Drugstore Cowboy
Directed by Gus Van SantA group of drug users in the 1970's help finance their habit by robbing drug stores. Matt Dillon's character is very superstitious and eventually his luck runs out.
- DTSaitoSeptember 20, 2025Gus Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy is a raw, stylish portrait of addiction and the aimless lives caught in its orbit. Matt Dillon gives one of his finest performances as Bob Hughes, the leader of a small crew of drug addicts who fund their habits by robbing pharmacies across the Pacific Northwest in the early 1970s. What sets the film apart is its refusal to romanticize or sensationalize drug use. Van Sant presents addiction with honesty—sometimes grim, sometimes darkly funny, but never moralizing. The chemistry among the cast, including Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros, and a young Heather Graham, adds to the authenticity of this makeshift “family” living on the edge. William S. Burroughs makes a memorable appearance, lending the story an extra layer of countercultural weight. With its dreamlike visuals, unpredictable energy, and nuanced performances, Drugstore Cowboy remains one of the most powerful films about addiction—both a product of its era and a timeless meditation on the cycle of dependence and escape.
- sopulaFebruary 9, 2026yeah ok, he's a drugstore cowboy. what else? i appreciate the slice of life, simple kind of story but this was kind of just ineffective, maybe the acting was bad, movie felt dull the superstition stuff about the hats on beds or whatever was cool but go watch any other movie about 4 heroin addicts getting up to mischief, they are better
Drugstore Cowboy Trivia
Drugstore Cowboy was released on October 20, 1989.
Drugstore Cowboy was directed by Gus Van Sant.
Drugstore Cowboy has a runtime of 1h 41m.
Drugstore Cowboy was produced by Karen Murphy, Nick Wechsler.
A group of drug users in the 1970's help finance their habit by robbing drug stores. Matt Dillon's character is very superstitious and eventually his luck runs out.
The key characters in Drugstore Cowboy are Bob (Matt Dillon), Dianne (Kelly Lynch), Gentry (James Remar).
Drugstore Cowboy is rated R.
Drugstore Cowboy is a Crime, Drama film.
Drugstore Cowboy has an audience rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Drugstore Cowboy had a budget of $2.5M.
Drugstore Cowboy has made $4.7M at the box office.