Portland, Oregon, 1971. Bob Hughes is the charismatic leader of a peculiar quartet, formed by his wife, Dianne, and another couple, Rick and Nadine, who skillfully steal from drugstores and hospital medicine cabinets in order to appease their insatiable need for drugs. But neither fun nor luck last forever.
In the 1980s, Bob Hughes leads a crew of "drugstore cowboys" who rob pharmacies for addictive drugs. As the crew dwindles due to drug-related mishaps and Bob's growing desire for a different life, he becomes increasingly entangled in his own addiction and the consequences of his criminal lifestyle. The film follows his desperate attempts to escape the cycle of crime and addiction, facing betrayal and mortality along the way.
Drugstore Cowboy was widely acclaimed by critics for its stylish direction, compelling performances, and unflinching portrayal of addiction and the counterculture. It is often cited as a seminal work of independent cinema from the late 1980s, praised for its raw authenticity and dark humor.
Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's raw portrayal of addiction and the lived-in feel of the characters, finding the performances strong and the story compelling, though some noted its bleakness.
Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor (Matt Dillon), Best Director (Gus Van Sant), and Best Screenplay. Won the Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director.
William S. Burroughs, who plays the influential drug guru Tom, was a real-life heroin addict and author of the semi-autobiographical novel 'Junky,' which heavily influenced Gus Van Sant's approach to the film.
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