Wonder Boys 2000

When celebrated author Grady Tripp's creative well runs dry, he faces a literary festival that dredges up painful memories and self-doubt. As he navigates the chaos alongside his talented protégé James Leer, this once-wonderful wordsmith finds himself entangled in a series of misadventures that shake his confidence and challenge his fading glory.

When celebrated author Grady Tripp's creative well runs dry, he faces a literary festival that dredges up painful memories and self-doubt. As he navigates the chaos alongside his talented protégé James Leer, this once-wonderful wordsmith finds himself entangled in a series of misadventures that shake his confidence and challenge his fading glory.

Does Wonder Boys have end credit scenes?

No!

Wonder Boys does not have end credit scenes.

Actors

Meet the cast of Wonder Boys and learn about the talented actors who brought the characters to life. Explore their roles and career highlights.


Ratings

Discover how Wonder Boys is rated on popular platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Explore audience and critic scores to see how this movie ranks among the best.


Metacritic

74

Metascore

7.9

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

7.2 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

%

User Score

Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Wonder Boys with an engaging quiz. Test your memory of the movie’s characters, plot twists, and unforgettable moments.


Wonder Boys Quiz: Test your knowledge of the relationships, events, and themes in the 2000 film 'Wonder Boys'.

What is the name of the main character in 'Wonder Boys'?

Plot Summary

See more

Get the full story of Wonder Boys with a detailed plot summary. Dive into its themes, characters, and the twists that make it a must-watch.


Professor Grady Tripp, portrayed by Michael Douglas, is a struggling novelist and creative writing instructor at a university in Pittsburgh, where the film was primarily filmed around Carnegie Mellon University. His life is complicated; he is entangled in an affair with the university’s chancellor, Sara Gaskell, while also grappling with the recent departure of his third wife, Emily. To make matters worse, Grady has yet to replicate the success of his first novel, which has left him in the throes of writing a second that spans over two and a half thousand pages but remains unfinished. To cope with his frustrations, he often indulges in smoking marijuana.

Among his students are two talented writers, Hannah Green and James Leer, the latter played by Tobey Maguire. While Hannah, who shares a living space with Grady, harbors feelings for him, Grady remains oblivious to her affections. Meanwhile, James is an enigmatic character, quiet yet deeply passionate about writing, covering up his intensity behind a facade.

During an event at the Gaskells’ home, Sara announces her pregnancy, which puts Grady in a precarious position as he tries to juggle his relationships. This night takes a dark turn when Grady encounters James outside, who has a gun — initially claimed to be a replica but ultimately turns out to be real. In a shocking moment, James shoots the Gaskells’ dog, and subsequently steals an expensive Marilyn Monroe collectible from their house. Caught between these troubled waters, Grady finds it impossible to divulge this to Sara, who is pressuring him to make a choice between her and Emily. This leads him to keep the dead dog in his car’s trunk for the remainder of the weekend.

The relationship between Grady and James deepens as the younger man becomes a shadow in his life, but Grady grows increasingly suspicious of James’s narratives about his past, recognizing they may be fabricated to gain his sympathy.

Meanwhile, Grady’s editor, Terry Crabtree (played by Robert Downey Jr.), visits under the guise of attending a literary festival but is really there to assess whether Grady has produced a manuscript worth publishing. He arrives with a flamboyant companion, Antonia Sloviak, and their escapades intertwine with the chaotic happenings at the Gaskells’ party. After an unexpected night of flirtation with James, Terry’s priorities shift.

As Grady seeks clarity amidst chaos, he confides in Walter Gaskell, Sara’s husband, revealing his feelings for Sara while Walter deduces James’s involvement with the stolen jacket. The plot thickens when police arrive to hold James accountable, and Grady discovers his car — and the precious manuscript contained within — has mysteriously vanished. After tracing the vehicle, he faces the loss of his work when the wind scatters most of it, yet he discovers a way to rectify past mistakes by allowing Walter’s wife, Oola, to keep the jacket and sharing with her its sentimental story.

In a twist of fate, Terry convinces Walter to refrain from pressing charges against James, agreeing to publish his autobiographical account titled The Last American Marriage. The film concludes with a reflection on the characters’ futures: Hannah advances in her career as a magazine editor, James leaves to pursue his writing in New York with Terry, and Grady, embracing the future, adroitly finishes his manuscript on a computer before finally taking a moment to watch Sara and their child—clicking “Save” on his new journey.

© 2025 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.