The Spectacular Now

R

Released Aug 2, 2013

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

List

91%

Tomatometer

172 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

An innocent, bookish teenager (Shailene Woodley) begins dating the charming, freewheeling high-school senior (Miles Teller) who awoke on her lawn after a night of heavy partying.

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Critics Consensus

The Spectacular Now is an adroit, sensitive film that avoids typical coming-of-age story trappings.

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Noah Berlatsky

The Atlantic

The movie wasn't smart enough to deal with the interesting protagonists it started with, and so it reverted to trope.

Aug 28, 2019

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

There are scenes, moments, and dialogue in this film that ring so true that it all comes rushing back, a flood of memories and emotions and a little bit of pain.

Jun 19, 2016

Full Review

Jared Eisenstat

Film Comment Magazine

[Ponsoldt] enjoys playing with our expectations by following conventions, luring us into the sense that we know what's coming, and then swerving just a little off-road for a detour.

Nov 4, 2013

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The beauty of watching The Spectacular Now is that Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley are just living in the moment, in the now.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 27, 2023

Full Review

Patrick Hicks

Feelin' Film Podcast

Nothing about this film is spectacular, and that's what makes it worth watching. It's an honest look at the typical teenager, without the polished dialogue and overly-sexualized relationships seen in other teen-centered films.

Rated: 4.5/5

May 15, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

One of the interesting things about “The Spectacular Now” is how it employs several familiar plot points, but it treats each of them with a fresh and prudent sincerity.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 25, 2022

Full Review

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Nathan R

A complete waste of time. I'd rather watch paint dry to be honest.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/24/24

Full Review

Samuel H

Only stumbled across this film because of a list on YouTube but was very pleasantly surprised. It handles the stresses of student life in a realistic way. The relationships also felt very real as well as the drama that comes with them. It's 100% something I recommend watching at least once to enjoy the beauty of it. It of course struggles in some aspects such as for me personally the male lead character feeling unlikeable at times which can derail a film for me personally but this comes from preference. Still, this film is honestly a niche hidden gem and deserves heaps of praise for what the cast and crew delivered to us.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/30/23

Full Review

Ned A

Excruciating. I kept waiting for it to get better. It never did.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Another one of the finest films of 2013! A24 Films and director James Ponsoldt make a very high-ranking coming-of-age movie My first introduction to Miles Teller and also a continuation of Shailene Woodley’s acting talents Sutter Keely is the most friendly-spirited guy in his neighborhood and in high school He’s about to go to college and writes an essay about who he is He breaks up with his girlfriend, Cassidy and loses his part-time job He then comes across another senior named Aimee who also goes through a few difficulties with growing up As time goes on they get along famously eventually falling in love Sutter though has doubts about himself yet at one point his mom tells him he brings joy to everyone, he’s the happiest person she knows with the biggest heart This manages to avoid all the typical trappings of a story we’re familiar with; instead of crude sex jokes and debauchery the film really let’s the performances of its two leads carry everything I’m very glad too the main character I could relate to so much since he shares a lot of similarities with me Memories, emotions and a little bit of pain are what comes with being on the brink of adulthood Your life very well could be something else if you don’t start making changes, living in the moment isn’t a bad thing but it helps to have ambition, it’s not a bad thing to bring joy to others, there will always be another now tomorrow, keeping your guard up to not get hurt doesn’t always last A very good supporting cast includes a very young Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth-Winstead, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Kyle Chandler This is a very honest and realistic look at teenagers that actually almost made me cry so that’s a real accomplishment It feels appreciated to have a movie like this with a main character becoming his own person inspite of himself with a charming, likable romantic lead next to him

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/03/23

Full Review

Adis M

One of the most confused movies I've seen this year, is unfinished everywhere, the 18 year old main character was even weirder than a clown and already a half alcoholic, it made little sense and descended into depression.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/22/23

Full Review

Phuong N

I loved it. It's nothing too outstanding, extraordinary, or i gotta say, spectacular, it's just an easy to watch high school movie and gave me lots of comfort plus a good cry. Idk, it felt genuine and realistic. I didn't relate to his situation but i related to his tone of feelings, thats why i felt comfortable and sympathized to Sutter so much.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/01/23

Full Review

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James Ponsoldt

Director

Miles Teller

Sutter Keely

Shailene Woodley

Aimee Finicky

Brie Larson

Cassidy

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Sara

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Holly Keely

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Synopsis

An innocent, bookish teenager (Shailene Woodley) begins dating the charming, freewheeling high-school senior (Miles Teller) who awoke on her lawn after a night of heavy partying.

Director: James Ponsoldt
Producer: Michelle Krumm, Andrew Lauren, Shawn Levy, Tom McNulty
Screenwriter: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Andrew Lauren Productions
Rating: R (All Involving Teens|Alcohol Use|Language|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.9M
Runtime: 1h 35m

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