Gossip

Gossip

Year: 2000

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Davis Guggenheim

Budget: $24M

DramaMysteryThriller

A determined single mother's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a former lover. The reunion forces her to confront long-suppressed desires and question her current path. As buried secrets resurface, she must navigate a complex web of truth and deceit, ultimately re-evaluating her priorities and the choices that led her to where she is today.

Gossip (2000) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Gossip (2000) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the bustling heart of Manhattan, a tight‑knit communications class becomes the unlikely laboratory for a daring social experiment. Guided by the probing curiosity of Professor Goodwin, the course examines how whispers travel, shape perception, and alter reality. The semester’s final assignment promises to blur the line between theory and lived experience, inviting the students to provoke the very phenomenon they study.

At the center of this venture are three roommates whose personalities clash as compellingly as they complement one another. Cathy Jones is a meticulous, determined voice, always searching for the hidden patterns that drive human interaction. Derrick Webb exudes confidence and a restless charm, often steering the group toward bold, uncharted moves. Travis brings a visual sensibility, translating abstract ideas into striking, sometimes unsettling, artistic expression. Their friendship is a delicate dance of admiration, rivalry, and unspoken histories that quietly linger beneath the surface.

Together they devise a bold plan: to seed a rumor and watch it ripple through the campus, documenting its evolution for their paper and an accompanying art installation. What begins as an academic exercise quickly gains a kinetic energy, turning corridors, parties, and quiet dorm rooms into stages for a whispered drama. As the rumor spreads, the trio finds themselves confronting unsettling questions about intent, responsibility, and the unpredictable power of a single story.

The film unfolds with a tone that is both intellectually crisp and emotionally charged, balancing the sterile precision of a classroom with the raw, unpredictable pulse of urban youth. It invites the audience to consider how easily truth can be reshaped by gossip, how past grievances may surface when words are set loose, and how each character must navigate the delicate balance between curiosity and consequence.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 15:08

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Campus Thrillers with Dark Secrets like Gossip

Dark secrets and ethical dilemmas unravel within the ivy-covered walls of academia.Discover movies like Gossip that use the university campus as a backdrop for high-stakes deception and scandal. This section features similar thriller and drama stories where academic life becomes a stage for manipulation, false accusations, and the dangerous consequences of rumor.

campus settingacademicdeceptivescandalousmanipulativeethically complexparanoid

Narrative Summary

Stories often begin with an academic premise—a thesis, a study, or a debate—that quickly spirals out of control, blurring the lines between theory and reality. The narrative leverages the insular, gossip-prone nature of campus life to accelerate conflict, pitting students and faculty against each other in a battle for truth that threatens their futures.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together for their shared setting and the thematic focus on how institutional environments foster specific types of tension, where intellect is weaponized and social dynamics are exploited, leading to complex moral crises.

Thrillers About Dangerous Games like Gossip

When a theoretical concept becomes a real-life trap with devastating consequences.If you liked Gossip's plot about a gossip experiment spiraling into ruin, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature characters who start a psychological game or social study that rapidly escalates into real-world danger, manipulation, and moral collapse.

psychological experimentmanipulativeunravelingtensedangerousmorally complexrevengedeception

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear cause-and-effect structure: a provocative idea is put into practice, leading to unintended consequences that the creators can no longer control. The story becomes a race to contain the damage, often involving layers of deception, blurred lines between performer and victim, and a climax that reveals the horrifying real-world impact of the 'game'.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core plot mechanism where an experiment serves as the inciting incident for the entire thriller. They are united by themes of moral responsibility, the power of suggestion, and the dark side of human nature when placed under a manipulative lens.

Unlock the Full Story of Gossip

Don't stop at just watching — explore Gossip in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Gossip is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Gossip Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Gossip, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Gossip Summary

Gossip Timeline

Track the full timeline of Gossip with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Gossip Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Gossip

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Gossip. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Gossip

More About Gossip

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Gossip: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Gossip

Similar Movies to Gossip

Discover movies like Gossip that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.