Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Of 2025Holiday Watch GuideGotham AwardsCelebrity PhotosSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Whatever

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Whatever (1998)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
4 Photos
FrenchDrama

A teen faces her impending adulthood in the carefree sex and drug revolution years of the early 80's prior to fears of AIDS. She lives with her bitter, divorced mother and her sadistic kid b... Read allA teen faces her impending adulthood in the carefree sex and drug revolution years of the early 80's prior to fears of AIDS. She lives with her bitter, divorced mother and her sadistic kid brother. Looking forward to a life based on her passion for art, she nevertheless gets in w... Read allA teen faces her impending adulthood in the carefree sex and drug revolution years of the early 80's prior to fears of AIDS. She lives with her bitter, divorced mother and her sadistic kid brother. Looking forward to a life based on her passion for art, she nevertheless gets in with the partying crowd which causes her to miss deadlines and poor grades which jeapordize... Read all

  • Director
    • Susan Skoog
  • Writer
    • Susan Skoog
  • Stars
    • Liza Weil
    • Chad Morgan
    • Frederic Forrest
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Susan Skoog
    • Writer
      • Susan Skoog
    • Stars
      • Liza Weil
      • Chad Morgan
      • Frederic Forrest
    • 30User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Whatever
    Trailer 1:52
    Whatever

    Photos3

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top Cast30

    Edit
    Liza Weil
    Liza Weil
    • Anna Stockard
    Chad Morgan
    Chad Morgan
    • Brenda Talbot
    Frederic Forrest
    Frederic Forrest
    • Mr. Chaminski
    Kathryn Rossetter
    Kathryn Rossetter
    • Carol Stockard
    Marc Riffon
    • Martin
    Dan Montano
    • Zak
    John Gleeson Connolly
    John Gleeson Connolly
    • John Woods
    • (as John G. Connolly)
    Gary Wolf
    Gary Wolf
    • Eddie
    Tony Torn
    Tony Torn
    • Mr. Stanley
    Trey Compton
    • Sam
    Joe Mantragna
    • Chris
    Matt Rumbaugh
    • Tony
    Jim Neville
    • Rob
    Garret Spencer
    • Joe
    Destiny Matranga
    • Lynn
    Mary Jo Roth
    • Amy Peck
    Evie Mazzone
    • Mrs. Wilson
    Michelle Yahn
    • Principal
    • Director
      • Susan Skoog
    • Writer
      • Susan Skoog
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    6.41K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    jester-30

    Drugs, sex, lawlessness, life

    Whatever is a great slice-of-life coming of age story, this time about two young girls in their last year of high school. One girl is awkward looking and shy, but talented with a bright future as an artist. The other is prettier and popular, but not really destined for much. Both live their formative years in a backwater New Jersey suburb and their lives are far less polished and sanitized than those portrayed in most teenage coming of age films these days (TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, SHE'S ALL THAT, etc...) This film is gritty and real and the characters are powerful. It's hailed as a great 'chick flick" because it's focus is these two girls, but it's more than that.

    I thought they did a great job portraying a realistic world. Hell, the high school party scene was stolen right out of my life! ;)

    In any case, the acting is superb. The two girls, Anna and Brenda are played by Liza Weil (Stir of Echoes, A Cur for Serpents) and Chad Morgan (Co-Ed Call Girl). They find themselves looking for their own identity in the midst of messed-up family lives and peer pressure. Anna's the daughter of a single mother who works as a waitress and has affairs with rich married men to help support her kids. Brenda suffers through years of sexual abuse at the hands of her step-father. Both find escape and comfort in their pursuit for adulthood -- hopping from one new experience to the next in search of themselves. Drugs, sex, lawlessness... all of these things become part of their lives, and things which they must overcome in order to survive.
    spamwamm

    Brilliantly executed coming-of-age drama

    While many will write this off as a slow and plotless waste of celluloid, I found it to be an excellent portrayal of the disconnection and confusion that plagues our youth. Sad to say, this could have had a "based on a true story" title card at the beginning. I've known girls who expressed their praise towards this film for it captures their growing-up period perfectly. If it feels like it's going nowhere, well that just adds to the film's realism. Unlike KIDS, the lead character finally is conscious of her transgressions and thus finds redemption. I find that reason alone, as well as the entire film, worthy of the recognition that it deserves. Rent it with an open mind...
    8exidor411

    a subtle portrait

    I thought this film was a thoughtful reflection on an overlooked period of time. The significance of it's taking place in 1981 was the last hurrah of the "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll" era. AIDS soon followed, and casual sex died. The sex is a big part of the story, a realistic portrayal of a teenage girl's struggles with her newborn womanhood.

    The peer pressure to do drugs, smoke, and have crazy meaningless/meaningful sex, all induced by the young idiots around her, happens to most American kids. Anna's dreams of art school are nearly crushed by the combination of her friends, her lonely, pathetic mother, and the usual teenage self-deprecation. It's not hard at all to relate to this character.

    It seems that this movie was too subtle for some viewers. Perhaps some people don't want to know the female side of stories we've seen the male counterparts of (quite redundantly) through the years. I welcomed the fresh point-of-view the film possesses. My only true beef would be that it may have been a little too long, but then again, wasn't this writer/director Susan Skoog's first film?

    A good film with fine direction of realistic performances (with the exception of the "nerdy" teacher - ugh) and a nice accompanying soundtrack. Overall, I liked it quite a bit.
    filmex-2

    A superb, non-glamourized coming-of-age film.

    It wasn't originally my intent to comment on this film, but, after seeing some of the idiotic postings denigrating this fine effort, I felt compelled.

    I was rather taken aback by the honesty of this tale. To quibble about the automobiles or the Hardee's cups shows such a lack of perception as to what was attempted here, that it truly boggles the mind.

    The dissenting voices here clearly prefer the artificial, rose-colored-glasses view of high school as offered by "Sixteen Candles" or other films of John Hughes. But, for most, and maybe this realization only becomes apparent once one has some significant distance from one's high school experience, for most the high school experience is NOT a star-spangled memory a la "Ridgemont High", "Dazed and Confused", or even "American Graffiti".

    These formulative years, more often than not, are times of discovery, of embarrassment, of confusion. and of long stretches of boring and mundane matters.

    Writer/director Skoog captured, with no illusion whatsoever, the awkwardness of this period, with the realism and honesty worthy of of a Ken Loach or Mike Leigh. For most people, life is NOT "Ten Things I Hate About You", it is about self-discovery and awareness, and sorting out one's rightful place in the human equation. Skoog's two main characters superbly realized this human comedy.

    Anna is a beautiful, talented young girl who has not come to grips with either her talent nor her beauty. She is so easily buffeted by the forces surrounding her, be it her bad-girl best friend or the men who are more than willing to introduce her to the awkwardness of sexual initiation, that it is often heartbreaking to watch.

    The fact of the matter is that bad things happen to good people, and in watching Anna attempt to navigate her way through her voyage of discovery, the film subtly explores its themes with rare honesty.

    The treatment of sexuality is amongst the film's strongpoints. The peer pressure to conform and the curiosity of the unknown is explored with sensitivity. The bare boobs approach of most teen films is abandoned here for a heartfelt examination of the myriad of forces that are involved in human sexuality...the various dynamics, be they sexual or power, that make the experience a lot more than just a procreative act.

    These aren't "characters", these are living, breathing people with inexplicable, self-destructive urges as well as a completely realistic complacency that often allows them to be drawn into situations that are not in their best interests.

    This is one of the finest coming-of-age films I have ever seen. If you are a mature, perceptive cinema lover without need for an artificial, romanticized approach to the teen experience, do yourself a favor and check out, "Whatever".
    tutifruti444

    good, true film

    I saw this film quite by accident one night on one of the sky movies channels. I wasn't sure about it at the start, but it was one of those films that you start watching not intending to finish watching it, but them get into it. This is what happened with me and in the end i thought it was an excellent movie.

    Mr. Stanley was like my maths teacher and the art teacher just like my art teacher; enthusiastic, encouraging, and all round fantastic teacher.

    I think the strong leading female character, Anna, was well acted and portrayed very realistically. Both female actresses are very talented and deserve all good that has come out of this film.

    More like this

    Whatever
    6.9
    Whatever
    No Is Yes
    No Is Yes
    Little Fish, Strange Pond
    3.8
    Little Fish, Strange Pond
    Anyone But Me
    7.2
    Anyone But Me
    Stir of Echoes
    6.9
    Stir of Echoes
    Dragonfly
    6.1
    Dragonfly
    Whatever Works
    7.1
    Whatever Works
    Persuasion
    7.6
    Persuasion
    The Cleaning Lady
    7.0
    The Cleaning Lady
    Lost & Found in Cleveland
    6.5
    Lost & Found in Cleveland
    Lone Star
    7.4
    Lone Star
    La belle noiseuse
    7.5
    La belle noiseuse

    Related interests

    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    French
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      Sam can be seen in at least two scenes wearing Batman: The Animated Series pajamas. BTAS debuted in 1992. Whatever takes place in 1981.
    • Crazy credits
      New Jersey [played by] West Virginia
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Lethal Weapon 4/Whatever/Small Soldiers/Madeline/Pi (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Mystery Achievement
      Written by Chrissie Hynde

      Performed by The Pretenders

      Courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd.

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ17

    • How long is Whatever?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Classics
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Conflicto de juventud
    • Filming locations
      • Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Anyway Productions
      • Circle Films
      • DuArt Film and Video
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $307,037
    • Gross worldwide
      • $307,037
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 52m(112 min)
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.