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SLC Punk

Play trailer Poster for SLC Punk R 1999 1h 37m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Two former geeks become 1980s punks, then party and go to concerts while deciding what to do with their lives.
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SLC Punk

SLC Punk

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Critics Consensus

Merging anarchic spirit with straightforward melodrama, SLC Punk is a hit-and-miss odyssey of youthful rebellion elevated by Matthew Lillard's dramatically potent star turn.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle 1d
"SLC Punk!" is all about the fuss and bother of alienated youth. It has a moment of tragedy that is affecting, but it strangely winds up as a noisy trip to that big nowhere of normalcy, hardly the place where punks really want to reside. Go to Full Review
Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer 1d
2.5/4
Rambling, episodic and evidently somewhat autobiographical, writer/director James Merendino's film has plenty of raw energy going for it. But SLC Punk also displays a kind of earnest nostalgia that's at odds with the angry-young-man posturing. Go to Full Review
Rita Kempley Washington Post 1d
Typically, movies about misguided punks are so scabrous and their characters so repellent that it's hard to look at them as anything but freak shows. But Stevo and Bob are appealingly puppyish underneath all that bravura. Go to Full Review
Amanda Schurr Sarasota Herald-Tribune 1d
2.5/4
For a stereotypical portrait of angst and aggression, there's certain poseur charm to "SLC Punk." And refreshingly, coffee bars and bad poetry are nowhere to be found. Go to Full Review
Shawn Levy Oregonian 1d
2/4
Like his characters, Merendino is excessively sold on the hipness of his enterprise. But the content of his film is never as potent as its trappings might lead you to believe. Go to Full Review
Larry Ratliff San Antonio Express-News 1d
2/4
Merendino can't quite harness his passion for rebellion into a package of consistent interest. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ezra Z @007river 4d This is the epitome of a coming of age film. You have a character who unknowingly is dealing with an identity crisis and only is able to clear it once he matures, and realizes that "there is no future in anarchy," which sums up the film perfectly. The characters in this film are rich with symbolism and come across as real and relatable and I am a punk music fan so it was a more enjoyable watch. This was one of those movies where when it finished I just stared at the screen and was thinking about it for days because of how profound and impactful it was. The directing is also interesting with the long takes which make it feel like the viewer is another person in the room watching a couple people talk, and the many 4th wall breaks invite the viewer in as a fully fledged character. It brilliantly explores how when we are young, we seek companionship and rebellion but once we grow up, we realize this idea that the party will never end is just a fantasy. See more Zach F @kenpowerz Jun 23 Quite the message. Honestly was expecting to head into a comedy but the story that was laid out was more insightful than I assumed. Definitely managed to dip into your inner conflicts. See more Dorothe S @RT15444141 Mar 18 A suprisingly deep movie that seems like it actually tries to deal with the topics on a deep and serious level, while still not being overly dramatic for no reason. I think it's a very good movie that will make you think and doesn't just pose one side, for example the punks or the ,,people in the system", as fools, but poses that there is learning that everyone has to do regardless. It's just a very real movie that seems to have a genuinely caring and artistic production behind it. Not something that everyone will enjoy at all times though. See more Krystle B @RT33533819 Mar 8 A kind of cool coming of age story about self discovery and identity. There's always been a debate amongst punks about what conforming truly means and I think this movie is a good exploration of that. The cast was stacked with great actors who made very likeable characters, I just felt like something, somewhere was lacking. It was missing that magical component that makes a film transcend the screen and really bring you into it. I wanted to feel something when I watched this movie. I wanted to cry with Stevo when he found Bob. I wanted to relate to them, but I just couldn't, hence the low-ish rating. See more Guy C @RT84656352 07/31/2025 A film every young kid should see. A story about growing up and selling out and brought eyes on posers. Matthew Lillard is fantastic in this coming of age film about sex drugs and Punk Rock See more Christ I @RT96266106 07/29/2025 Music is great, acting is great. All the guys are hot. And so are the chicks. If you grew up punk, makes the experience even better. Beats depressing " Suburbia" by a long shot. This is a cult classic. See more Read all reviews
SLC Punk

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two former geeks become 1980s punks, then party and go to concerts while deciding what to do with their lives.
Director
James Merendino
Producer
Sam Maydew
Screenwriter
James Merendino
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Blue Tulip, Beyond Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 23, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$299.2K
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround
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