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Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin Mckidd, Robert Carlyle ... see more see more... , Kelly Macdonald , Keith Allen , Peter Mullan , Hugh Ross , James Cosmo , Kevin Allen , Vincent Friell , Andrew Macdonald , Fiona Bell , Kate Donnelly , Victor Eadie , Shirley Henderson , Pauline Lynch , Stuart McQuarrie , Eddie Nestor , Eileen Nicholas , Billy Riddoch , Annie Louise Ross , Susan Vidler , Finlay Welsh , Irvine Welsh , Dale Winton

Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), a young man with few prospects and fewer ambitions, lives in economically depressed Edinburgh. Like most of his friends, Renton is a heroin addict who loves the drug's bli... read more read more...ssful nothingness; financing his habit also provides excitement and challenges that his life otherwise lacks. Renton's two best friends are also junkies: Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), a snappy dresser obsessed with James Bond, and Spud (Ewan Bremner), a guileless nerd who suggests Pee Wee Herman's debauched cousin. Renton and his pals also hang out with Begbie (Robert Carlyle), a borderline psychotic who loathes junkies even though he drinks like a fish. After one too many brushes with the law, Renton kicks heroin and moves to London, where he finds a job, a flat, and something close to peace of mind. However, Sick Boy, Begbie, and Spud all arrive at his doorstep on the trail of a big score, leading Renton back into drugs and crime. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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92% liked it

274,149 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

57 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Release Date: July 19, 1996

Keywords: funny, cult, weird, drug, junkie, media

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DVD Release Date: March 24, 1998

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Stats: 20,710 reviews

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Trainspotting Ewan McGregor Sick Boy Waiting for the train Trainspotting Life's a bitch Sick Boy Renton Renton Trainspotting Trainspotting <i>Trainspotting</i> <i>Trainspotting</i> Trainspotting Trainspotting Begbie Robert Carlyle Trainspotting
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Flixster Reviews (20,710)

  • fb100001048934982
    April 13, 2013
    fb100001048934982
    Danny Boyle's sophomore bout 'Trainspotting' is a superbly well made film a brisk pace, great performances, and a fully engaging plot. Full of comedy and pathos, 'Trainspotting' is a equal parts satisfying and poignant.
  • allan913
    January 10, 2013
    allan913
    A true sensation that`s awesome, brilliant, electrifying, stylish, hilarious and outstanding. A great and absolutely original triumph. A flat out insane experience. An endlessly enjoyable and unforgettable movie. It packs on amazing power, humor and terrific performances by it's ... read morecast. An electrifying film. Director, Danny Boyle has crafted a dazzling film classic that is something of a special masterpiece. A wickedly funny, terrifically compelling and superbly entertaining film. An excellent piece of work that's hip and brutally honest. It has a great soundtrack that has seductive groove all on it`s own.
  • aquateen2
    December 12, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    This is an entertaining debate on the ups and downs of hard drugs, following the story of Mark Renton. Somebody who has a strange and complicated Malcolm McDowell in "A Clockwork Orange", let's say, exis... read moretence, rather than life. The film is a fantastic debut feature from Danny Boyle. Though it might slip your mind when the harshly dismal and slimy experience of viewing it ends, regardless, whilst your in the company of Trainspotting, you'd think twice about doing anything. And honestly that is a compliment, it is neither an anti drug film, nor a promotion of heroin usage. But rather a truthful insight into the lives of drug addicts during an economically depressed time in 1980's Scotland. Although at times terrifying the black humour nevertheless works. It might seem like niche art house fare, but the comedy can work for pretty much anyone. Danny Boyle's direction is truly outstanding, his inventive script is also fast, witty and deserving of it's Academy Award nomination. Not to mention some great performances from it's fresh cast of actors. Entirely deserving of it's great reputation. As what Boyle has managed to do is change a difficult subject matter and mould it into a hilarious, entertaining, and rightfully scary filmgoing experience. A real eye opener but in addition a piece of aesthetically significant poetry. If you don't like art house, it makes no difference. It's visuals can be a bit too ugly but this minor issue is ultimately forgivable. I'd find it hard to imagine anyone who is unable to identify any of it's various other triumphs.
  • fb100002359227440
    December 5, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    A fast, funny, scary and realistic brutal portrait on the life of youth in an economically depressed Edinburgh, where Renton and his 'so-called mates' abuse strongly of drugs in hope of alleviate the maturity pains and they own miserable lives. Trainspotting also bring a view int... read moreo AIDS, sexuality and violence culture, without forget the eclectic soundtrack. One of the best Danny Boyle's films. Fresh.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 18, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Danny Boyle's Trainspotting is a near flawless film with a great cast. The film manages to be darkly humorous as well as serious. Danny Boyle has made great films, and Trainspotting shows exactly what makes him such a great, versatile director. The film is truly unique and very e... read morentertaining. The cast are truly wonderful and each actor brings something terrific to the screen. The film is well directed and has enough going on on-screen to keep you interested. The film has great characters and you see how they cope with their heroin addiction. Danny Boyle has always made great pictures and Trainspotting is no different. I very much enjoyed the film and thought that this was one of Boyle's best works. The cast make it work and with effective directing and a great script, it's no wonder why the film has gotten the praise that it has. This is a well executed film that just keeps you interested from start to finish. If you love Danny Boyle's work, you should check this film out. The performances that stood out for me were that of Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle. Trainspotting is a terrific film that is brilliantly directed. I very much recommend this film and this is a must see for Boyle fans. This is a work of drama, comedy and the way it intertwines into one plot is what makes this a truly unique film. Trainspotting has an effective script that keeps you interested from start to finish. Simply a brilliant, well constructed film.
  • edfilmreviews
    August 16, 2012
    edfilmreviews
    Very disturbing portrayal of drug addiction. Danny Boyle did a great job with this film. From the style, the characters, and themes, almost everything is perfect. Not so much a story as it is a character study, and at that it succeeds. The soundtrack is also top-notch, with track... read mores from New Order and Iggy Pop. It's a unique film.
  • blkbomb
    July 31, 2012
    blkbomb
    Mark "Rent-boy" Renton: People think it's all about misery and desperation and death and all that shit which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it. Otherwise we wouldn't do it. After all, we're not fucking stupid. At least, we're not that fucking stupid... read more. 

    "Never let your friends tie you to the tracks."

    Definitely a top tier drug film. It's like a mixture of Van Sant's Drugstore Cowboy and Aronofsky's Requiem For a Dream. It's a movie that doesn't glorify or totally condemn drug use. It's where most people are on the issue in-between. That isn't to say that there isn't consequences for the drug use seen in this film. Danny Boyle brings out the consequences just as much as he brings out the thrills. But to an addict, the consequences are outweighed by just how great the feeling is. Like Rent Boy says, "They're not that stupid." People sometimes forget that there's a reason people got hooked on a substance, they liked it. That's what this movie reminds us of.

    Trainspotting presents the story of some young men in Scotland who are deep into heroin. Our main character, Rent Boy is played by Ewan McGregor in another stunning role. He's a heroin addict that pretty much sums up the experience of being hooked on heroin just by looking at him. When he's high, he's fine. When he isn't high, he has that look where he just doesn't know what to do. He's got to get high. He's got to score, at whatever cost. Then he scores and he says the patented drug addict verbiage, "This is the last hit." It's always the last hit, then the next time is the last hit. Then I'll really quit. Then I quit for awhile, but now I just need a taste. A taste for old times sake. Then I'm done forever. Do you believe me?

    McGregor plays this role perfectly and I can tell that because at the end, I honestly want to believe him. He says he's going to change, he's going to stay clean. He isn't going to touch it anymore. He's going to be like you and me. He's that friend you have that says the same thing to you in real life. You look at him and he looks like he's telling the truth. He looks like he really wants to be done. You want to believe him so badly. The only problem is this is the fifteenth time he's said it. Has it happened yet. Nope. You know deep down, this isn't the last time. He's just saying what he has to say.

    That's what I love about Trainspotting, just how honest a portrayal of the drug scene it is. People who says it glorifies the drug scene are stupid, but people who says it's an anti-drug film are missing the point too. This isn't about the rights and wrongs of drug usage. This is about the addict. He shouldn't have to be someone that tells us heroin is bad, and guess what he doesn't. Funny that, a movie about a drug addict not telling us straight out that drugs are terrible. Of course it isn't, the person with whom is narrating our story loves them. 

    Easily one of the best drug related films I have ever seen. It's devastating, but funny. Sad, but exciting. It's a film that defies all logic because a heroin addicts life defies all logic. It's a movie with style and fun scenes because when you get high, you have fun. That's why they do it. Well, until the point where they just have to do it to be normal. 
  • flixsterman
    April 14, 2012
    flixsterman
    Boyle rummages through the trash heap of heroin addiction and exposes a bit of humor and humanity. Contrary to what's been written in various reviews, Trainspotting doesn't glorify the junkie lifestyle but it does present it with flair and pugnacity.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    April 11, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    I can understand why people may like this film as it has some really good acting however the story just wasn't for me. I can't relate to drug culture, crazy actions, poverty in Edinburgh or going cold turkey. By the end I was glad it was over!
  • fb791220692
    January 17, 2012
    fb791220692
    Gross yet stylish, Transporting is visually fascinating and constantly energetic. I didn't much appreciate the (undoubtedly intentional) uncomfortable shifts between humor and disgustingness, but if you don't mind disturbing realism, you can't really go wrong with this captivatin... read moreg and realistic portrayal of the darkest edge of society.

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Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey
April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

THE experience of watching Trainspotting -- the electric, nasty and slick descent into the milieu of young Scottish junkies -- is a little like speeding through the digestive tract of some voracious b... Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Trainspotting is a singular sensation, a visionary knockout spiked with insight, wild invention and outrageous wit.

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Exuberant and pitiless, profane yet eloquent, flush with the ability to create laughter out of unspeakable situations, "Trainspotting" is a drop-dead look at a dead-end lifestyle that has all the stre... Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

It would be pushing it to call Trainspotting a serious work of art or a major statement about anything, but as an edgy, artful piece of entertainment it beats any Hollywood release of the summer by mi... Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The movie tags at the heels of Edinburgh social dropouts Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie, for whom getting off beats getting out. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

This isn't an examination of the Scottish drug culture from the outside looking in, it's one from the inside looking out. Full Review

Charles Taylor
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

Hip, brutally honest and humane... Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie has been attacked as pro-drug and defended as anti-drug, but actually it is simply pragmatic. It knows that addiction leads to an unmanageable, exhausting, intensely uncomfortable daily rout... Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

For better or worse, sometimes strictly for the sake of shock value, the stylish irreverence of "Trainspotting" mimics that drug high and delivers its own potent kick. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

This is not dour social realism. It's a shot- from-a-cannon youth movie, with likable young people sticking needles in their arms in working-class Edinburgh. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Sick Boy: All I'm trying to do is help you understand that The Name of the Rose is merely a blip on an otherwise uninterrupted downward trajectory.
    • Mark Renton: What about The Untouchables?
    • Sick Boy: I don't rate that at all.
    • Mark Renton: Despite the Academy Award?
    • Sick Boy: That means fuck all. The sympathy vote.
    • Mark Renton: Straight away he clocked us for what we were. Small-time wasters with an accidental big deal.
    • Mark Renton: Sick Boy is seriously lacking in moral fiber.
    • Dealer: But he knows a lot about Sean Connery.
    • Mark Renton: That's hardly a substitute.
    • Mark Renton: : It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference.
    • Mark Renton: It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference.
    • Sick Boy: Personality, I mean that's what counts, right? That's what keeps a relationship going through the years. Like heroin, I mean heroin's got a great fucking personality.
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Trainspotting Trivia

  • In what movie is Ewan McGregor a heroin addict?  Answer »
  • Ewan McGregor and fellow Trainspotting star Ewen Bremner appeared together again in which movie.  Answer »
  • This film stars Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Euan Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kelly McDonald, Kevin McKidd and Dale Winton!!  Answer »
  • What is 'Rentons' first name in 'Trainspotting'?  Answer »
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