critics consensus

Though its final outcome is predictable, The Sure Thing is a charming, smartly written, and mature teen comedy featuring a breakout role for John Cusack. Read critic reviews

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

The Sure Thing Photos

View All Photos (14)

Movie Info

Gib (John Cusack), a college freshman, keeps striking out with women. When he learns that a beautiful Californian (Nicollette Sheridan) wants to have a tryst with him, he decides to carpool all the way to the West Coast to meet her. Unfortunately, one of the other passengers on the trip is Alison (Daphne Zuniga), an attractive but domineering girl who has rejected Gib once before. The journey is a nightmare until a funny thing happens -- Gib and Alison start to fall in love.

Rating:

PG-13
Genre:

romance
Original Language:

English
Director:

Rob Reiner
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 5, 2003
Runtime:

1h 34m

Cast & Crew

John Cusack
Walter 'Gib' Gibson

Daphne Zuniga
Alison Bradbury

Nicollette Sheridan
The Sure Thing

Rob Reiner
Director

Critic Reviews for The Sure Thing

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (5)

Reiner displays a deft touch in balancing the real-life world of today's college students with the fairy tale quality of the script by Steven L. Bloom and Jonathan Roberts.

March 4, 2019 | Full Review…

Linda Deutsch
Associated Press
That's the problem with "The Sure Thing." All the good lines are given to Cusack -- he's always "on," narrating his own life in the revved-up spiel of a sports announcer.

January 4, 2018 | Full Review…

Paul Attanasio
Washington Post
The Sure Thing succeeds most in identifying the self-effacing charm that would become Cusack's stock-in-trade as a young romantic lead.

March 23, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Scott Tobias
The Dissolve
Quote not available.

February 24, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Chris Nashawaty
Entertainment Weekly
[A] hysterically oversold mix of comic cliches from the 30s and the 80s.

November 6, 2009 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
This is a likeable film that follows all of the necessary steps to engage an audience. It may not be a sure thing, but it's at least a pretty good bet.

June 9, 2009 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

James Berardinelli
ReelViews
The Sure Thing is one of those movies that start to fade right after you've seen it, but while you're watching there's pleasure to be had in its craft.

July 19, 2019 | Full Review…

David Elliott
Copley News Service
In a decade largely defined by raunchy teen sex comedies, here's a film that stood out from the pack thanks to its sweetness and sincerity.

April 4, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
A classic. Has laughs in just about every single scene.

March 24, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
A slightly amusing mainstream coming-of-age rom/com directed by Rob Reiner.

December 13, 2014 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
A charming surprise.

November 6, 2009 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
One of the great teen comedies of the 80s. One reason why Cusack became what he became

August 17, 2008 | Rating: 3/5

Caffeinated Clint
Moviehole

View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for The Sure Thing

Oct 14, 2013

John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga play university students who take a whole movie to realize they are meant for each other. The movie-going public are aware of it from the moment we see them, but these two think they despise each other. A fun 90 minutes!

Red L Super Reviewer
Feb 06, 2013

Very likeable, and very decent 80's coming-of-age teen love story...with no baked apple goods.

Marcus W Super Reviewer
Apr 28, 2011

Mamma mia John Cusack was so hot in this movie! The dialogue was really snappy and I like how the ending was resolved only at the very, very last minute - screwballian, in a way. Rob Reiner was definitely in his prime in the 80s.

Jennifer X Super Reviewer
Sep 06, 2010

A fantastic drama/comedy about true love and life. It has a good cast, and a great story. I love it.

Aj V Super Reviewer