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Detroit Rock City

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
43K
YOUR RATING
Gene Simmons in Detroit Rock City (1999)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:19
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Teen ComedyAdventureComedyMusic

In 1978, four rebellious teenagers try to scam their way into a KISS concert.In 1978, four rebellious teenagers try to scam their way into a KISS concert.In 1978, four rebellious teenagers try to scam their way into a KISS concert.

  • Director
    • Adam Rifkin
  • Writer
    • Carl V. Dupré
  • Stars
    • Edward Furlong
    • Giuseppe Andrews
    • James DeBello
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    43K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Writer
      • Carl V. Dupré
    • Stars
      • Edward Furlong
      • Giuseppe Andrews
      • James DeBello
    • 216User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
    • 33Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    Detroit Rock City
    Trailer 1:19
    Detroit Rock City
    Detroit Rock City
    Trailer 1:21
    Detroit Rock City
    Detroit Rock City
    Trailer 1:21
    Detroit Rock City

    Photos225

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    Top cast87

    Edit
    Edward Furlong
    Edward Furlong
    • Hawk
    Giuseppe Andrews
    Giuseppe Andrews
    • Lex
    James DeBello
    James DeBello
    • Trip
    • (as James De Bello)
    Sam Huntington
    Sam Huntington
    • Jam
    Lin Shaye
    Lin Shaye
    • Mrs. Bruce
    Melanie Lynskey
    Melanie Lynskey
    • Beth
    Natasha Lyonne
    Natasha Lyonne
    • Christine
    Miles Dougal
    Miles Dougal
    • Elvis
    Nick Scotti
    Nick Scotti
    • Kenny
    Emmanuelle Chriqui
    Emmanuelle Chriqui
    • Barbara
    David Quane
    David Quane
    • Bobby
    Rodger Barton
    • Mr. Bumsteen
    Kathryn Haggis
    • Mrs. Bumsteen
    David Gardner
    • Priest
    Shannon Tweed
    Shannon Tweed
    • Amanda Finch
    Kristin Booth
    Kristin Booth
    • Cashier
    Joe Flaherty
    Joe Flaherty
    • Father McNulty
    Cody Jones
    • Little Kid
    • Director
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Writer
      • Carl V. Dupré
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews216

    6.842.5K
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    Featured reviews

    7feyde

    4 kids do ANYTHING for KISS tickets in 1978

    Hilarious...not a brainy or brilliant picture but it carries some off-the-wall moments that make it all worthwhile. The dialogue is unflinchingly crude and certain scenes will just catch you off-guard...definately worth your time. Don't worry if you aren't into KISS...it's more about their journey TO the concert.
    8stefanlfortig

    Underrated Comedy Gold!

    Being a massive Edward Furlong fan (my favorite movie of all-time being 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and 1998's American History X being one of my favorites too) i decided to give the film a watch. only thing i'll say is: don't listen to the critics and negative reviews. this movie is easily the funniest i've watched in years, the soundtrack is an absolute BEAST (if you're into Hard Rock and Heavy Metal give it a listen too!), the plot is some of the finest comedy i've seen in a long time. truly an underrated gem - 8/10, a definite must-watch for any comedy and rock n' roll fans!
    8jordancasu

    Detroit Rock City ?............. Awesome !!!

    This movie was great,funny,cool,realistic and entertaining The Story of four teens who play in a KISS cover band who got tickets to go see KISS in Detroit, but a series of unfortunate events stop them from going to see the concert,and they don't stop at nothing to get all the way to Detroit for the Show of their lives.

    The Best thing about this movie is that the characters are believable, they are exactly what you would expect, and they act exactly like normal teenagers would in the late 70', in most teen movies you see the usual cliché's, but not here.

    All in all this movie is very entertaining, you never get bored, and the movie really puts you in these guys shoes and feel just like they would in that type of situation.Plus the movie is filled with an awesome soundtrack, with bands like AC/DC, Van Halen and of course KISS who also appear in the film.

    So my advice to you (if you like good ol Rock n' Roll and Fun movies) is to rent Detroit Rock City invite some friends and Have a great Time.
    MetalGeek

    Hilarious, and Not Just For Kiss Fans

    I was a huge KISS fan for much of my teenage life (finally seeing the original band on their 1996 Reunion Tour was one of the highlights of my life, as I was too young to witness them in their '70s heyday), so DETROIT ROCK CITY was mandatory viewing for me when it first hit video. I would've loved to have seen it during its short theatrical run, but sadly, this overlooked movie tanked at the box office and disappeared within a week of its release, which astounds me to this day, because even if you're not a KISS fan, any rock and roller past or present should be able to relate to this story of musical fanaticism, no matter what band(s) you might be into.

    The film does share many similarities to an earlier classic, 1979's ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL (starring the Ramones), but thanks to the more liberal time period in which it was made, DETROIT ROCK CITY is a lot more foul-mouthed and raunchier, which may have cost the producers a PG-13 rating, but it just fine by me... after all, real high school kids don't say "darn" and "heck," they spew the F-Word liberally into every sentence! Anyway, our story revolves around four high school misfits circa 1978 whose main goal in life (other than playing bad covers of KISS songs in their basement rec room) is to finally see KISS live in concert at Detroit's Cobo Hall arena. When one boy's fundamentalist Mom discovers the "demonic" concert tickets in her son's jacket and burns them, it sets the four friends on a quest to figure out how to get into the concert at all costs, and they set a hilarious series of misadventures in motion along the way. In no particular order, the boys run afoul of a gang of disco-loving toughs on the highway, get mixed up in the middle of a convenience store robbery (thwarted by a Stretch Armstrong doll!), take the stage in a male strip joint to win money for tickets, get their car towed from the mean streets of Detroit, and rescue one of their own from a Christian boy's school. The film's eye candy quotient is filled very nicely by a cameo from Shannon Tweed (real-life companion of Kiss' Gene Simmons), and there's even a tender moment of teenage romance as one boy loses his virginity (in a church's confessional no less!). All this madness is set to an irresistible hard-rockin' soundtrack that features not only Kiss but other 70s titans like Blue Oyster Cult and Ted Nugent. Do the boys finally make it to Cobo Hall to see their heroes? I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet, therefore I highly recommend that you check out this overlooked comedy gem. DETROIT ROCK CITY is a hysterical trip down memory lane for anyone who's ever cranked up their favorite song extremely LOUD...and as Kiss themselves once said, if it's too loud,you're too old. Thankfully I'm not too old to enjoy this movie!!
    7smakawhat

    Fun concert adventure

    Being that the story is about kids who want to go to see their favourite band, you know that in the end they will somehow get to see the show. It's a question if you enjoy the ride to get there. And I did.

    Although being a teen comedy (which always means an obligatory puke scene), and some physical comedy which was a little distracting, this film was just fun. The film works cause everyone can think back to the days in high school when you worshiped a band, played their music, and would DIE to see them play live, and this film captures that feeling perfectly. It also captures the era perfectly with the music, cars, good soundtrack, and the pot shots at of course... disco (Did you see those SHOES the disco chicks were wearing??). And of course it was VERY funny in places (I thought my jam sessions were bad...).

    Also the film had me guessing as to what would happen, sometimes I thought it was predictable, then it switched gears and surprised me, particularly the ending which was so perfectly sweet!! Perfect music high school camradare done wonderfully. Even though I am not a fan of KISS, everyone can think back to the time when your fav band was your TRUE means of salvation.

    Rating 7 out of 10.

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    Related interests

    Lacey Chabert, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried in Mean Girls (2004)
    Teen Comedy
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
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    Music

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      KISS re-enacted a 1970s-era concert with over 3,000 fans for the movie.
    • Goofs
      In the garage scene at the start of the movie, Trip is seen playing a guitar that was not released until 1996.
    • Quotes

      Jam: Hey what's up mom? I'm gonna ask you this nicely first. Can I have my drumsticks back?

      Mrs. Bruce: Your drumsticks are the least of your worries young man. You ran out on God! My son just ran out on God! You are in a world of...

      Jam: TROUBLE! HA HA HA! I've been in trouble for the past 12 hours! HELLO? You know I'm going to be in St. Bernards Boarding School for the next 2 years of my life, remember?

      Mrs. Bruce: YES!

      Jam: I am going to be out of your hair until I am a legal adult!

      Mrs. Bruce: YES!

      Jam: Then all you have to do is go to church, light a candle, and pray to some stupid little statue for me and all is forgiven and forgotten, right mom? Then you can spend your days in a guilt free pursuit of more constructive activities like telling everybody ELSE how screwed up THEIR lives are. And then you no longer need the patience and understanding required to talk to your own son on some normal plain. And then that way you don't have to think about how tough it was for you when you were growing up and its probably a good thing too cause if you did, you'd realize what a lousy, goddamn shitty-ass parent you are!

      Mrs. Bruce: Jeremiah... what has gotten into you?

      Jam: [Yells over bullhorn to crowd of church-goers] I JUST LOST MY VIRGINITY IN A CONFESSIONAL BOOTH! LORD... HAVE... MERCY! Now, for the last time... Mom... Give me back my FUCKING drumsticks...

      [long pause]

      Jam: please.

    • Crazy credits
      The New Line Cinema fanfare is played on electric guitar instead of the usual orchestral version.
    • Alternate versions
      The DVD edition of the film retains more footage not seen in theaters. These scenes are:
      • A longer scene in the car when Lin Shaye and Sam Huntington are driving to St. Bernards Academy.
      • Longer scene on the highway which Natasha Lyonne and her clan is introduced. It runs about 3-5 minutes longer.
      • A longer scene of the opening to which the four boys are singing "Rock N Roll All Nite"
      • Longer confessional scene with Melanie Lynski and Sam Huntington.
      • Longer scene with "Elvis", the custodian.
      • Longer scene with Shannon Tweed and Edward Furlong.
      • At least four alternate takes of the final concert scene.
    • Connections
      Edited into Detroit Rock City: Deleted Scenes (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Highway to Hell
      Written by Malcolm Young, Angus Young and Bon Scott (as Bon Scott)

      Performed by Marilyn Manson

      Produced by Marilyn Manson

      Courtesy of Nothing/Interscope Records

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Detroit Rock City?Powered by Alexa
    • Headings, a semi-official version, v1.00:
    • Songs, v1.01:

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 13, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rockeros rebeldes
    • Filming locations
      • Billy Sue's Rebel Garage, Toronto, Ontario, Canada(Chop Shop)
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Takoma Entertainment Group
      • Base 12 Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $34,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,217,115
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,005,512
      • Aug 15, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,217,115
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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