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      Rebel Without a Cause

      1955, Drama, 1h 51m

      61 Reviews 50,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      Rebel Without a Cause is a searing melodrama featuring keen insight into '50s juvenile attitude and James Dean's cool, iconic performance. Read critic reviews

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      Rebel Without a Cause  Photos

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      Movie Info

      After moving to a new town, troublemaking teen Jim Stark (James Dean) is supposed to have a clean slate, although being the new kid in town brings its own problems. While searching for some stability, Stark forms a bond with a disturbed classmate, Plato (Sal Mineo), and falls for local girl Judy (Natalie Wood). However, Judy is the girlfriend of neighborhood tough, Buzz (Corey Allen). When Buzz violently confronts Jim and challenges him to a drag race, the new kid's real troubles begin.

      • Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Violence)

      • Genre: Drama

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Nicholas Ray

      • Producer: David Weisbart

      • Writer: Nicholas Ray, Irving Shulman, Stewart Stern

      • Release Date (Theaters):  original

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.

      • Production Co: Warner Brothers

      Cast & Crew

      News & Interviews for Rebel Without a Cause

      Critic Reviews for Rebel Without a Cause

      Audience Reviews for Rebel Without a Cause

      • Aug 12, 2017

        Some things in the movie may not have aged that well, but it still pulses with youthful energy and impresses with the psychological complexity of its characters - and it should always be remembered for James Dean's iconic looks and performance that spoke to a generation.

        Super Reviewer
      • Nov 29, 2016

        James Dean was killed in a car accident at the age of 24 just a month before 'Rebel Without a Cause' was released, and that tragedy, along with his electric performance of teenage angst in the film, would seal his legend. There are several iconic scenes early on that show his ability - imitating the siren at the police station after being picked up for public drunkenness, yelling "you're tearing me apart!" as his parents argue, and a scene with Natalie Wood, who rebuffs him initially, mocking him by saying "I bet you're a real gentleman", and him responding "I love you too". He is the new kid at their school, the outsider, the misfit, whose parents don't understand him. The film taps into this sense of teenage isolation, and there is clearly a plea to be listened to, loved, and understood. It also taps into a feeling of existentialism, of meaninglessness on a larger scale, with an outstanding scene in the planetarium where Dean's class listen to the lecturer say "...to the infinite reaches of space, the problems of man seem trivial and naive indeed. And man, existing alone, seems himself an episode of little consequence." Wood looks up into the projection of the stars, while Dean frowns as if Camus himself. As the film plays out, we see Wood has problems with her parents too - her dad, apparently uncomfortable with her budding sexuality, slaps her across the face for giving him a kiss as she would have when smaller. Their other friend, a repressed gay character played by Sal Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with devastating results. Dean is provoked into a knife fight at one point, and then into a frightening game of 'Chickie Run', with drivers meant to jump out of their cars speeding towards the edge of a cliff at the last minute. It's an idiotic game, but that's what young people do sometimes, idiotic things, and a classic line has Dean asking 'Why do we do this?', and the other boy, played by Corey Allen, responding, "You've gotta do something, don't you?" In the aftermath of Allen's character dying, the film spirals in ways which seem a bit exaggerated. It's still well worth watching for its themes and actors, Wood, Mineo, and most of all Dean, who is like a young Brando, full of screen presence, full of promise. He's great in scenes of angst, but also in those with spontaneous banter and play. 1950's cool, still cool today.

        Super Reviewer
      • Dec 01, 2015

        While "Rebel Without a Cause" has a very familiar story, with predictable climax's and obvious character arcs, this James Dean film is not one to miss. Embracing all of these well-known story elements and creating a fresh take on this genre is really what this film does best. I will say that the film begins to drag slightly about halfway through, but aside from that, this is a very well-crafted drama that any film fan should love. Moving to a new town with his family, Jim Stark must choose which clique to fit in with, and whom be believes to be the cool crowd, turns out to have much more to hide. Falling in love with a girl from that same group, this film shows how bad can come from good and vice versa. I had a great time watching "Rebel Without a Cause." it is extremely well-written, well-acted, well-directed, and very well-shot. Great film all around.

        KJ P Super Reviewer
      • Apr 26, 2013

        Some of its charm and sympathy endure to this day, but Rebel Without a Cause has aged in an undeniably awkward fashion, and the result is a film that simply doesn't hold up.

        Super Reviewer

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