Logo What's After the Movie

That Was Then... This Is Now 1985

In a gritty drama exploring loyalty and betrayal, Mark Jennings, a troubled young man, and Byron Douglas, his steadfast mentor, find their friendship strained by jealousy and the pursuit of power. A series of crimes tests the limits of their bond as the truth begins to surface, forcing them to confront difficult choices and ultimately revealing the fragility of their relationship.

In a gritty drama exploring loyalty and betrayal, Mark Jennings, a troubled young man, and Byron Douglas, his steadfast mentor, find their friendship strained by jealousy and the pursuit of power. A series of crimes tests the limits of their bond as the truth begins to surface, forcing them to confront difficult choices and ultimately revealing the fragility of their relationship.

Does That Was Then... This Is Now have end credit scenes?

No!

That Was Then... This Is Now does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of That Was Then... This Is Now

Explore the complete cast of That Was Then... This Is Now, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for That Was Then... This Is Now

See how That Was Then... This Is Now is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where That Was Then... This Is Now stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

45

Metascore

tbd

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

6.1 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

58

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate That Was Then... This Is Now Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of That Was Then... This Is Now with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


That Was Then... This Is Now Quiz: Test your knowledge of the 1985 film 'That Was Then... This Is Now' featuring complex themes of friendship and change.

Who plays the role of Mark Jennings?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for That Was Then... This Is Now

See more

Read the complete plot summary of That Was Then... This Is Now, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


High school students Mark Jennings (Emilio Estevez) and Bryon Douglas (Craig Sheffer) have forged a brotherly bond as they navigate life together after the tragic loss of Mark’s parents when he was just nine years old. Their days typically revolve around hanging out, whether at the local bowling alley or hustling in pool games at a bar, where they make extra cash. They’ve also formed a unique friendship with a quirky younger boy named M&M (Frank Howard).

As events unfold, Bryon finds romance with M&M’s sister, Cathy Carlson (Kim Delaney), prompting him to mature and even secure a job at a grocery store. However, this newfound responsibility leaves Mark feeling neglected and jealous, leading him to act out in rebellious ways and seek confrontation.

The situation escalates when their mentor, Charlie Woods (Morgan Freeman), a bartender and father figure, is shot and killed while trying to protect the boys during a mugging outside the bar. Following this tragic event, M&M suddenly disappears, leaving Bryon and Cathy anxious about his safety. Mark begins to exhibit troubling behavior, spending large sums of money without explaining its origins, heightening Bryon’s concerns.

One fateful night, the duo decides to pick up Angela Shepard (Jill Schoelen), Bryon’s ex-girlfriend who previously instigated a fight that resulted in Mark getting a noticeable scar on his forehead. During their encounter, Mark seeks revenge by getting Angela drunk and then cutting off a significant portion of her hair while she is unconscious.

The next day, Mark claims to have information about M&M’s whereabouts, which gives Bryon a glimmer of hope. However, when they visit an abandoned warehouse where drug users often gather, they find it empty. A few days later, Bryon and Cathy return to discover M&M suffering from an overdose and experiencing a harrowing trip. M&M accuses Mark of selling him the drugs, leading to a frantic rush to the hospital. Cathy, frustrated by Bryon’s defense of Mark, decides to end their relationship.

Upon returning home, Bryon discovers a substantial stash of pills hidden beneath Mark’s mattress. Connecting the dots, he realizes Mark has resorted to dealing drugs to make quick money, including selling to M&M. The confrontation that follows forces Bryon to order Mark to leave his home, which escalates into a physical altercation. Mark, hurt and angry, takes the shared car and drives recklessly, culminating in a police chase that ends in a crash and his subsequent arrest.

Time passes and Bryon reconciles with Cathy, deciding to visit Mark at the juvenile detention center where he’s now held. It’s during this meeting that both boys come to terms with the divergent paths their lives have taken, acknowledging that their friendship may never be the same again. “> That was then, this is now,” Mark reflects, encapsulating their profound change.

As Bryon departs, he briefly thinks he sees Mark looking at him through a window. In a moment of reckless nostalgia, he impulsively hops into a running Porsche and takes it for a wild spin, reliving memories of their shared past. Ultimately, he returns the car, but walks away without looking back at Mark, symbolizing the end of their youthful camaraderie.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for That Was Then... This Is Now

See more

Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from That Was Then... This Is Now. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


That Was Then This Is Now 1985 TV trailer

Cars Featured in That Was Then... This Is Now

See 27 more

Explore all cars featured in That Was Then... This Is Now, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


AMC

1975

Hornet

Audi

1978

5000 C2

Buick

1975

Electra 225

Chevrolet

1980

Caprice Classic

Chevrolet

1975

Chevelle Malibu

Chevrolet

1980

Chevette

Chevrolet

1970

Corvette Stingray C3

Dodge

1985

600

Dodge

1974

Dart

Dodge

1981

Diplomat

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


tank topman wears a tank topsex sceneyoungdrugsjuvenile delinquenthair cut offplaying both sides of a gamescanimatelifting someone into the airpunctuation in titleellipsis in titlewritten by starunderage drinkingrevengepunkpunk rockpunk rock girlpunk girlmother son relationshiploss of friendinterracial friendshipgrand theft autofriendship between menf worddrug dealerbreakupbrat packboy boy friendshipfamily relationshipsboyfriend girlfriend relationshipteen angstrivallovejealousyfriendshipdestructioncoming of agebrotherbased on noveltitle spoken by character

Similar Movies You Should Know About

Browse a curated list of movies similar in genre, tone, characters, or story structure. Discover new titles like the one you're watching, perfect for fans of related plots, vibes, or cinematic styles.


© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.