Clay Pigeons (1998)
72%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Clay Pigeons is a film that attempts to be a black comedy thriller, but ultimately falls short of its goal. While some critics praise the direction and the unexpected laughs, others criticize the lack of coherence and the mediocre performances. Vince Vaughn’s portrayal of a twitchy crazy is particularly underwhelming, especially when compared to his performance as a movie serial killer in another film. Overall, the film feels like a middling retread of better movies in the genre, such as Fargo. While it may be worth a watch for fans of the genre, it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
Clay Pigeons is like Fargo’s little brother who tries to be just as cool but falls a bit short. Vince Vaughn’s performance as a serial killer is definitely a highlight, but it’s not enough to save the film from feeling like a middling retread. The plot twists and dark humor are there, but the film lacks the outre tone and suspense needed to make it truly memorable. Overall, it’s an okay little High Plains Noir that unravels at the end.
Production Company(ies)
Film4 Ingenious Film Partners Special Treats Production Company,
Distributor
Gramercy Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Brigham City, Utah, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong scenes of sexuality, language and violence
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 44m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2004
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, Janeane Garofalo, Georgina Cates,
Worldwide gross: $1,794,086
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,292,401
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,291
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 359,040
US/Canada gross: $1,794,086
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,292,401
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,921
US/Canada opening weekend: $167,364
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $307,137
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,533
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $14,681,128
Production budget ranking: 1,525
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,905,787
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$19,294,515
ROI to date (est.): -85%
ROI ranking: 1,928
Janeane Garofalo – Agent Shelby
Joaquin Phoenix – Clay Bidwell
Georgina Cates – Amanda
Phil Morris – Agent Reynard
Scott Wilson – Sheriff Mooney
Director(s)
David Dobkin
Writer(s)
Matthew L. Healy
Producer(s)
Ridley Scott, Chris Zarpas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (21)
Better luck next time, guys. And, Janeane, try working with less smarty-pantsed material if you can. You know I’m pulling for you.
February 6, 2018
Paul Tatara
CNN.com
TOP CRITIC
Slanted as a black comedy, but fails to secure the sufficiently outre tone (let alone any real suspense) needed to make it more than a middling retread.
March 26, 2009
Dennis Harvey
Variety
TOP CRITIC
This quirky comedy thriller, produced by Ridley Scott, is both blackly funny and, at times, tensely disturbing and quite macabre.
February 9, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Brilliant direction.
December 16, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
“You’ve got a sense of humor, I like that,” Lester Long proclaims at one point. Well, we all like that, but would it be asking too much to have a little coherence to go along with it?
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 2/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s got unpredictable plot twists and unexpected laughs coming out of dark corners.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Playing twitchy crazies isn’t Vaughn’s strong suit, a point made crystal clear with the subsequent release of the same year’s abysmal Psycho remake with Vaughn as Norman Bates.
July 31, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Call this one Fargo Lite, and you won’t be far off the mark.
July 26, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
Joe Leydon
The Moving Picture Show
Vince Vaughn may play the two best movie serial killers this year if his Norman Bates rendition can match his performance in Clay Pigeons.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Ron Wells
Film Threat
October 27, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 8, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
An okay little High Plains Noir, but it unravels at the end.
May 27, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)…
Plot
Clay is a young man in a small town who witnesses his friend kill himself because of the on-going affair that Clay was having with the man’s wife. Feeling guilty, Clay now resists the widow when she presses him to continue with their sexual affairs. Clay befriends a troubling serial killer.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a young Joaquin Phoenix and Vince Vaughn playing against type as a serial killer.
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