Less Than Zero
“It only looks like the good life.”
Synopsis
A college freshman returns to Los Angeles for Christmas at his ex-girlfriend's request, but discovers that his former best friend has an out-of-control drug habit.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Less Than Zero (1987) - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-09-28
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Andrew McCarthy
Clay
Jami Gertz
Blair
Robert Downey Jr.
Julian
James Spader
Rip
Tony Bill
Bradford Easton
Nicholas Pryor
Benjamin Wells
Donna Mitchell
Elaine Easton
Michael Bowen
Hop
Sarah Buxton
Markie
Lisanne Falk
Patti
Michael Greene
Robert Wells
Neith Hunter
Alana
Afton Smith
Kim
Brian Wimmer
Trent
Kelly Wolf
Lile
David Colby
Kid #3
Anthony Kiedis
Musician #3
Flea
Musician #1
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 6, 1987
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$8M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$12.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.55x
+$4.4M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Marek Kanievska
- Screenplay & Story
- Harley Peyton
- Original Score
- Thomas Newman
- Original Title
- Less Than Zero
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- German, English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Budget
- $8M
- Worldwide Gross
- $12.4M
- Production Studios
- Amercent Films, American Entertainment Partners L.P., 20th Century Fox, The Avnet/Kerner Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Marek Kanievska
Harley Peyton, Bret Easton Ellis
Thomas Newman
Edward Lachman
Peter E. Berger, Michael Tronick
Jon Avnet, Marvin Worth, Jordan Kerner
Department Leadership Roster
Harley Peyton
Screenplay
Marek Kanievska
Director
Thomas Newman
Original Music Composer
Jon Avnet
Producer
Peter E. Berger
Editor
Barbara Ling
Production Design
Marvin Worth
Producer
Michael Tronick
Editor
Jordan Kerner
Producer
Edward Lachman
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Less Than Zero.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Less Than Zero.
Limelight Watchlist
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
My Movies
Master List In Progress
Movies That I have watched all
All of my ratings are the movies that I have seen.
Favorite Actors
LGBTQ+
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
Similar Titles to Less Than Zero
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.4
5.9
7.0
7.0
8.3
7.8
8.7
7.0
7.4
6.1
8.1
7.4
5.9
6.0
6.8
6.6
7.6
6.9
8.1
7.0
More Like Less Than Zero
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Less Than Zero
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Less Than Zero about?
A college freshman returns to Los Angeles for Christmas at his ex-girlfriend's request, but discovers that his former best friend has an out-of-control drug habit.
Who directed Less Than Zero?
Less Than Zero was directed by Marek Kanievska.
Who stars in Less Than Zero?
The principal cast of Less Than Zero includes Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, Tony Bill.
When was Less Than Zero released and how long is it?
Less Than Zero was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
What was the box office and production budget of Less Than Zero?
Less Than Zero had a reported production budget of $8M and grossed $12.4M at the worldwide box office (1.55 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Less Than Zero?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Less Than Zero was composed by Thomas Newman.
Is Less Than Zero based on a book or true story?
Less Than Zero is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Bret Easton Ellis".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Less Than Zero?
Less Than Zero holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).