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Emilio Estevez, Craig Sheffer, Kim Delaney, Jill Schoelen, Barbara Babcock ... see more see more... , Frank Howard , Frank McCarthy , Larry B. Scott , Morgan Freeman , Diane Dorsey , Matthew Dudley , Brooks Patterson Gardner , Paul Lane , Steven Pringle , Ramon Sheen , Robert Swan , Sharon Thomas , John O'Brien , Bob Swan , David Miller , Tom Walsh

Emilio Estevez adapted S.E. Hinton's teen coming-of-age novel for the screen in this film adaptation directed by Christopher Cain. Estevez also takes the lead role of Mark Jennings, a troubled teenage... read more read more...r who has been living with his best friend Byron Douglas (Craig Sheffer) and his mother (Barbara Babcock) ever since his father went to prison for murdering his mother. Byron is like a brother to Mark and the two grow very close. But as the two best pals grow into young men in high school, Byron begins to think more seriously about life after high school. He also starts to spend more time away from Mark and with the more mature Cathy (Kim Delany). Jealous of Cathy and fearful of losing Byron, Mark becomes more and more erratic and rebellious. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

6,914 ratings

Critics

0% liked it

5 critics

R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Christopher Cain

Release Date: November 8, 1985

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DVD Release Date: October 14, 2003

Stats: 179 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (179)

  • ajv2688
    January 20, 2011
    ajv2688
    An okay teenage drug drama movie with a good cast and interesting characters, but I hate the ending. This movie disappointed me. It's okay, but not good.
  • chadroesti
    October 16, 2008
    chadroesti
    I remember going to this when it came out in the theaters. 1985? I was 10 and thought it blew goat. don't think I will watch again.
  • The80sExpert
    January 26, 2010
    The80sExpert
    This movie has a lot of drama going on, and creates good characters, but we aren't given a solid resolution to their conflicts, and there are many loose ends. The acting was good, though, the characters had this feeling like they were going somewhere, and all but the main charact... read moreer end up somewhere. This isn't a satisfactory ending for a movie like this!
  • Upinthecosmos
    June 18, 2008
    Upinthecosmos
    Come on, it was made here in Mn & some scenes were shot blocks from my home, how can't it not be 4 stars!
  • MorpheusOne
    February 6, 2008
    MorpheusOne
    Pretty good overall, though they should have used Jill Schoelen more in this film. She's only in like 2 scenes which is probably why flixter didn't give her any credit for this one. She was hot back in the day.
  • markk415
    October 9, 2007
    markk415
    on ok drama but to me updating the story line to present period from the story line of the book just did not work well.
  • italiachika
    May 10, 2007
    italiachika
    The movie was so far off from the book that it gave me cancer. The acting was so bad, I became comatose.

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Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 21, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A morose melodrama about adolescent experiences.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

David Ansen
March 31, 2008
David Ansen, Newsweek

No review available.

July 3, 2004
Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
July 3, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Clint Morris
May 6, 2005
Clint Morris, Film Threat

No review available.

Philip Martin
February 5, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Andy Klein
November 23, 2004
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat

No review available.

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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That Was Then... This Is Now Trivia

  • Who wrote That Was Then This Is Now, Outsiders, and Rumble Fish?   Answer »
  • I was mean to Eric Stoltz and Lea Thompson in "Some Kind of Wonderful"; brother to Brad Pitt in "A River Runs Through It"; and brother to Emilio Estévez in "That Was Then, This Is Now"...  Answer »
  • Craig Sheffer feature film debut was in the movie That Was Then This Is Now ?   Answer »
  • In what movie is this quote in? You see life is like that. We change, that's all. You see, the guy I am now is not the guy I was then. If the guy I was then met the guy I am now he'd beat the shit out of me. Those are the facts.   Answer »
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