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Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Ellen Greene, Scott Paulin, Cheryl Pollak ... see more see more... , Annie Ross , Andy Romano , Mimi Kennedy , Mark Ballou , Jill Jarres , LaLa , Ahmet Zappa , Dan Eisenstein , Nigel Gibbs , Seth Green , James Hampton , Clayton Landey , Tony Auer , Gary Dubin , Robert Harvey , Juliet Landau , Jonathan Mazer , Matt McGrath , David McKnight , Billy Morrissette , Robert Schenkkan , Roger Scott , Lin Shaye , Lala Sloatman , Steve Archer , Allan Kolman , Judith Holstra , David C. Glasser , Marc Siegler

Teenage angst finds a new voice in this drama. By day, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater) is a quiet, studious student at an ordinary suburban high school in Arizona. But at night, Mark creeps down into h... read more read more...is basement, fires up his pirate radio transmitter, and broadcasts to the community as Hard Harry, a sexually obsessed social commentator who passes along angry philosophy about the state of teenage life when not blasting punk rock or gangsta rap cuts. Hard Harry's sworn nemesis is high school principal Mrs. Cresswood (Annie Ross), who keeps SAT scores up at the expense of her students' dignity and individuality by eliminating "troublemakers" from the student body. Hard Harry's broadcasts, however, have become a rallying point for the school's misfit underclass, and Mrs. Cresswood is determined to track down the mystery student and bring him to justice (broadcasting without a license, he's not merely an annoyance, but a criminal). The war against Hard Harry intensifies when he broadcasts data from confidential school board reports; Mark's father is a school commissioner, but he has no idea what his son is doing in the basement. Meanwhile, Mark gains the attentions of Nora (Samantha Mathis), who has figured out who he becomes at night. More serious and intelligent than the average teen film, Pump Up the Volume was written and directed by Allan Moyle, who previously dealt with disaffected, music-obsessed teens in Times Square and would return to them with Empire Records. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

78% liked it

34,472 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

32 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Allan Moyle

Release Date: August 22, 1990

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DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999

Stats: 1,499 reviews

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Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Happy Harry Hard-On Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump Up the Volume (1990) Pump up the Volume Nora DiNirro Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Pump up the Volume Christain Slater Pump up the Volume
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Flixster Reviews (1,499)

  • fb573414556
    March 6, 2012
    fb573414556
    Slater does it again, this catapults straight into my top 10 alongside 'Heathers' another Slater movie that I watche and while back and have been repeatedly watching since. This movie really speaks to me and I think what it has to say about youth still stands today: We're not our... read moreselves, we live by other peoles standards, can't we just be free?
  • ajv2688
    April 10, 2011
    ajv2688
    Slater is so hot in this movie! This rebellious teen drama is full of both angst and celebration of being a teenager at the turn of the decade. I really loved it when I was a teen, and I highly recommend it.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 21, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Christian Slater's Masterpiece! Just kidding. :)
  • puffchunk
    October 16, 2009
    puffchunk
    As much as I love Slayter, I must equally hate 80's kids and radio.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    In 1990 this was the coolest film ever made.
  • kpn666
    September 5, 2008
    kpn666
    This was an excellent movie!!!!!

    The ultimate teenage rebellion, angst and outspoken movie ever. Forget American Pie and all those other poser teen movies, this is the definitive rebel yell from one of the most rebellious Hollywood stars.

    You have to love the soundtrack to the ... read moremovie, it rocks hardcore. And so does the local pirate DJ, who happens to be a discreet, shy teen suffering in the prison which his life has become, and opens his mind and attitude to others in a literal "call to arms" to take back their lives, their identity, against a totalitarian school bent on eradicating their very souls.

    Its a hard hitting, yet funny look at the repressed teens of our society and the unity of kids against their school, parents and government for limiting them, turning them into the opposites of what they really feel, what they really want.

    Cause in the end, as the message goes, to be a teenager, to have a life, to have your own mind, to have an open minded education, to have the ability to think for yourself.... its a God given right to be YOU.



    ENJOY!
  • thmtsang
    April 12, 2008
    thmtsang
    Christian runs a pirate radio station and causes chaos. Cool teen flick.
  • superclerk25
    September 7, 2007
    superclerk25
    This is a good one. A movie about teens who have had enough and when no one will listen they will do it themselves. Great acting all around and a nice way to do a movie that features a guy talking to himself on the radio.
  • Redlats
    September 3, 2007
    Redlats
    Tough being a teen. Don't you wish you could release your frustrations on your own pirate radio station?
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 11, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Christian Slater's time as a pirate DJ is short-lived excitement, which quickly goes downhill when the authorities start looking for him. He seems too old in the role to be a high school student.

View All Pump up the Volume Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

It's a howl from the heart, a relentlessly involving movie that gives a kid every reason to believe that he or she can come of age. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 8, 2012
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Sharply uneven, this teen-angst feature begins exgremely well with some relevant social commentary; it also put on the map Christian Slater as a talent to watch. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
August 30, 2010
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Slater is Moyle's generator, powering the film through some sludgy melodramatics, and while his separation of Mark and Hard Harry is practically Kabuki theater, the effort is just wonderful. Full Review

Clint Morris
March 3, 2006
Clint Morris, Mediasharx

Much more than a teen movie....an experience, and one you'll never forget. TURN IT UP LOUD!

February 9, 2006
Time Out

The perfectly cast Slater effectively propels the film, his intensity and dry delivery giving it a definite edge, as does a soundtrack which includes Ice T, Concrete Blonde and the Cowboy Junkies. Full Review

Lloyd Bradley
November 3, 2005
Lloyd Bradley, Empire Magazine

Fast paced with a satisfyingly unhappy ending. Full Review

Christopher Null
September 21, 2004
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

A teen anthem and guilty pleasure. Full Review

Rich Cline
June 12, 2004
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Underrated.

Luke Y. Thompson
May 22, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Few films understand the fantasies of the would-be outsider-turned-icon quite as well, while remaining in a realistic setting.

Ryan Cracknell
July 30, 2003
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

Pump Up the Volume is the kind of movie that hits home. It touches on real emotions and is a reminder of just how darn awkward it is to be a young adult. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Mark Hunter: Talk Hard.
    • Mark Hunter: It's ten o'clock, do you care where your parents are?
    • Mark Hunter: I'm dedicating this unusual song to an unusual person who makes me feel kind of... unusual.
    • Mark Hunter: Eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark.
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Pump up the Volum... : Watch Free on TV

Pump up the Volume Trivia

  • Which movie did Christian Slater get sick during because of all the smoking he was doing?  Answer »
  • What 1990 film featuring Christain Slater features the phrase "Talk Hard"?   Answer »
  • In which movie did Christian Slater say: "Eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark."  Answer »
  • "i know you, not your name but your game, i know the true you. Come to me, or ill come to you." What movie is this line from?  Answer »
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