critics consensus

A time capsule assembled with honesty and sensitivity, Edge of Seventeen overcomes youthful fumbles to capture a time of life -- and an era. Read critic reviews

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Edge of Seventeen Photos

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Movie Info

Set in 1984 in Sandusky, Ohio, it follows the coming-out of a naive 17-year-old at exactly the moment when gender-bending pop stars like Boy George and the Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics were flaunting androgynous images. As the youth, played with a heartbreaking sweetness by Chris Stafford, goes through his first rites of gay passage he emerges as a poignant gay everyman.

Genre:

comedy, drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

David Moreton
Producer:

David Moreton, Todd Stephens
Writer:

Todd Stephens
Release Date (Theaters):

Jun 11, 1998 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$870.8K
Runtime:

1h 39m
Production Co:

Blue Streak Films, Luna Pictures
Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Chris Stafford
Eric

Tina Holmes
Maggie

Andersen Gabrych
Rod

Stephanie McVay
Mom

Lea DeLaria
Angie

John Eby
Dad

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Critic Reviews for Edge of Seventeen

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (5)

Writer Todd Stephens and director David Moreton give us the inside scoop, live and direct, from Eric's heart.

May 28, 2020 | Full Review…

Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Writer Todd Stephens and director David Moreton show a gift for solid, emotionally realistic storytelling in a sensitive -- if racy -- coming-of-age tale.

May 28, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Barbara Shulgasser
Chicago Tribune
The actors mainly come across as movie types rather than characters, and despite the obvious sincerity of the project, deja vu seems written into the conception.

May 28, 2020 | Full Review…

Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
It'll resonate with anyone who remembers the awkwardness and elation of their first sexual experiences, because it captures those experiences better and more honestly than practically any other film.

May 28, 2020 | Full Review…

Scott MacDonald
AV Club
A perceptive, accomplished seriocomedy, "Edge of Seventeen" feels like a gay-p.o.v. version of the deft early-to-mid-'80s John Hughes teen pics, even revisiting their era for trendy (but well-deployed) nostalgia value

July 8, 2008 | Full Review…

Dennis Harvey
Variety
A more seasoned director could blend all those moods and objectives, but Moreton seems to stop and start each time he shifts moods.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
More than anything, the movie is a collection of moments that feel so real.

May 28, 2020 | Full Review…

Joe Reid
Decider
... it's a calm, clear-eyed portrait of a particular kid trying to figure out -- like teenagers of all kinds the world over -- who he is and where he fits in.

October 3, 2017 | Full Review…

David Ehrenstein
New Times
Quote not available.

June 29, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

January 3, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
This film deals honestly with the difficulties of coming out in high school.

August 16, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com
Quote not available.

April 3, 2002 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Paula Nechak
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for Edge of Seventeen

Oct 12, 2009

I'm a huge fan of gay romance (no idea why, I can't stand straight romance), but I didn't particularly like it. The acting was fine, and there was awesome music (Yazoo, Bronski Beat etc = yay), but it was just boring.

Lauren D Super Reviewer
Oct 06, 2009

I really thought I was gonna hate this movie but I actually thought it was pretty good. A lot of the criticisms I noticed has to do with stupid choices that the Eric character makes but maybe they don't remember what it's like to be 17. He's pretty much an innocent dork that gets caught up in what he believes to be love but is actually just sex. From there it's a lot of confusion for him. Maybe it's not groundbreaking but the acting was pretty good for a low-budget gay movie. B+

Sunil J Super Reviewer
May 10, 2009

Meh. Ive seen a lot better. It had one of the most realistic endings Ive seen though. Not really happy but thats life right? I was disappointed that the song Edge of Seventeen wasnt in it though. :P Mediocre all and all.

Sarah . Super Reviewer