Reality Bites is a 1994
romantic comedy-drama film written by Helen Childress and directed by
Ben Stiller. It stars
Winona Ryder,
Ethan Hawke and Stiller, with supporting roles by
Janeane Garofalo and
Steve Zahn. The plot follows Lelaina (Ryder), an aspiring
videographer working on a documentary called
Reality Bites about the disenfranchised lives of her friends and roommates. Their challenges exemplify some of the career and lifestyle choices faced by Generation X. The film was well-received critically and commercially.