Inherent Vice

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Inherent Vice

R

2015

2h 28m

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

253 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In a California beach community, private detective Larry "Doc" Sportello tends to work his cases through a smoky haze of marijuana. One day, Shasta, a former lover, arrives out of the blue to plead for Doc's help; it seems that Shasta's current beau, rich real-estate tycoon Mickey Wolfmann, has a wife who may be plotting to commit him to a mental hospital. When Mickey and Shasta both disappear, Doc navigates a psychedelic world of surfers, stoners and cops to solve the case.

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Critics Consensus

Inherent Vice may prove frustrating for viewers who demand absolute coherence, but it does justice to its acclaimed source material -- and should satisfy fans of director P.T. Anderson.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 1, 2017

If I'm going fawn over a puzzling film, I'd rather it be something like Inception or The Matrix, movies that entertain me but also provoke so much thought and analysis that I can't take my mind off it.

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Katie Kilkenny

The Atlantic

Jul 19, 2016

If the adaptation's a little too faithful to sustain a cinematically tight story, there's still a lot to admire in the sheer, uninhibited folly of the whole thing, the gall to get groovy while the Oscar-watchers are on high alert.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Jun 18, 2016

After a decade spent making two films that are like pressure cookers, Anderson was clearly ready to blow off some steam.

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Christos Tsiolkas

The Saturday Paper

Aug 19, 2026

Inherent Vice feels bogged down by its period. Anderson has found nothing new to say about the 1970s and that’s why it feels so clichéd.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 26, 2025

3/4

This sprawling adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s sprawling 2009 novel locates a mystery worthy of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe and basically sends in Cheech and Chong to crack the case.

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Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

May 21, 2024

“Inherent Vice” works best as a “go with the flow” experience. To enjoy, it calls for surrender to its irreverent mockery and its illogical juxtapositions

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Brandon B

@syncopatedbeet 6 days ago

I typically enjoy surreal, psychedelic films that don’t have a coherent structure or a clear direction but coming from such a strong cast and aesthetic, I did want to enjoy this more.

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Avi P

@RT68872000 Aug 6, 2026

Hysterical, eccentric, and surprisingly moving.

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S. O

@Col._Angus Jun 4, 2026

It's sort of a '70s take on Chinatown, with lots of "grass" and some great laughs. If you're into dark comedy you'll probably like this. You need to pay attention though, or the jokes might fly past you. I swear every scene in this movie has something hilarious in it.

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Ross V

@Psyop May 15, 2026

Loved it. The richness of the cinematography. The way that it transports you into a dreamworld decades ago that is at once hyper-real and yet far away. I get why this film has mixed reviews, as I think you have to be in the mood for it. I wouldn't say it's a great film, but it is perfect the way that an interesting read can be on a lazy day.

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Owen Z

@Hotebylaw Mar 6, 2026

Read the book, see it a few times. Be a Pynchon fan and have read most of his other books. Yeah it absolutely perfect. It’s SO fun and FUNNY. MOTTO PANAKAKU.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Jan 18, 2026

I didn't really understand it, but I loved the cast and the story seemed cool. It wasn't really what I was expecting. I thought it was gonna be trippier. But it's been one I've always wanted to see. I'll watch it again someday.

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Paul Thomas Anderson

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Joaquin Phoenix

Doc Sportello

Josh Brolin

Bigfoot Bjornsen

Owen Wilson

Coy Harlingen

Katherine Waterston

Shasta Ray Hepworth

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Synopsis

In a California beach community, private detective Larry "Doc" Sportello tends to work his cases through a smoky haze of marijuana. One day, Shasta, a former lover, arrives out of the blue to plead for Doc's help; it seems that Shasta's current beau, rich real-estate tycoon Mickey Wolfmann, has a wife who may be plotting to commit him to a mental hospital. When Mickey and Shasta both disappear, Doc navigates a psychedelic world of surfers, stoners and cops to solve the case.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer: JoAnne Sellar, Daniel Lupi
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Ghoulardi Film Company, Joanne Sellar
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use Throughout|Language|Sexual Content|Some Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M
Runtime: 2h 28m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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