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P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten, Clint Howard, Dey Young, Mary Woronov ... see more see more... , Paul Bartel , Loren Lester , Daniel Davies , Alix Elias , Don Steele , Lynn Farrell , Herb Braha , Michael Goodwin , John Hateley , Dick Miller , Dee Dee Ramone , Joey Ramone , Johnny Ramone , Marky Ramone , Grady Sutton , Barbara Walters , Jack Gill , Debbie Evans

Rock 'n' Roll High School is a prime example of a 1970s movie phenomenon: a cult film that was deliberately designed to be a cult film. High-schooler Riff Randell's (P.J. Soles) efforts to meet the Ra... read more read more...mones are continually thwarted by rock & roll-hating principal Evelyn Togar (Mary Woronov). Ms. Togar is the zealous sort who conducts experiments on laboratory rats to prove the adverse effect of rock music on innocent teenagers. Riff knows that she'll have to be twice as clever and devious as Togar to get her daily supply of Ramones -- and thereby hangs our tale. A secondary plot involves the efforts of pimply student Eaglebauer (Clint Howard) to arrange a date with the very particular Riff. A deliciously anarchistic climax caps this never-a-dull-moment spoof of 1950s rock & roll musicals. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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71% liked it

14,139 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

24 critics

PG, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Allan Arkush

Release Date: August 4, 1979

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DVD Release Date: May 2, 1999

Stats: 814 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (814)

  • FrizzDrop
    March 23, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    A movie musical that straddles the fine line between sugary sweet and punk rock chic, Rock 'n' Roll bridges that gap between Grease and High School Musical, with songs that aren't nauseating and characters that are against the establishment but don't broach on Fonzie territory. S... read moreomehow this movie makes a case for punk music but in a feel good kind of way. The characters are all high school students up against the new principal, Togar, who hates The Ramones and tries to make an example of the high school's hippest rock and roll protege Riff Randell. Riff loves The Ramones, and most of the movie is about her getting to meet them, seeing them in concert, and the fight against the principal. A lot of rock and punk music is featured, especially showcasing The Ramones. Casting the band was a brilliant move, and they really shine here as silent versions of themselves, ribbing with the rest of the characters. The movie also moves really fast from one idea to the next, more of the cuts being featured than the editing. It's also funny in many ways, including sight gags, references, and a brand of humor that I can only closely describe with parody but on its own superficial level. I loved the mood, the costuming, the gun ho attitude of the students and the unavailability of the entire film. It was truly manic, Looney Tunes' fun, and if you love The Ramones on top of everything else, than this is the film for you.
  • ajv2688
    January 7, 2011
    ajv2688
    An incredibly fun and adventurous rock and roll movie. Plus, the Ramones are in the movie.I love this movie!
  • hypathio7
    September 29, 2009
    hypathio7
    Good music! The plot was a waste.
  • neffielee
    March 30, 2009
    neffielee
    It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you love the Ramones; you will appreciate the music and campiness of the film.
  • fb25827189
    February 1, 2008
    fb25827189
    The Ramones!!!! Can't get any better than this, well maybe you can but who the hell would want to?
  • ileo
    January 13, 2008
    ileo
    Good.!
  • firstamb
    September 30, 2011
    firstamb
    Roger Corman and Alan Arkush decided not to do a disco fable and went to rock n roll. Good choice. This hip late 70's flight pretty much defined the American rock musical cult movie. A sort of farce on A Hard Day's Night and several other documentary themes, the flick stars Hallo... read moreween starlet PJ. Soles and a slew of bubbly teenagers, and Mary Wornov as a devilish rock hating principal, and a cadre of misfit dudes, and the Ramones, a rock group noted for staring Americanized punk. The quirky plot concerns a rock concert where the students attempt to skip school to attend, while the evil headmaster plots to literally burn their dreamy records, but thee students have their day in a way that could not be filmed today. The DVD features interesting interviews and commentaries (Corman collection) and insights into the cast, including a curious one with the surviving Ramone lead. A cult classic that inspired such teens against adults comedies as Fast Times, Porky's, and defined the rock cult musical genre as much as This is Spinal Tap.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 27, 2010
    dukeakasmudge
    Since I HATE musicals I expected to hate this movie but it wasn't bad at all.The movie was cheezy but I guess thats what makes it good & the music was great.It actually makes me want to go & check out a Ramones CD since I've never actually listened to their music before except wh... read moreats played on TV & movies.
  • kingmob6
    August 30, 2010
    kingmob6
    Punk legends The Ramones, led by the always perky P.J. Soles invade a high school run by Mary Woronov when the controlling principal turns her attentions to their beloved rock music.

    Such a fun flick, well worth your time if you've not seen it.

    Give it a rental!
  • babsmas
    April 25, 2010
    babsmas
    I love the Ramones and, naturally, this was my main interest for wanting to see this film. (FIrst saw it at a friend's house in the mid 80s, never getting a chance to see it during the midnight movie run it had in my hometown.)

    RNRHS is a fun sendup on music movies -- my only... read more criticisms are that some parts are a bit weak/plodding at times, and the Ramones are mostly bit players in their own movie. The rivalry between Mary Woronov as Miss Togar, the rock music-hating principal of Vince Lombardi High and her nemesis, Riff Randell (as played by PJ Soles), whose love of rock (and the Ramones in particular) drive this film. Lots of great sight gags (the lab rats, the 'scalper' -- very un-PC but still funny) and excellent tunes by the Ramones, along with some memorable lines (to this day, I cannot have pizza without quoting Dee Dee Ramone's "Pizza! Great! Let's dig in!")

    Interesting side note: originally Cheap Trick (at the height of their popularity, and another fave band of mine) was originally approached to be the band for the movie, but not sure why they turned it down.

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
April 14, 2009
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

It's more cleverly cut than shot -- which means that it moves quickly and energetically even as the concepts and characters disintegrate. Full Review

John Rockwell
May 9, 2005
John Rockwell, New York Times

The pity is that with a bit more care and flair, it could have been a really sweet little movie. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
March 4, 2011
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

casting the Ramones ranks as a real coup Full Review

Sean Axmaker
May 2, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com

... a pure, cheerfully juvenile blast of blitzkrieg guitar rock, Looney Tunes sight gags, teenage hormones and rebellion against authority because it's there. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
March 21, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Delectable Full Review

April 14, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Nothing is taken seriously and nothing should be -- it's only rock 'n' roll. Full Review

February 19, 2007
Time Out

For all its throwaway humour, this is basically just a pleasant reworking of the kids versus adults rock'n'roll movie format of the '50s. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
December 30, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A spirited spoof on high school life. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
May 27, 2006
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

We may never again see a teen comedy in which a school can explode and the movie can still be considered essentially good-hearted. Full Review

Kevin Carr
February 5, 2006
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

It's not like Rock 'N' Roll High School was pioneering brilliant cinema, but it is a brilliant little piece of work within its own framework. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Riff Randell: Tom Roberts is so boring, his brother is an only child.
    • Evelyn Togar: Do your parents 'know' your The Ramones?
    • Riff Randell: I'm a teenage lobotomy.
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Rock 'n' Roll Hig... : Watch Free on TV

Rock 'n' Roll High School Trivia

  • Which 1979 movie featuring The Ramones was originally supposed to be called Disco High?  Answer »
  • Which movie featured an evil principal named Miss Togar who says, "Do your parents know you're Ramones?"  Answer »
  • In the movie Rock 'n' Roll High School, what is the name of the main character who absolutely loves The Ramones?  Answer »
  • PJ Soles overthrows Principal Mary Woronov at Vince Lombardi High School with the help of the Ramones?  Answer »
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