Thumbsucker

Play trailer

Thumbsucker

R

2005

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

115 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In the strange land known as suburbia, introverted adolescent Justin (Lou Pucci) spends the majority of his life pining after his attractive classmate Rebecca (Kelli Garner) and nervously sucking his thumb when he's alone. Oddly, after receiving some New Age advice from his spacey orthodontist, Perry (Keanu Reeves) -- and a helpful dose of prescription pills -- Justin becomes the outspoken star of his school's debate club. His extroverted persona, however, causes an all-new set of problems.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Though quirky coming-of-age themes are common in indie films, this one boasts a smart script and a great cast.

Read Critics Reviews

Ken Tucker

New York Magazine/Vulture

12/09/2005

Unlike so many movies in which a character changes in order to propel the plot forward, this one stops to follow up on the consequences of those changes.

Go to Full Review

Stella Papamichael

BBC.com

11/01/2005

3/5

Like Justin, Mills struggles to make his point, but even so, this is a tender portrait of teenhood.

Go to Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

10/07/2005

2.5/4

So no one would argue that Thumbsucker sucks. But the thing does seem just so indie-movie familiar.

Go to Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

05/07/2020

Justin Cobb, the narrator of Walter Kirn's wildly funny novel (an amazing Lou Pucci), needs a lot of help to quit a shameful habit...

Go to Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

06/28/2019

A very loose movie, which is even capable to provoke antipathy. [Full Review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

06/05/2019

3.5/4

Sublimely honest insight into the complexities of life

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Adzz S.

@aid_99 Sep 5

This movie brought back high school memories and the stress of growing up. Lou Taylor Pucci plays a teen stuck between the past and his future, while Kelli Garner’s character shifts from perfect student to rebel. Keanu Reeves and Tilda Swinton add quirky, memorable roles. It’s weird, honest, and surprisingly relatable.

See more

Geke g

@RT40239519 08/11/2024

Very weird. But somehow i liked it

See more

Munkhchimeg T

@RT64187897 08/11/2024

Kinda strange but i like it. May not your type of movie, but you may like it. Good movie.

See more

Bahad j

@RT27093708 08/11/2024

The director has once again managed to make a wonderful movie with good people. I liked it very much.

See more

David W

@RT91245001 01/16/2024

Thumbsucker features the feel and overall aesthetic of many 2000s indie films but with a level of effort that comes off as unnatural. The cast features several heavyweights and the performances from all are solid. The film may have been better served if the screenplay had leaned further into some of its themes. The story felt shallow to me despite its best efforts at creating depth. I would watch this again if there were nothing better to choose from.

See more

steve d

@RT35616104 12/25/2022

I found it uncomfortable and gross

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Mike Mills

Director

Lou Taylor Pucci

Justin Cobb

Tilda Swinton

Audrey Cobb

Vince Vaughn

Mr. Geary

Vincent D'Onofrio

Mike Cobb

Keanu Reeves

Perry Lyman

The Savages

89%

75%

The Savages

Watchlist

Human Nature

48%

61%

Human Nature

Watchlist

Lonesome Jim

61%

57%

Lonesome Jim

Watchlist

Friends With Money

72%

40%

Friends With Money

Watchlist

One Last Thing ...

10%

61%

One Last Thing ...

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critical Consensus: "The Break-Up" Gets Dumped

"Crash" Producers Wage War In Court

"Swordfish" Scribe to Tackle Diesel’s "Hitman"

View more photos

Synopsis

In the strange land known as suburbia, introverted adolescent Justin (Lou Pucci) spends the majority of his life pining after his attractive classmate Rebecca (Kelli Garner) and nervously sucking his thumb when he's alone. Oddly, after receiving some New Age advice from his spacey orthodontist, Perry (Keanu Reeves) -- and a helpful dose of prescription pills -- Justin becomes the outspoken star of his school's debate club. His extroverted persona, however, causes an all-new set of problems.

Director: Mike Mills
Producer: Anthony Bregman, Bob Stephenson
Screenwriter: Mike Mills
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: This Is That Productions, Good Machine, Bull's Eye Entertainment, Keep Your Head, Scared Little Animals LLC
Rating: R (Drug/Alcohol Use|Disturbing Images|Language|Sexuality Involving Teens)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 35m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings