critics consensus

A fresh, funny coming-of-age story rooted in realistic characters and anchored with a meaningful message, Rocks is as solid as its title suggests. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

A London teen takes care of her younger brother after their mother abruptly leaves.

Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English (United Kingdom)
Director:

Sarah Gavron
Producer:

Ameenah Ayub Allen, Faye Ward, Hannah Farrell
Writer:

Claire Wilson
Release Date (Streaming):

Feb 2, 2021
Runtime:

1h 33m
Production Co:

Fable Pictures, Head Gear Films, Film 4

Cast & Crew

Bukky Bakray
Shola "Rocks"

Ruby Stokes
Agnes

Sarah Niles
Ms. Booker

Layo-Christina Akinlude
Funke Omotoso

Sharon D Clarke
Anita

Kosar Ali
Sumaya

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Rocks

Know Your Critic: Robert Daniels, Freelance Film Critic

View All

Critic Reviews for Rocks

All Critics (60) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (2)

A compassionate, finely observed portrait of a young woman's gradual breaking down, as the usual buffers, including brotherly love and friendships, strain under her crushing responsibility.

February 14, 2021 | Full Review…

Ela Bittencourt
Sight and Sound
Teeming with an infectious effervescence, the adolescent coming-of-age drama "Rocks" differentiates itself from other recent explorations of modern girlhood set amid immigrant communities.

February 1, 2021 | Full Review…

Carlos Aguilar
Los Angeles Times
The cast led by Bukky Bakray and Kosar Ali are unbelievably charming and infectious. In a just world, these rockstars would become household names.

December 8, 2020 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

Radheyan Simonpillai
NOW Toronto
The most authentic film about British teens in years.

September 25, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
It's the finest film yet from director Sarah Gavron, whose camera no longer hovers politely here, like an earnest tourist, but gets fully stuck in. A gorgeous movie packed with hope and powered by street cred, Rocks rocks.

September 25, 2020 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro (UK)
A sorrowful yet full-hearted depiction of a young girl at breaking point.

September 24, 2020 | Full Review…

Caitlin Quinlan
Little White Lies
Authentic, small, and deeply humane

February 14, 2021 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Jordan Ruimy
World of Reel
If you've lived in a city, you've seen these girls; you've been these girls. You can't help but feel the warmth of nostalgia as you watch Rocks and her friends trying to find the joy in a world that is so often against them.

February 14, 2021 | Full Review…

Jessica Morgan
Refinery29
The hope that remains at the end of the film may be tinged with melancholy and a need for acceptance, but it remains, like Rocks, steadfast and believable.

February 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
There are some moments where the group of working-class girls seem genuine and honest. At other times, the film is a bit dull and takes on the character of a middle-class morality tale, almost a cinematic finger-wagging.

February 14, 2021 | Full Review…

David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Raw, heartbreaking and fresh.

February 10, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
It's not always a smooth ride, but it's richly humane.

January 28, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies