Do you want to see ‘Clerks’?

Clerks (1994)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 49
Fresh: 43 | Rotten: 6

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 254,036

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Movie Info

When Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran) is reluctantly put in charge of the Quick Stop market on his day off, he tries, though half-heartedly, to perform his minimum-wage duties as efficiently as possible. This gets tough amidst the on-going fight with his girlfriend, Veronica (Marilyn Ghigliotti), and his attempt to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Caitlyn Bree (Lisa Spoonhauer). Meanwhile, his friend and alter ego Randall (Jeff Anderson) is working behind the counter of the adjacent video

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Drama, Comedy, Cult Movies

Directed By: Kevin Smith

Written By: Kevin Smith

In Theaters: Oct 19, 1994 Wide

On DVD: Jun 29, 1999

Miramax Films

Cast

Brian O'Halloran
Dante Hicks
Jeff Anderson
Randal
Marilyn Ghigliotti
Veronica
Lisa Spoonhauer
Caitlin Bree
Jason Mewes
Jay
Kevin Smith
Silent Bob
Scott Mosier
Angry Hockey-Playing Cu...
Walter Flanagan
Woolen Cap Smoker/Egg M...
Virginia Smith
Caged Animal Masturbato...
David Klein
Hunting Cap Smoking Boy...
Ken Clark
Administer of Fine/Orde...
Leslie Hope
Jay's Lady Friend/Angry...
Grace Smith
Milk Maid
Lisa Spoonauer

Critic Reviews for Clerks

All Critics (52) | Top Critics (11) | 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 Source: New York Times

| Comment

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 Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

A collegiate and post-collegiate laugh fest.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

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

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

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 Comment

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Amateurishly acted, clumsily edited and slapped together out of what looks like surveillance camera footage, the thing bumps along not so much on talent as on audacity.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comments (10)

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

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 Source: Movie Views

| Comment

Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views Source: 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 Source: Q Network Film Desk

| Comment

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 Source: PopMatters

| Comment

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 Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Matt Noller

Slant Magazine

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

July 23, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

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 Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Kevin Smith actually pulled it off.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat

| Comment

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 Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

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

September 14, 2004 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Clerks

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What's strange about Clerks is that the characters speak of such hyperbolically disgusting things all the time - the first, but certainly not the last, time we see this technique from Smith - but the illusion never breaks. These people seem incredibly real. The acting in Smith's debut is pretty rough, and the budget is

April 19, 2007

Daniel Perry

Super Reviewer

Kevin Smith's wiity debut is a great introduction to the world of Kevin Smith.

November 20, 2011

Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

Clerks Quotes

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1. Dante Hicks: 'Empire' had the better ending. I mean, Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader's his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that's what life is, a series of down endings. All 'Jedi' had was a bunch of Muppets.
– Submitted by Katherine R (6 months ago)
1. Randal: My mom's been fuckin' a dead guy for 30 years. I call him dad.
– Submitted by Daniel T (7 months ago)

Character	Quote
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