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Less Than Zero

1987·Movie
1h 38min·R

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Less Than Zero fingerprint

A touch of humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Violence4
  • Fast Pace3

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy9
  • Coming of Age7

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Cringe Humor3

World

Everyday modern life, the mind, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Novelty5

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Character Depth7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Music Centrality8
  • Cinematography7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting mood

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

It only looks like the good life.

A college freshman returns to Los Angeles for Christmas at his ex-girlfriend's request, but discovers that his former best friend has an out-of-control drug habit.
Bleak Addiction Drama80s Youth CultureDecadence & DespairTragic RomanceLost InnocenceSocial CritiquePsychological DeclineLos Angeles SettingHeavy Themes

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Less Than Zero

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Less Than Zero legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Less Than Zero in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Less Than Zero worth watching?

56
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 56/100 (IMDb 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes 50%, and Metacritic 48). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Less Than Zero rated?

RDrug useSexual contentStrong languageSuicide themesDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: drug use, sexual content, strong language, suicide themes, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Less Than Zero?

1 h 38 min

Less Than Zero runs 1 h 38 min.

Is Less Than Zero based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on Less Than Zero?

Critics49
Audiences63

Not quite. Audiences rate Less Than Zero higher (63) than critics (49). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Less Than Zero a box office hit?

Budget$8 million
Box office$12 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $8 million to make and earned $12 million worldwide, 1.5 times its budget.

What language is Less Than Zero in?

EnglishGermanSpanish

It was made in English, with some German, Spanish. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Less Than Zero?

2GBGG

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Less Than Zero in 2 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Less Than Zero use?

The Film of the BookBittersweet EndingChick MagnetDeath by AdaptationCanon ForeignerPrecision F-StrikeInterrupted IntimacyAdaptational BadassWould Hit a GirlMaking Love in All the Wrong PlacesMissing MomAdaptational Heroismand 14 more

TV Tropes lists 26 storytelling tropes for Less Than Zero, including The Film of the Book, Bittersweet Ending, Chick Magnet.