Clerks (1994)

All Critics (52) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (6) | DVD (41)

A buoyant, bleakly funny comedy chronicling a day's worth of activity at two adjoining stores.

May 20, 2003 Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

A hoot one moment, a hiss the next, the film is about as even as a city road after a hard winter. But the script's sheer vigour sees us through.

April 12, 2002 Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

Clerks is so utterly authentic that its heroes have never heard of their generation.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

The film looks no more expensive than it was; some of the acting (by local nonprofessionals) is spectacularly amateurish; the story is a series of anecdotes about hockey, shopping and loving the one you're with. But it's worth loitering in this shop.

January 1, 2000

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

At 24, Smith also knows something about casting. Using a mixture of stage actors and novices, he's found the right ensemble tone to make Clerks seem as spontaneous as it needs to be.

January 1, 2000

John Hartl

Film.com

Top Critic

There's no denying the raw and energetic feel Smith created with a memorable script, great characters and a genuine sense of Gen X angst.

November 28, 2009 Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views

an exemplar of what can happen when the stars align and someone's home movie can help foment a revolution

November 23, 2009 Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Clerks remains a defining debut, a symbolic shot into the darkened domain of legitimate moviemaking.

November 21, 2009 Full Review

Bill Gibron

PopMatters

The extras are sweet, but Clerks's low-budget ugliness is a questionable fit for Blu-ray.

November 16, 2009 Full Review

Matt Noller

Slant Magazine

...the film's inherent deficiencies are generally overshadowed by the distinctly earnest vibe.

July 23, 2006 Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Smith dogpiles absurdity and obscenity on top of each other. The dullness of the dead-end jobs is brightened by bizarre bits--a fat guy asking for softer toilet paper, drops dead on the toilet.

June 1, 2006 Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Kevin Smith actually pulled it off.

December 6, 2005 Full Review

Brad Laidman

Film Threat

It comes from bad stock, curses like a longshoreman and doesn't bring a gift. Nevertheless, it's the life of the party.

January 21, 2005 Full Review

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

I still say that "Clerks" is my favorite Kevin Smith movie.

September 14, 2004 Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

• 1. Dante Hicks: I'm not even supposed to be here today!
  – Submitted by Dann M (5 months ago)
• 1. Hunting Cap Smoking Boy/Low I.Q. Video Customer/Hubca: Do you sell hubcaps for a '72 Pinto hatchback? Ooh, Mini-trucker magazine!
  – Submitted by Seth B (5 months ago)
• 1. Dante Hicks: I'm stuck in this pit, working for less than slave wages. Working on my day off, the goddamn steel shutters are closed, I deal with every backward ass fuck on the planet. I smell like shoe polish. My ex-girlfriend is catatonic after fucking a dead guy. And my present girlfriend has sucked 36 dicks.
  2. Randal: 37.
  – Submitted by Daniella G (6 months ago)
• 1. Caitlin Bree: What are you watching?
  2. Randal: Children's programming.
  – Submitted by Andy G (10 months ago)
• 1. Jay: Yeah. Silent Bob, your a rude motherfucker, you know that? But you're cute as hell. I could go down on you, suck you, line up three other guys, make like a circus seal. [Jay makes a rude head gesture and car horn honks]
  2. Jay: Ewww, you fucking faggot, I hate guys. I LOVE WOMEN!
  – Submitted by Michael F (11 months ago)
• 1. Silent Bob: You know, there's a million fine lookin' women in the world dude. But they don't all bring you lasagne at work. Most of 'em just cheat on you.
  – Submitted by Oli R (12 months ago)

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