Igby Goes Down

Name: Igby Goes Down
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: September 13, 2002
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Kieran Culkin, Susan Sarandon

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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Igby Goes Down

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) | Release Date: September 13, 2002 | TV-MA

Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Kieran Culkin, Susan Sarandon

Summary: Igby Slocumb (Culkin), a rebellious and sarcastic seventeen-year-old boy, is at war with the stifling world of "old money" privilege he was born in to. (MGM/UA)

Director: Burr Steers

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 98 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Gets weirder and meaner and darker and sadder as it progresses, which is amazing since it simultaneously remains funny and horrifying right up to the end. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Wickedly funny, jarringly transgressive, obdurately unpigeonholeable and startlingly moving. Read full review

Steven Rea

Smart and novelistic and spiked with more than a bit of The Catcher in the Rye, Steers' movie is a prickly coming-of-age tale in which everybody -- but especially Culkin -- shines. Read full review

Young Kieran Culkin holds his own against a stellar ensemble in Igby Goes Down, a family comedy so dark it turns "The Royal Tennebaums" into latter-day Bradys. Read full review

Jonathan Foreman

Culkin is superb - he makes you forget that Igby is a spoiled brat who actually deserves the beating he gets. Read full review

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

Steers' film will likely polarize the audience, which, if nothing else, gives it rare resonance; at least it makes you feel, where many similar indie efforts make you sleepy.

Mick LaSalle

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

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User Reviews

JoseR.

Nov 7, 2005

Amazingly casted, tremendously acted, superbly directed. From the very first scene of this film, you want to get wring every little drop out of it. Every conversation is bursting with pop culture references; if you're bored it's because you're not listening. Kieran Culkin is Amazingly casted, tremendously acted, superbly directed. From the very first scene of this film, you want to get wring every little drop out of it. Every conversation is bursting with pop culture references; if you're bored it's because you're not listening. Kieran Culkin is a gem, the Marlon Brando of our times.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LolitaA.

Feb 27, 2006

One of those movies that just makes you feel good when you watch it. Once over your "feel good feeling" you begin to realize what an amazing movie, in fact, you've just seen. Kieran Culkin is, frankly, charming.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DaveM.

Aug 28, 2007

Extraordinary cast and performances by all. Cinematography is great of the East Coast cities portrayed. A must see.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

GaborA.

Apr 19, 2006

The best dramedy of all time beating America Beauty by inches. The story is dramatic, the acting moving, and the dialogue hilarious. Superb film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Tss5078

Feb 23, 2013

I really love these weird independent comedies, that you have to be somewhat intelligent to understand. They are so much different from all the repetitive crap that we are subjected to over and over again. This is the story of a kid from a privileged family who just doesn't fit in. He seesI really love these weird independent comedies, that you have to be somewhat intelligent to understand. They are so much different from all the repetitive crap that we are subjected to over and over again. This is the story of a kid from a privileged family who just doesn't fit in. He sees the hypocrisy of it all and decides to run away to NYC, where he meets some unique characters that you'd only find in New York. The middle Culkin brother, Kieran, stars and was incredible. Simply put, sometimes the story is good, but the movie is made by its star, and Culkin gives one of the best performances I've seen in a film like this. Igby Goes Down has a ton of stars, it's a clever story, and you really connect to the characters. I really enjoyed this film, but be warned, it's not for everybody. I honestly believe when it comes to this type of film, you need a personality that relates to some aspect of the film. Without that connection, you might not get as much out of this film as others did.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WiliamB.

Dec 7, 2005

Having observed this social class from the vantage point of a middle-class kid who got to go to private school, I find Igby accurate and funny. Ryan Phillipe is particularly hilarious as Igby's brother, and it's a funny script all the way through. A dire update of Salinger, with Having observed this social class from the vantage point of a middle-class kid who got to go to private school, I find Igby accurate and funny. Ryan Phillipe is particularly hilarious as Igby's brother, and it's a funny script all the way through. A dire update of Salinger, with many funny moments. Recommended to preppies, New York division.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MichaelH.

Oct 7, 2002

[***Potential first scene Spoiler***] Igby is an insufferable character, so insufferable in fact, that by the end of the movie, I was wishing he'd taken the poison instead of his mother. The ultra-hip think there is some great revelation in this movie (see review by Slate), but there[***Potential first scene Spoiler***] Igby is an insufferable character, so insufferable in fact, that by the end of the movie, I was wishing he'd taken the poison instead of his mother. The ultra-hip think there is some great revelation in this movie (see review by Slate), but there isn't; it's just good looking crap.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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83	#83 Best Movie of 2002
91	#91 Most Discussed Movie of 2002