American Pop

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American Pop

R

1981

1h 37m

Musical

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

This animated trek across the musical landscape of the 20th century begins with young immigrant Zalmie arriving in New York City. He's addicted to show business, but an accident ruins his voice. He marries a stripper and their son, Benny, becomes a jazz pianist. Although Benny is killed in World War II, his son, Tony, goes on to great success as a songwriter during the '60s, as does Tony's son, Pete (also Thompson), in the '80s.

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Seth Troyer

PopMatters

10/03/2023

The entire Bakshi filmography is a campaign against business as usual, a full-on assault on the medium...

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Michael Talbot-Haynes

Film Threat

07/05/2022

10/10

This is one of those flawless wonders where every single frame is perfect.

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Peter Ackroyd

The Spectator

03/27/2018

Although the plot, like the music itself, can be somewhat too strident, the animation is remarkably successful in delineating the sad geography of the human body and the massive backgrounds of American cities.

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Jeremy Heilman

MovieMartyr.com

07/18/2012

62/100

This is a film that grandly overreaches, attempting to condense a century's worth of triumph and tragedy into ninety minutes. To a surprising degree it succeeds.

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

09/03/2008

2.5/4

Has a wonderful soundtrack, but it fails to provide an actual story unless you look hard...

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

10/08/2007

4/5

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 26

The worldwide gross is $6,000,000.00.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Mar 1

I loved the animation, though it was a bit ugly. I wasn't really a fan of the story. That's just me though. I couldn't really connect because I wasn't alive in the time frames. It's a staple Bakshi film.

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Heatherjoy K

@Hjk718 Sep 5

Saw this in the movie theater in New York with my parents when it came out. I was 9? Loved it. Watched a couple of times since then but need to rewatch.

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Wendell J

@RT27949845 04/09/2025

I have always loved this film. On e you get used to its unique animation stile, you can apreciate how glorious it is. A heart breaking examination of generational trauma in America, the music and stories explode with joy and wonder at every turn. And if it seems cliched at first, the accumulation of history becomes fascinating.

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Eddie C

@RT96508007 02/14/2025

Saw this movie when I was in college in the early 90's. Love the soundtrack. I think it's a bad ass film. That's my personal opinion.

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CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni 01/01/2025

An immigrant family is involved in the history of American music from Broadway, jazz, 1960s, and modern techo rock, Uneven, Unremakable animation from Bakshi. Lots of hammy exaggerated voice acting, Kinda boring,

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Ralph Bakshi

Director

Ron Thompson

Tony

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Synopsis

This animated trek across the musical landscape of the 20th century begins with young immigrant Zalmie arriving in New York City. He's addicted to show business, but an accident ruins his voice. He marries a stripper and their son, Benny, becomes a jazz pianist. Although Benny is killed in World War II, his son, Tony, goes on to great success as a songwriter during the '60s, as does Tony's son, Pete (also Thompson), in the '80s.

Director: Ralph Bakshi
Producer: Martin Ransohoff, Ralph Bakshi
Screenwriter: Ronni Kern
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia
Rating: R
Genre: Musical, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo