Less Than Zero

Less Than Zero, a 1987 drama directed by Marek Kanievska, isn't your typical holiday homecoming story. Instead, it dives into the dark underbelly of wealth and privilege in Los Angeles. College freshman Clay Easton (Andrew McCarthy) returns home for Christmas expecting a joyous reunion with his high school sweetheart Blair (Jami Gertz) and best friend Julian (Robert Downey Jr.). However, Clay is met with a stark reality – Blair has become a cold, distant model addicted to cocaine, and Julian, whose record company failed, is now homeless and deeply entrenched in drug use. As Clay tries to reconnect with his former friends, he witnesses their descent into addiction and emotional detachment, a world far removed from the carefree days of their youth.

While loosely based on the controversial novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, the film takes significant liberties with the plot. Ellis himself disassociated from the movie due to these creative differences. Despite this, Less Than Zero, produced by Twentieth Century Fox, captured a segment of the youth culture of the time and resonated with some audiences. The film opened in theaters on November 6, 1987 and grossed $12.3 million domestically.