John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Boyd Gaines

Two mismatched college students (John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga) find themselves trapped together during a cross-country road trip, trying to make it home for the holidays. She can't stand him, and he ...( read more  read more... )just wants to get to L.A., where a sexy "sure thing" is waiting to greet him with open arms. It's not hard to predict where this sweetly old-fashioned romantic comedy is going to end up, but along the way there are many pleasures to be had. Director Rob Reiner, in his second feature (after This Is Spinal Tap), has a nice eye for the kitschy flotsam found along the American highway, and his identification with the college kids doesn't condescend to them one bit. The movie helped make a star of John Cusack, who gives a delightfully spritzy performance--kind of a precursor to his similarly energetic, likable turn in Say Anything. Given the usual crass tenor of Hollywood college movies, The Sure Thing is something to treasure. --Robert Horton

Flixster Users

76% liked it

8,417 ratings

PG-13, 94 min.

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Release Date: March 1, 1985

Invite friends to see

Stats: 570 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (570)


  • January 11, 2009
    Pathetic little film really but my hopes weren't high seeing as John Cusack is in it so seeing as I wasn't expecting anything it turned out better than I was expecting
  • November 21, 2008
    The bridge movie from the hilaraty of Savage Steve Holland to comedic leading man.
  • October 11, 2007
    Cusack doing what he does best. Some very good jokes and a must-see teen flick.
  • June 9, 2007
    I've never been a romcom fan, except for the ones with John Cusack. He can be a sap in love and it not seem hokey. This is an early one, but one of the best. Two total opposites in more ways then gender go on a road trip from the Northeast to California over college Christmas bre...( read more)ak. Been done before, but rarely this well.
  • February 9, 2007
    I don't "get" a lot of the more popular 80s comedys, but I've always had a soft spot for this one. The ever likeable John Cusack is one reason, the fact it was directed by Rob Reiner straight after Spinal Tap is probably the other!
  • November 6, 2009
    Another film that shows you that 1985 was the best year of the 80s. This movie shows you how John Cusacks character, Gib grows up, and decides that why hook up with a sure thing when the real thing was there all along. This movie is an 80s classic! I would also reccomend this mov...( read more)ie to people who want to laugh as well. :)
  • August 16, 2009
    A pretty fun remake of "It Happened One Night." Nothing special but Cusak is always solid (especially in his younger roles) and Zuniga plays the stuck-up perfectionist pretty well. Good chemistry and some funny bits. Mostly a nostalgic love though...
  • February 24, 2009
    Since Peachy Leetz is getting the Sex Drive movie, I think I will get this baby on Netflix since it is basically a remake with a more revealing title of course. As I remember it (it was the 80's) John Cusack is a college student and a Virgin *gasp* Somehow he finds out some hot...( read more) chick across the country is a "sure thing" and will give it up for him. (Makes me wonder about the gullibility of all the people on this site...hmm) Anyway, Next thing you know John is hitching rides across the country and as I remember it is funny and has a flash or two of breastsssseess. I have a feeling this is the better of the two movies.
  • February 11, 2009
    romantic + hilarious.. at the last part, the girl should have asked "r u still a virgin?" what a heck~
  • January 31, 2009
    Classic 80's movie lots of fun

Critic Reviews


No recent reviews.

Comments


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)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Hope Springs
    Hope Springs (50%)
  • Blame It On Rio
    Blame It On Rio (0%)
  • Planes, Trains and Automobiles
    Planes, Trains and Automobiles (100%)
  • Tapeheads
    Tapeheads (100%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Sure Thing : Watch Free on TV


The Sure Thing Trivia


  • The Ice Harvest was his Thin Red Line, Serendipity it may have been, but the Grosse Pointe Blank was an Identity away from Being John Malkovich. His High Fidelity lead to Stand By Me, you can Say Anything but he's a Sure Thing or an America's Sweetheart.  Answer »
  • He turned down "a Sure Thing", said anything to Ione Skye and was the quickest gun in michigan  Answer »
  • In which John Cusack film does this line appear? "Hi I'm Gary Cooper, but not the Gary Cooper that's dead."  Answer »
  • What movie features John Cusack travelling across the country to hook up with Nicollette Sheridan?  Answer »

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?