Igby Goes Down

Year: 2002

Runtime: 98 min

Language: English

Director: Burr Steers

Budget: $9M

DramaComedy

Seventeen-year-old Igby Slocumb rejects the privileged lifestyle of his wealthy family, feeling alienated by their dysfunction and superficiality. He leaves behind a mentally unstable father, a self-absorbed mother, and a callous older brother, setting out to forge his own path. Igby’s journey is a darkly comedic exploration of rebellion, identity, and the search for genuine connection in a world that feels profoundly isolating.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Igby Goes Down yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Igby Goes Down (2002)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Igby Goes Down (2002). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:50

Main Characters – Igby Goes Down (2002)

Meet the key characters of Igby Goes Down (2002), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:50

Major Themes – Igby Goes Down (2002)

Explore the central themes of Igby Goes Down (2002), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:50

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.

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.

Movies about dysfunctional wealthy families like Igby Goes Down

Rebellious youth confronts the dark secrets and emptiness of privilege.If you liked the biting critique of privilege and family dysfunction in Igby Goes Down, you'll find similar themes in these movies. Discover other stories of rebellious youth confronting the dark secrets and moral emptiness of the upper class.

dysfunctionalcynicalalienatedmelancholicdarkly comedicrebelliousisolating

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a young protagonist, often alienated and intelligent, who becomes a reluctant investigator of their own family's pathology. The plot unfolds through their rebellion, which exposes long-buried secrets (affairs, mental illness, betrayal) and challenges the family's carefully maintained facade, leading to a painful but necessary separation.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on wealth as a corrupting force and the specific brand of alienation it breeds. They combine a darkly comedic tone with heavy emotional themes, creating a consistent vibe of cynical observation and tragicomic family collapse.

Bittersweet coming-of-age stories like Igby Goes Down

A heavy coming-of-age story where freedom is earned through painful loss.Fans of Igby Goes Down's heavy emotional journey and bittersweet ending will appreciate these films. Explore movies where young characters undergo painful self-discovery, earning a complex freedom from their traumatic pasts.

melancholicbittersweetheavytraumaticself-destructivehopeful yet sadcoming of age

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear but emotionally complex path of a protagonist enduring a series of traumatic events and betrayals. The climax often involves a final, painful separation from their source of trauma (like a family), leading to an escape or new beginning. However, this resolution is bittersweet, acknowledging the high cost of their freedom and the lasting emotional damage.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific emotional arc: a heavy, sometimes melancholic tone, a steady pacing that builds emotional weight, and a conclusively bittersweet ending where survival comes at a price. The focus is on the raw, unglamorous process of escaping a damaging environment.

Unlock the Full Story of Igby Goes Down

Don't stop at just watching — explore Igby Goes Down 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 Igby Goes Down is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Igby Goes Down Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Igby Goes Down, 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.

Igby Goes Down Timeline

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

Igby Goes Down Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Igby Goes Down that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Igby Goes Down

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

Similar Movies to Igby Goes Down

Discover movies like Igby Goes Down 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.