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Matt Dillon, Michael Eric Kramer, Pamela Ludwig, Vincent Spano, Tom Fergus ... see more see more... , Harry Northrup , Andy Romano , Ellen Geer , Richard Jamison , Julia Pomeroy , Tiger Thompson , Jeff Fleury , Kim Kliner , Eric Lalich , Lane Smith

The protagonists of Over the Edge are the teen-aged offspring of the residents of a planned suburban community. This bland little town has been designed with conformity in mind, and with no thought of... read more read more... making the kids' lives worth living. Even worse, there is very little opportunity for any of the teens to grow "out" of the community and live elsewhere. Consequently, the kids rebel by drinking themselves sick, dealing in drugs, and indulging in deadly violence. Inasmuch as the local cops are predisposed to beat the teens into submission, the kids retaliate by directing their frustrations at the Law; the results are tragic, to be sure, but in no way predictable. Over the Edge struck as sensitive a nerve with young 1970s moviegoers as Rebel Without a Cause did with their 1950s forebears. Matt Dillon made his screen debut in Over the Edge, distinguishing himself in an ensemble cast that also includes Vincent Spano, Andy Romano, Ellen Geer, and Harry Northrup. The screenplay was written by Charles Haas and Tim Hunter; the soundtrack songs feature the Ramones. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

79% liked it

5,105 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

6 critics

PG, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Kaplan

Release Date: January 1, 1979

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DVD Release Date: September 20, 2005

Stats: 250 reviews

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Vincent Spano beats up a car Matt Dillon and Michael Eric Kramer Matt Dillon Over The Edge (1979) Busted for hiding behind a rock Corey Kids with gun Target shooting Michael Eric Kramer Pamela Ludwig "A kid who rats on another kid... Over the Edge (1979) Over the Edge Michael Eric Kramer Over the Edge
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Flixster Reviews (250)

  • adammahler1
    June 1, 2007
    adammahler1
    greatest, realest teen movie ever
  • KassandraVictoriaOrgasm
    June 8, 2011
    KassandraVictoriaOrgasm
    An hilarious take on suburban mentality and juvie delinquency. Tame compared to what the kids are up to today. If you wonder how we got here from there, this flick provides part of the explanation.
  • gaaraluver84
    May 30, 2010
    gaaraluver84
    dudee this movie was hekka good. andd alott of it was funny too. lol andd here is another movie where i see thee teenage matt dillon die by getting shot. how sadd.
  • aZen2
    September 3, 2009
    aZen2
    This cult classic is a nostalgic time-capsule for those who lived in that suburban bubble of an existence during the 1970's; a dog, two cars, sprawling backyard, pool, & with of course, the omni-present atmosphere of rebellious teenagers roaming the barren streets of sequestered ... read morecommunities tucked away in the smoldering dusty plains of the San Fernando Valley. This nostalgia is what I value most about the movie over the plot, or story, or anything to do with the cinematic experience, because the insight into youth culture provided by this film is a revelation on many levels. THE SOUNDTRACK IS GREAT. Cheap Trick's single, Surrender, never resonated so deeply with me, with such meaning and relevance, than when watching that scene with the lead character rocking out on his bed with his headphones while contemplating his future. Although the film harks on drug abuse and rebellion, there's a lot of significant commentary on the social consequences of suburban life, which comes off as an isolated hell; or, a utopia where nothing ever happens. Jus' love that basement party scene where Van Halen;s You really got me, is blaring in the background. "ooh, ahh, ohh, ahh, ahh, ohh, ahh, Giirrrl..ohh ahh aaa...you really got me now...oohh, ahh...lol.
  • kariann1971
    May 4, 2009
    kariann1971
    The ultimate teen rebellion movie. I grew up with this movie and love it even more now than I did then.
  • wolverineland
    May 5, 2008
    wolverineland
    This is the great underrated teen rebellion classic. Its fun to watch Dillon and Spano in their earliest work breakout from the surrounding group of unknowns and become the stars we see nearly 30 years later. This movie nearly lost a half star because of Michael Kramer's wuss per... read moreformance. On the other hand though Tom Fergus as Claude nearly steals the movie from Dillon and Spano. Add it to your dvd collection.
  • frankievelvet
    November 20, 2007
    frankievelvet
    want to find it again HBO movie Matt Dillons first. It's a good kick in the face to society's ideas of how things should be.
  • midnight70
    July 4, 2007
    midnight70
    This was one of the first movies I ever saw on cable TV as a child... still a great movie of teenage rebellion and angst. Two thumbs up!
  • nomantra
    June 28, 2007
    nomantra
    This does a good job of reminding me what it REALLY felt like to be a teenager in the 70's - unlilke That 70's Show, where some of the stuff is right but some of the stuff is made all nice for tv.
  • jeffman52001
    April 14, 2007
    jeffman52001
    "Over the Edge" is a great film that shows why the youth of America runs wild. In this film, we see how apathy is what hurts the kids and the kids being ignored. Matt Dillon and the rest of the cast are awesome in the classic 1979 film.

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
September 25, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Planned suburbia, teenage wasteland Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 5, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Jonathan Kaplan's engaging exploitation nightmarish generation gap film is effective and honest. Full Review

Don Willmott
August 22, 2005
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

If you were born around the same time as Matt Dillon, this period piece will amaze you with its attention to detail Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 1, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
January 15, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Jonathan R. Perry
July 25, 2005
Jonathan R. Perry, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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