The Spectacular Now

91%

Tomatometer

172 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

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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Critics Reviews

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The Spectacular Now | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

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

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The Spectacular Now | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

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

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The Spectacular Now | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

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

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The Spectacular Now | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

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

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The Spectacular Now | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

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

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The Spectacular Now | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

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

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Audience Reviews

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Allen F This was a great film that had many great themes to it. I can’t put my finger on what was missing but that’s nitpicking. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review jorge l One of the best Shailene Woodley's movies on her youth. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Philip G A charming mess. Gets to the thpical dark night of the soul moment and then… ends. He is a drunk. She is a doormat. No one grows. Third act is a disaster. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/02/24 Full Review Koi P Hoping for more depth and complexity. Great performances. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review Taznim J A must watch for romance lovers! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/22/24 Full Review Connor S Perhaps the most adult adolescent movie I have yet to see. Almost every character is relatable in a myriad of ways, with beyond awesome chemistry between the two leads. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/15/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Spectacular Now

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Cast & Crew

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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The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now: Official Clip - The Morning After