Igby Goes Down (2002)
83%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 17 nominations
In the vein of The Catcher in the Rye, Igby Goes Down is scathingly witty and sharply observant
Igby Goes Down is like a mix of The Catcher in the Rye, Rushmore, and The Graduate, but with a lot more sarcasm and a lot less likable characters. It’s a dark comedy that’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re in the mood for something unusual and unpredictable, it’s worth a watch. Just don’t expect to feel warm and fuzzy inside afterwards.
Production Company(ies)
Production company
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, sexuality and drug content
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 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 13, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Kieran Culkin, Susan Sarandon, Jeff Goldblum, Claire Danes, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman, directed by Burr Steers, written by Burr Steers, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ken Eisner, Neil Young, Sandra Hall, Tom Dawson, Kimberley Jones, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Jan Stuart, Malcolm Johnson, Anton Bitel, Kelly Kessler, Michael Dequina, Urban Cinefile Critics, produced by Marco Weber, Lisa Tornell, R MPAA rating, old money privilege, rebellious teenager, dysfunctional family, schizophrenia, New York City, bohemian scene, satire, coming of age, transformation, absurd choices, Catcher in the Rye, Rushmore, The Graduate, Bret Easton Ellis, The Ice Storm, Augusten Burroughs, Kerouac, Salinger, dark dramedy, pathos, dysfunctional family genre, Jeff Goldblum’s performance
Worldwide gross: $6,919,198
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,475,923
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,925
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,251,464
US/Canada gross: $4,777,465
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,923,725
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,680
US/Canada opening weekend: $306,705
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $508,689
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,398
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $9,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $14,927,063
Production budget ranking: 1,519
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,038,224
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$11,489,364
ROI to date (est.): -50%
ROI ranking: 1,689
Susan Sarandon – Mimi
Jeff Goldblum – D.H.
Claire Danes – Sookie
Ryan Phillippe – Oliver
Bill Pullman – Jason
Director(s)
Burr Steers
Writer(s)
Burr Steers
Producer(s)
Marco Weber, Lisa Tornell
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (136) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (102) | Rotten (34)
Steers puts a lot of balls in the air, but no one, including Igby, gets developed far enough for viewers to really know and care about them.
February 13, 2009
Ken Eisner
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Yes, it’s The Catcher in the Rye all over again – with generous helpings of Rushmore, The Graduate, Bret Easton Ellis and The Ice Storm. Igby never reaches those heights …
June 24, 2006
Neil Young
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The poignancy of the conclusion leaves you hoping fervently that Igby’s best is still to come – and Culkin’s, as well.
June 13, 2003
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
May 13, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Tom Dawson
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
In its own floundering way, it gets to you. Just like Igby.
November 4, 2002 | Rating: B
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Igby Goes Down exudes more pain than any screwball comedy should be asked to.
June 1, 2022
Jan Stuart
The Advocate
If this were a short story, it would belong in The New Yorker in the days of J.D. Salinger. It is both droll and grim, often handsome and tasteful with its cinematography and production values.
June 8, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
so many of the characters are so soulless, making it difficult to see past their sarcastic, brash exteriors… So when all the iciness melts away, the sentimentality which replaces it seems unconvincingly pat.
June 11, 2013
Anton Bitel
Daily Info
Dark, depressing story that’s for adults only.
January 2, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Kelly Kessler
Common Sense Media
Consistently unusual, unpredictable and uproarious viewing.
December 28, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Balancing its frequently absurd humour with poignant observations of that time in life when you’re not sure exactly what it is you’re rebelling against, Igby Goes Down is an offbeat winner.
October 18, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
Seventeen year old Jason Slocumb, Jr. – Igby to most that know him – comes from east coast old money, the second son of self-absorbed and controlling Mimi Slocumb and medically-diagnosed schizophrenic Jason Slocum, Sr., the latter who has for several years been institutionalized in a Maryland psychiatric facility. While Igby’s economics-studying Columbia-attending older brother Ollie Slocum has embraced and aspires to continue their wealthy life, Igby has rebelled against it, considering his brother a fascist (although he could soften that label to Republican). Because of Jason’s situation, Mimi has largely left the role of male role model for Ollie and Igby to their godfather, D.H. Banes. Igby’s rebellion has led to him being kicked out of one prep school after another, the latest, a military academy, from which Igby escapes before he can graduate. As such, Mimi and D.H. arrange for Igby to live in New York with Ollie for the summer while working for D.H. renovating some of his properties, before Mimi arranges for yet another strict school for the fall so that Igby can at least graduate. Igby is largely able to hide out for most of the summer with the help of Rachel, D.H.’s younger heroin addict mistress, and Sookie, a slightly older waitress with who he falls in love. An issue with Sookie and the aftermath of a joint mission with Ollie leads to Igby having a clearer picture of what his immediate future will look like.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jeff Goldblum “radiates awesome smarminess” in his role as D.H. in Igby Goes Down, according to one critic review.
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