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Newsies (1992)

tomatometer

13

Average Rating: 3.7/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 7

No consensus yet.

audience

87

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 48,538

My Rating

Movie Info

A failed effort to revive the big-budget movie musical, Newsies attempted to create toe-tapping, song-and-dance excitement out of the true story of an 1899 strike by newspaper boys against publishing magnate Joseph Pulitzer. The "newsies" band together to protest a pay cut by Pulitzer (Robert Duvall), organizing a union to protect their rights and ensure fair wages. They are helped along the way by Medda (Ann-Margret), a local dance-hall performer who befriends the boys and provides an

Jan 15, 2002

Buena Vista Pictures

Cast

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (17) | DVD (8)

The writers have created cardboard cutouts instead of flesh-and-blood characters.

December 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's a bit of a throwback and a solid family film and, at the time, represented a well-intentioned leap of faith of the sort that studios rarely take.

June 10, 2008 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This film's real trouble lies in its joyless, pointless execution.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment (1)
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Although the material does indeed involve young protagonists, no effort is made to show their lives in a way today's kids can identify with. This movie must seem as odd to them as a foreign film.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comments (2)
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Its intentions seem fairly modest, and so are its achievements. It's a modestly enjoyable diversion.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It looks like its own rehearsal -- an early one at that.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Kids go on strike in gritty, historical musical.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Making his directorial bow, choreographer Kenny Ortega strains valiantly to breathe life into this misguided musical.

March 9, 2009 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

If you have a soft spot for feisty, back-talking bambini with cute squints, backwards caps and names like Crutchy, Dutchy and Bumlets, your heart will melt.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment (1)

Overdone, splashy period Disney musical.

May 28, 2005 Comment (1)

Pretty much "sucksies."

September 18, 2003 Comment
Juicy Cerebellum

Looks exactly like what it is, a spectacularly bad idea.

July 26, 2002 Comments (2)
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

If the crick in my neck is any indication, I watched Kenny Ortega's Newsies like a dog hears a new sound. Most probably, my eyebrow was also arched.

March 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comment
Film Freak Central

People need heroes and uplifting tales, I suppose, but why alter history to give them to the masses?

January 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Newsies

An extremely odd and bizarre musical that still doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Why Christian Bale was in this is beyond me.

May 26, 2010
nelsonpickens
Nelson Pickens

Super Reviewer

really the last good musical before a huge death period for musicals in hollywood. great dancing and fun.

January 26, 2007
sanjurosamurai
danny d

Super Reviewer

Newsies Quotes

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Movies Like Newsies

Latest News for Newsies

February 16, 2011:
Newsies Musical Headed for the Stage
From Razzie-winning box office flop to cult classic to Broadway, the story of "Newsies" continues.

April 9, 2008:
Welcome to the RT News Ticker
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