A Neglected Julia Roberts And Matt Damon Romantic Comedy Is A Tubi Sensation 37 Years Later
It’s not common for streaming audiences to revisit a small-town love story from the late ’80s, but that’s precisely what’s happening with “Mystic Pizza” — a 1988 romantic comedy that’s experiencing a subtle revival right now. Directed by Donald Petrie, the film depicts three young women exploring love, careers, and friendship in a picturesque town in Connecticut, with much of the storyline revolving around the local pizza establishment. Julia Roberts, just a few years away from becoming America’s darling, stars alongside Annabeth Gish, Lili Taylor, and Vincent D’Onofrio. Additionally, in a fun trivia note, a young Matt Damon makes his debut film appearance here — a cameo so brief you might overlook it.
As per data from FlixPatrol, “Mystic Pizza” currently ranks as the 8th most-viewed film on Tubi, the free, ad-supported streaming platform. Its resurgence can be viewed as a reminder that nostalgia, uplifting narratives, and the novelty of revisiting the early works of future Hollywood stars continue to attract viewers. Even when considering a film from nearly four decades ago.
Why Mystic Pizza remains relevant in 2025
Another aspect that makes “Mystic Pizza’s” revival so captivating is that it was never a blockbuster in its original release — instead, it cultivated a slow-burn reputation as a cable and VHS favorite throughout the ’90s. In the film, Julia Roberts delivers the recognizable charm that would later characterize her career, while Annabeth Gish and Lili Taylor enrich the ensemble with warmth and complexity. Then there’s the trivia element: Matt Damon’s small part as a preppy kid during a family dinner scene has turned into a delightful piece of Hollywood lore.
Regarding the movie’s current streaming platform, Tubi isn’t often mentioned in the same breath as services like Netflix or Prime Video. Nevertheless, it has established a distinctive niche within the saturated market by providing thousands of movies and TV shows entirely free of charge, funded by ads. This accessibility, paired with an enduring desire for comfort viewing, is likely contributing to “Mystic Pizza’s” ascent on the charts. For viewers, it offers an opportunity to revisit (or, as frequently occurs with streamers, to discover for the first time) an enchanting romantic comedy that illustrates how certain types of cinema never go out of fashion. For what it’s worth, the film is also maintaining a solid 78% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 27 reviews.
“‘Mystic Pizza’ is like its namesake dish,” states the Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus. “It’s cheesy, embellished with romance, and rises to the occasion.”
