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Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, Erika Christensen, Eva Amurri ... see more see more... , Robin Thomas , Matthew Carey

For some folks, the 1960s never really ended, and one woman still cheerfully stuck in the Summer of Love discovers her one-time best friend has left that decade as far behind as humanly possible in th... read more read more...is comedy. In the late '60s and early '70s, Suzette (Goldie Hawn) and Vinnie (Susan Sarandon) were two of Southern California's most celebrated groupies. Affectionately nicknamed "The Banger Sisters" by Frank Zappa, best friends Suzette and Vinnie partied hearty with practically every rock star of the era who mattered, and kept a collection of Polaroid snapshots documenting their randy exploits. In 2001, Suzette is still her free-spirited self, and after losing her job as a barmaid at an L.A. rock club, she decides to look up Vinnie, whom she hasn't seen for 20 years. Suzette hits the road for Phoenix, AZ, to pay Vinnie a surprise visit, and en route picks up Harry (Geoffrey Rush), a novelist with writer's block who can't drive and hasn't had sex for a decade. Upon her arrival, Suzette discovers Vinnie isn't quite the same person who used to chase any man with long hair and an electric guitar. Now going by her given name of Lavinia, she's a straight laced social worker with a lawyer for a husband, Raymond (Robin Thomas), and two teenage daughters, Hannah (Erika Christensen) and Ginger (Eva Amurri), none of whom know a thing about her wild and crazy past, and have a pretty hard time imagining Lavinia even attending a rock concert. Eva Amurri comes by her role as Susan Sarandon's daughter naturally enough -- Amurri is Sarandon's daughter in real life. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

43% liked it

44,028 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

140 critics

R, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Bob Dolman

Release Date: September 20, 2002

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DVD Release Date: January 28, 2003

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Stats: 1,052 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,052)


  • April 10, 2010
    love susan sarandon! i think we could all see each other as one of these characters i know i could! this is a fun movie!!
  • August 5, 2009
    yea right i saw it cause i thought they were called banger sisters for a reason. guess not.
  • June 13, 2008
    Two middle aged women teach us lessons in responsibility. Or lessons in having fun and being yourself. Or finding a perfect balance between the two. Whatever they're trying to teach us they do a pretty poor job. Why should I care about these women? From what I gather they used to... read more be right proper slappers. Geoffrey Rush is involved in some sub-plot about a writer planning on killing his father. Weird. I guess this is the female equivalent to Wild Hogs, but then again perhaps these people should stay true to themselves in the first place, or not bitch and moan when they have a family. I don't really care. Still it's well acted and never bad or dull, just very pointless.
  • February 27, 2007
    I didn't think that this was very good. It was a little boring.
  • August 2, 2007
    I loved this movie...
  • February 27, 2009
    Exactly what you'd expect but so fun.
  • July 14, 2011
    Being stuck in their Groupie Past is sadly pathetic, we all have to grow up.I wouldn't be too proud to be called the "Banger Sisters"
  • February 12, 2010
    A fun movie with a surprisingly effective teaming of Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon. The screenplay does have it's share of cliche's, but the story is a good one and the performers are so engaging it's worth watching.
  • March 22, 2009
    To think of The Banger Sisters as fresh, funny, or fabulous, it is actually neither of these as it fell short of my first viewing expectations. So that means I didn't like this film.
  • March 22, 2009
    (2002 Director: Bob Dolman) Was it that 2 of the most adorable 1970's sexy vampy bright starlets co-star in this flick that made it so mmorable? Or the sheer truths presented not so "politically correctly" that make this movie a winner. I believe most everyone can see themself ... read morein one of the characters in this movie! Who are you?? Who/What have you become???

Critic Reviews


J. R. Jones
March 18, 2010
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

This is the directorial debut of Bob Dolman, who got his start scripting WKRP in Cincinnati, and as one might expect, he handles the comic material with aplomb and falls on his face whenever the story... Full Review

Peter Travers
September 26, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Hot idea. Tepid execution.

Peter Rainer
September 26, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

So insipid it may turn even superannuated hippies into raging neocons. Full Review

Richard Roeper
September 23, 2002
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

There's a good movie to be made about fifty-something former groupies, but The Banger Sisters is not that movie. Full Review

James Berardinelli
September 22, 2002
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

There are many things that solid acting can do for a movie, but crafting something promising from a mediocre screenplay is not one of them. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
September 20, 2002
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

From opening to closing credits, there isn't a single genuine moment.

Ann Hornaday
September 20, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Like those to Rome, all roads in The Banger Sisters inevitably lead to a joke about Hawn's breasts, which constantly threaten to upstage the woman sporting them.

Geoff Pevere
September 20, 2002
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

It's an audience flattering Hollywood movie about the redemptive powers of vulgarity and joy of letting it all hang out. Even if it isn't yours. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
September 20, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

What The Banger Sisters offers in place of an eloquent statement is the charm of two actresses at the top of their game in flashy roles and a smart script that's decidedly more coarse than sentimental. Full Review

Joe Baltake
September 20, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

The film runs on equal parts of innocence and wisdom -- wisdom that comes with experience. It has fun being grown up. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts


    • Lavinia: I want to go out but everything that I own is beige.

The Banger Sister... : Watch Free on TV


The Banger Sisters Trivia


  • "You may never shit again, Harry."  Answer »
  • Eva Amurri, an actress from such movies as The Banger Sisters and Saved!, is the daughter of what famous Oscar-winning actress?  Answer »
  • Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandan are groupies in what movie?  Answer »
  • Which actress is in the following movies: *Death Becomes Her *The First Wives Club *The Banger Sisters *Private Benjamin  Answer »

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