The Rules of Attraction

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1:54

The Rules of Attraction

R

2002

1h 50m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

142 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, "Rules" centers around Patrick Bateman's younger brother and his college friends' bizarre mating rituals that mix sex, drugs, music and mayhem in a kaleidoscopic story about three students entangled in a curiously surreal romantic triangle.

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Critics Consensus

A tiresome movie about unsympathetic college kids engaging in self-destructive behaviors.

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Barbara Ellen

The Times (UK)

Jan 3, 2018

This is an exercise that is in love with its own superficiality, delighted with an emptiness that was all it ever aspired to, and yet it manages to turn into a better movie than it has any right to be.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 29, 2010

2/5

Not for kids, and not for many adults, either.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Feb 11, 2008

Actually I quite enjoyed the movie--but how do I get rid of this awful discharge?

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 16, 2026

1/4

This atrocious movie hits all the keywords for conjuring up foul imagery: "misogyny"; "rape"; "vomit"; "scatology"; "nose-picking"; "Bret Easton Ellis."

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Feb 13, 2026

5/5

…an anything-goes adaptation of a fairly unfilmable novel, Roger Avary's The Rules of Attraction is without a doubt the best thing that James Van Der Beek ever did, a courageous and shocking piece of acting that is a great way to remember him….’

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Michael Cuby

them.

Nov 2, 2022

The Rules of Attraction is a mind-blowingly fun comedy about young college students that apparently have nothing better to do...

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 11, 2026

The Rules of Attraction = a *3.5* star Movie!

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Trevor B

@TrevBills Apr 14, 2026

So sad that these kinds of movies don't really exist anymore

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Ryein E.

@mustyladonna Feb 18, 2026

RIP James Van Der Beek!!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Oct 29, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajudou a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Sep 2, 2025

A well made movie with a stellar cast. The ending was fantastic. Tim Treakle

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Shaun R

@Shaun666 Jun 20, 2025

Underrated film. Enjoyable and surprisingly dark, without taking itself too seriously. The joys and tragedy of being young is well caught here.

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Roger Avary

Director

James Van Der Beek

Sean Bateman

Ian Somerhalder

Paul Denton

Shannyn Sossamon

Lauren Hynde

Jessica Biel

Lara

Kip Pardue

Victor

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Synopsis

Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, "Rules" centers around Patrick Bateman's younger brother and his college friends' bizarre mating rituals that mix sex, drugs, music and mayhem in a kaleidoscopic story about three students entangled in a curiously surreal romantic triangle.

Director: Roger Avary
Producer: Greg Shapiro
Screenwriter: Bret Easton Ellis, Roger Avary
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Kingsgate Films
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Strong Sexual Content|Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.5M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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