200 Cigarettes is a delightful film that, inexplicably, is incredibly difficult to watch. Not because it's a bad movie, but because, according to InStyle, it's not streaming anywhere and copies of the DVD have been hard to find for purchase until very recently. The ensemble romantic comedy is a treasure trove of stylized '80s nostalgia with a '90s twist and perfectly encapsulates the anticipation and human connection that everyone hopes for on New Year’s Eve.
The cast is jam-packed with familiar faces and their scenes together are so fun to watch. Who doesn’t want to see Paul Rudd and Courtney Love get caught making out in a bathroom stall by Janeane Garofalo? From Oscar winners to People’s “Sexiest Man Alive,'' they've all have had great career success in the more than 20 years since the movie’s release.
Ben Affleck: Bartender
Before Bennifer and Batman, Ben Affleck was one of Kevin Smith’s best recurring actors, seen in movies like Chasing Amy and Mallrats, showcasing his talent for quick, intelligent dialogue. In 200 Cigarettes, Affleck plays into this skill again, bringing a great sense of humor to the role of the fun-loving bartender.
A multi-talented filmmaker, he received critical acclaim as writer and director for Gone, Baby, Gone and The Town, and as director and star of the Oscar-winning Argo. He's just one of the Academy Award winners to go on to play a DC superhero as he reprises his role as Batman in The Flash, hitting theaters in 2022.
Casey Affleck: Tom
The younger brother of Ben, Casey Affleck is also an accomplished dramatic actor and filmmaker. He Followed 200 Cigarettes with the Ocean’s trilogy, and then shot to stardom in 2007 with The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Gone, Baby, Gone (written and directed by his brother).
Manchester by the Sea earned him a best actor Academy Award. He directed the bizarre Joaquin Phoenix-helmed I’m Not There and he is currently filming Slingshot with Laurence Fishburne and Dreamin’ Wild with Zooey Deschanel.
Dave Chappelle: Disco Cabbie
Dave Chappelle’s performance in 200 Cigarettes came hot on the heels of the cult classic stoner comedy, Half Baked. His disco-loving, five-dollar-high cab driver proves to be the unexpected therapist and guiding voice for the other characters as they make their way to the party.
An accomplished comedian, he is best known for the groundbreaking social commentary of his Comedy Central series, Chappelle’s Show. He famously left Hollywood for a number of years but has since returned, winning an Emmy for hosting SNL and drawing big bucks for his collaboration with Netflix, including a just-announced comedy festival.
Janeane Garofalo: Ellie
As a stand-up comedian and former SNL cast member, Janeane Garofalo is known for her sardonic wit. She is an icon of the '90s and was a frequent collaborator with Ben Stiller, including the Stiller-directed Gen X anthem Reality Bites.
She bounced between film and TV, with more serious roles in The West Wing and 24, alongside her hilarious portrayal of camp director Beth (alongside fellow Cigarette-er Paul Rudd) in Wet Hot American Summer. She has most recently joined the cast of Billions as a recurring character and is a regular on the final season of Younger.
Gaby Hoffmann: Stephie
Gaby Hoffmann is an accomplished actress and has been working steadily since the age of four. In 200 Cigarettes, she plays off her Now And Then co-star (and real-life best friend) Christina Ricci really well as Long Island teenagers lost in a seedy part of the city.
After spending some years attending college and working in theater, she delivered acclaimed performances in the television shows Girls and Transparent. Hoffmann has returned to film and is receiving rave reviews for her role opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the recently released Mike Mills project, C’mon C’mon.
Kate Hudson: Cindy
Like her mother, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson brings an effervescent quality to her roles. As Cindy, she steals the show with the perfect combination of delicate ingenue and hilarious slapstick, and her iconic poop-smeared pink jacket deserves a place in the movie fashion hall of fame.
She brought the same radiance to her Oscar-nominated turn as Penny Lane in Almost Famous, followed by rom-com classics like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Bride Wars, and Fool’s Gold. Nowadays, Hudson is busy at the helm of King St. Vodka and her athleisure line, Fabletics. She also hosts the Sibling Revelry podcast alongside her brother, Oliver Hudson, and it's one of the best podcasts hosted by an actor worth listening to. Upcoming film projects include Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon and Knives Out 2.
Courtney Love
Courtney Love is always a commanding presence on screen, and her role in 200 Cigarettes is no exception. Alongside Paul Rudd, she channels her wild rockstar persona into the up-for-anything character of Lucie.
Best known as the frontwoman for the alt-rock band Hole and grunge icon Kurt Cobain’s widow, she is still actively producing music today. Love continues to fluctuate between music and acting, making appearances on Empire and Sons of Anarchy, and she has also dabbled in writing, including co-writing the manga Princess Ai. She has recently been announced as one of the stars of the upcoming film The Possibility of Fireflies.
Martha Plimpton: Monica
Far removed from her days as a teen kissing in a cave in The Goonies, Martha Plimpton is an incredibly accomplished stage and screen actress and a third-generation Hollywood star (she is the daughter of Keith Carradine). Plimpton brings incredible personality to the neurotic and slowly unraveling party host, Monica.
Plimpton spent a lot of time working in television, receiving a Primetime Emmy for her guest role on The Good Wife and multiple nominations for her starring role on Raising Hope. She is currently receiving critical acclaim for her role as the mother of a school shooting victim in Mass.
Christina Ricci: Val
By the time she appeared in 200 Cigarettes, Christina Ricci was already a household name. Every girl who grew up in the early '90s wanted Ricci as a best friend after her iconic roles in Casper, The Addams Family, and Now And Then.
Not all of her performances have been well received, and her portrayal of Val in 200 Cigarettes was called out with nominations by the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. She earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for her guest appearance on Grey’s Anatomy, and her current role on Showtime’s Yellowjackets is buzz-worthy. She has a couple of major projects coming soon, including Matrix Resurrections and The Dresden Sun.
Paul Rudd: Kevin
Paul Rudd has been a screen staple since the early '90s. While the mutton chops he sports in 200 Cigarettes should be considered the real star, his performance is a great practice run for Wet Hot American Summer’s Andy.
Rudd has an incredible roster of great movies under his belt and he can play both comedic and dramatic parts with aplomb. He most recently starred in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and has Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in the pipeline. Oh, and he’s also People Magazine's 2021 Sexiest Man Alive.