Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sardonic
- irreverent
- late night cult movie viewing
- adult group watch
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized the film as stylish and energetically crafted, but found its shock-driven depiction of superficial, reprehensible characters emotionally hollow and overly reverent toward its source novel.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sean, Lauren, Paul, Victor, Candice, and Lara pursue overlapping romantic and sexual desires at Camden College.
The film uses frantic editing, stylized transitions, and perspective shifts to render collegiate intoxication and emotional volatility.
The students’ sex, drugs, money problems, and casual cruelty reflect the film’s critique of affluent collegiate excess.
Paul desires Sean, Sean desires Lauren, and multiple characters’ attractions create a shifting queer and heterosexual chain.
Films like The Rules of Attraction, and why
Less Than Zero
shared dark collegiate satire, sexual alienation, and morally detached young characters
American Psycho
shared transgressive comedy-drama, decadent young adults, and late-capitalist excess
Dazed and Confused
shared cynical campus setting, interwoven romantic entanglements, and heightened ensemble storytelling
The Dreamers
shared provocative relationship drama, bisexuality, and emotionally volatile young adults
Movie Details
- Director
- Roger Avary
- Release Date
- 2002-10-11
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (637)
Cast
- James Van Der Beek
- Shannyn Sossamon
- Ian Somerhalder
- Jessica Biel
- Kate Bosworth
- Jay Baruchel
- Thomas Ian Nicholas
- Russell Sams
- Kip Pardue
- Joel Michaely
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Rules of Attraction about?
- At a decadent New Hampshire college, intertwined students pursue sex, drugs, and uncertain affection while drifting through a morally vacant social maze.
- What is The Rules of Attraction like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Rules of Attraction as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Rules of Attraction violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Rules of Attraction as mild.
- What did critics think of The Rules of Attraction?
- Critics broadly recognized the film as stylish and energetically crafted, but found its shock-driven depiction of superficial, reprehensible characters emotionally hollow and overly reverent toward its source novel.
- Which films are like The Rules of Attraction?
- Films with a similar feel include Less Than Zero, American Psycho, Dazed and Confused, and The Dreamers.
- How long is The Rules of Attraction?
- The Rules of Attraction runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Rules of Attraction?
- In United States, The Rules of Attraction streams on Hulu, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
