Prozac Nation (2005)

26% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(20,405 ratings)

Following up his critically acclaimed debut Insomnia (1997), Norwegian director Erik Skjoldbjaerg makes his first English-language feature with this adaptation of the book by Elizabeth Wurtzel. Christina Ricci stars as Lizzie, a prize-winning student heading off to Harvard where she intends to study… More Following up his critically acclaimed debut Insomnia (1997), Norwegian director Erik Skjoldbjaerg makes his first English-language feature with this adaptation of the book by Elizabeth Wurtzel. Christina Ricci stars as Lizzie, a prize-winning student heading off to Harvard where she intends to study journalism and launch a career as a rock music critic. However, Elizabeth's fractured family situation including an errant father (Nicholas Campbell) and a neurotic, bitterly hypercritical mother (Jessica Lange) has led to a struggle with depression. When her all-night, drug-fueled writing binges and emotional instability alienate her roommate and best friend, Ruby (Michelle Williams), as well as both her first (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and second (Jason Biggs) boyfriends, Lizzie seeks psychiatric counseling from Dr. Diana Sterling (Anne Heche), who prescribes the wonder drug Prozac. Despite success as a writer that includes a gig writing for Rolling Stone and some mellowing out thanks to her medication, Lizzie begins to feel that the pills are running her life and faces some tough choices about her future. Prozac Nation (2001) is a longtime dream project of star Ricci, who also serves as one of the film's co-producers. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Erik Skjoldbjaerg
Written By: Frank Deasy, Larry Gross
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 19, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jul 5, 2005
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy, Variety
The self-centered brat at the center of Prozac Nation spends most of her time making life miserable for everyone around her, but there's little reason the public should have to pay for the same privilege.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Ninety-eight minutes of this movie and you may find yourself reaching for Prozac or the antidepressant of your choice. A cheap shot, to be sure, but the movie earns it.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
Truly depressing, a dark, mean and screechy film that still looks half-finished after years on the shelf.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
In portraying Elizabeth Wurtzel, Ricci displays range, depth, and courage.
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
[Ricci's] performance as a Harvard undergrad battling clinical depression compels your attention every moment she is on screen.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It should be no surprise that a flick about depressives turns into a depressing film.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Ricci commits fully, driven to bring Wurtzel's demons to life.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
There's really no reservoir of sympathy deep enough to support a whiny, navel-gazing Harvard student who turns her depression into a show-stopping spectacle.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The film avoids disease-of-the-week sentimentality with Ricci's calm, reasoning voice-over juxtaposing her erratic behavior; she realizes what she's doing but just can't stop.
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
Outside of Ricci, everything's been sucked out to a bland finish.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
it seems that Elizabeth's problem isn't that she's clinically depressed. It's because she's a first class a-hole. (That's a scientific term)
Jonathan Moy, CinemaBlend.com
What the hell happened to Christina Ricci?
Marcy Dermansky, About.com
Poor Ricci, stuck in the role of the egotistical unlikeable young woman, tries her hardest to appear miserable.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It doesn't matter that the story is true; if it's uninteresting or unappealing, it isn't going to work.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Prozac Nation moves along at the speed of a Norwegian glacier, yet it provides the observer with nowhere near the pleasure.
Tony Whitt, Now Playing Magazine
A tough book to adapt into a movie...
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
well-made, but almost relentlessly downbeat portrait of self-destruction -- it makes Winona Ryder's similar 'Girl, Interrupted' look like 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Choose the lesser of two evils: Make Tom Cruise proud and medicate yourself with Prozac Nation and not the actual pill.
Jesse Hassenger, Filmcritic.com
despite low expectations, you press on, hoping for something interesting to happen

Read all 19 critic reviews

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Curtis L

Okay if you like depressing movies about people who are completely self destructive. Personally, I knew too many of them in high school to want to spend another 2 hour with them.
E.J. B

Ricci is fabulous, but the film is like a two hour complaint.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Prozac Nation" starts out in the 1980's when Elizabeth Wurtzel(Christina Ricci) is being driven to Harvard University for freshman orientation by her mother(Jessica Lange).(Elizabeth is attending on a journalism scholarship and has already had an… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Prozac Nation" starts out in the 1980's when Elizabeth Wurtzel(Christina Ricci) is being driven to Harvard University for freshman orientation by her mother(Jessica Lange).(Elizabeth is attending on a journalism scholarship and has already had an article published in Teen Magazine about her father whom she has not seen in four years.) Once at college, she lives a normal life, makes a best friend, Ruby(Michelle Williams), and loses her virginity. Elizabeth gains fame, an award, and the attention of Rolling Stone magazine for writing a piece on a Lou Reed(Lou Reed) concert. In trying to top her early success, she develops a massive case of writer's block in trying to write an article on Bruce Springsteen(academics have had the same problem for decades...). Thus leading to a downfall through alcohol, drugs and some seriously antisocial behavior.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Prozac Nation" is a self-important movie about a self-centered person. Removing the narration would have helped in moving around some of the focus. To make matters worse, the movie is based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's own experiences but provides a decided lack of insight into mental illness or anything else for that matter. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Christina Ricci gives a wooden performance in the lead and sadly might be incapable of delivering sarcasm.(Zooey Deschanel would have been a vast improvement.) Surprisingly, Jessica Lange disappoints in a completely over-the-top performance. But there is fine support supplied by Michelle Williams, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jason Biggs and Anne Heche.[/font]
Fascade F

A depressant's nightmare based upon a true story. A young woman's adventure into coming to grips with her parent's divorce, being comfortable with herself as she goes through her freshman year in College and eventually working for Rolling Stone Magazine...despite the… More
A depressant's nightmare based upon a true story. A young woman's adventure into coming to grips with her parent's divorce, being comfortable with herself as she goes through her freshman year in College and eventually working for Rolling Stone Magazine...despite the anguish she went through...finding help through therapy...the anguish the heartbreak is all portrayed exceptionally well by Christina Ricci. See this it is really good. Plus the way Christina narrates her journey is incredible.
Christopher H

More of a lifetime movie, than the generation capstone it was trying to portray. The performances are melodramatic and repetitious. Even the quality of the film comes off 10 years older than it actually should be. Could have used some more grit!
Erin C

Coming from someone who suffers from depression, this movie really hit home for me. While I have not endured episodes nearly as bad as hers, I could definitely relate to many parts of the movie and Ricci's character.
Sunil J

I waited for 2 years for this movie to come out on DVD and it was pretty great.
Leanna E

My all time favourite book, but not my all time favourite movie. I really wanted this to be a great movie! Ricci puts her all into it, and she shines as Wurtzel, but overall the movie doesn't work. The boyfriends were entirely mis-cast. They didn't work at all, and the… More
My all time favourite book, but not my all time favourite movie. I really wanted this to be a great movie! Ricci puts her all into it, and she shines as Wurtzel, but overall the movie doesn't work. The boyfriends were entirely mis-cast. They didn't work at all, and the overall feeling of the book didn't crossover to the movie.
Timothy O

Nice tits on Christina, but other than that...
Laurence C

A dark, mean and depressing movie that can sometimes look unfinished but will linger in your head for days. Christina Ricci offers one of her most solid performances.
FanGirl B

I think this movie accurately portrays what depression feels like. But I think if you haven't been there it's just going be annoying. There is a completely unnecessary nude scene in the beginning which pissed me off and was completely unbelievable. Who would just sit… More
I think this movie accurately portrays what depression feels like. But I think if you haven't been there it's just going be annoying. There is a completely unnecessary nude scene in the beginning which pissed me off and was completely unbelievable. Who would just sit there like that in front of their mom? And why was she naked to begin with?
Wu C

I love Ricci, but I hope the book was better than this.