Drugstore Cowboy

Drugstore Cowboy
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Gus Van Sant
Produced by	Karen Murphy Cary Brokaw Nick Wechsler
Written by	Gus Van Sant Daniel Yost
Based on	Drugstore Cowboy by James Fogle
Starring	Matt Dillon Kelly Lynch James Remar James LeGros Heather Graham William Burroughs
Music by	Elliot Goldenthal
Cinematography	Robert Yeoman
Edited by	Mary Bauer Curtiss Clayton
Distributed by	International Video Entertainment Avenue Pictures
Release date	October 6, 1989 (1989-10-06) (United States)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2.5 million
Box office	$4.7 million

Drugstore Cowboy is a 1989 American crime drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, written by Van Sant and Daniel Yost, and is based on an autobiographical novel by James Fogle. The film stars Matt Dillon in the title role, Kelly Lynch, Heather Graham and William S. Burroughs. It marked Van Sant's second film as director.

At the time the film was made, the source novel by Fogle was unpublished. It was later published in 1990, by which time Fogle had been released from prison. Fogle, like the characters in his story, was a long-time drug user and dealer.

The film was a critical success and currently holds a rare 100% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8/10 based on 27 reviews.

"Bob" Hughes (Matt Dillon) is the leader of a crew of drug addicts consisting of him, his best friend Rick (James LeGros), his wife Dianne (Kelly Lynch), and an underage girl with no family named Nadine (Heather Graham). Together, they travel across the U.S. Pacific Northwest in 1971, supporting their drug habits by robbing pharmacies and hospitals.

After successfully robbing a Portland pharmacy, they go straight home to use the drugs they just stole. During the process of getting high, a local low-life named David (Max Perlich) visits the group in search of hard-to-find dilaudid. Bob lies and says they have none, but offers to trade him morphine for speed instead. David declines, but Bob talks him into trading anyways. After David leaves, the police bust down their door. The lead detective Gentry (James Remar) correctly assumes it was their group that had just committed the pharmacy robbery he's investigating. The police are unable to find the drugs because the group wisely buried them outside. However, in the process of searching, the police completely trash their house.