Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature themes, drugs, self-harm in lackluster adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Prozac Nation
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PROZAC NATION, 19-year-old Lizzie (Christina Ricci) gets into Harvard on a journalism scholarship and hopes her life will be different at college. Back home, she's been experiencing bouts of depression, finding friendships difficult, and struggling with her mother's (Jessica Lange) high expectations and her dad's (Nicholas Campbell) absence. At first, things seem positive when she strikes up a close friendship with her roommate Ruby (Michelle Williams) and finds a kind boyfriend in Rafe (Jason Biggs), and her writing catches the eye of Rolling Stone magazine. But as the pressure mounts, she slips further into depression, sending her on a path of self-harm and self-medication until she finally receives psychological—and prescribed medical—help.
Is It Any Good?
Ricci is reliably watchable in pretty much every role she takes, but it's a shame the production doesn't match her talent here. Fans of the book will likely be disappointed with this adaptation of Prozac Nation, which fails to capture the rawness, or the dark humor, of Elizabeth Wurtzel's generation-defining memoir. Luckily the original story is powerful enough to shine through, and the impressive supporting cast—Williams, Lange, and Biggs along with Anne Heche and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers—do a decent job of keeping things engaging enough. There are glimmers of the sarcasm and defiance of the original writing, and Ricci is as good with the subtle glimpses of daily pain as she is in scenes of complete breakdown. She and Williams share a genuine warmth as day-one besties, and while Lange isn't exactly likable, she is relatable, in the role of Lizzie's high-strung mother. It's an entertaining enough watch, but it pales in comparison to its source material.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way depression is portrayed in Prozac Nation. Do you think Lizzie's experience seems realistic? What does the movie have to say about the way depression can affect the life of a person and those around them? How does it affect Lizzie's behavior? What are some of the things that appeared to make it worse, and what are some of the things that started to help her? Where might you turn if you or someone you know was struggling with their mental health?
Does knowing the movie was adapted from a memoir, and therefore a version of real-life experiences, affect how you feel about it? Have you read the book? If so, how do the two compare? What is gained or lost by bringing it to the screen?
Are drinking, smoking, or drug use glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences for their use? Why does that matter?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What does it contribute? Is a certain kind of language expected in a film like this?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 6, 2003
- On DVD or streaming : March 19, 2005
- Cast : Christina Ricci , Jessica Lange , Michelle Williams , Jason Biggs
- Director : Erik Skjoldbjaerg
- Studio : Miramax
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , School ( College & Graduate School )
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, drug content, sexuality/nudity and some disturbing images
- Last updated : June 29, 2026
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