A fantastically depressing film highlighting the excess of the 80's. I can see why this was Downey Jr.'s big break - he steals every scene he's in, taking more risks and going deeper than any one else. The character's arc was played so flawlessly, I cried,… More
A fantastically depressing film highlighting the excess of the 80's. I can see why this was Downey Jr.'s big break - he steals every scene he's in, taking more risks and going deeper than any one else. The character's arc was played so flawlessly, I cried, laughed, and felt breathtaking despair just when I was supposed to. That being said, the other performances are just "good" and the script lags at certain points, covering the same material needlessly. However, this is a great heartstring-puller (if only due to one character) and highly recommended.
cody f

Downey Jr. takes it in the ass for blow. Spader is a gay drug dealer. Gertz has rusty pipes and Pre-Bernies Andrew McCarthy. This all adds up to GOLD! It was hard being rich,young, and growing up in the 80's. I Know!
Leo L

Quite interesting.
Wu C

Downey and cocaine? Surreal performance by Downey jr. I wonder why?