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Dying to Belong

  • TV Movie
  • 1997
  • Not Rated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1K
YOUR RATING
Hilary Swank in Dying to Belong (1997)
Drama

When a girl's friend is killed by a college hazing, she is the only one who can find out the truth.When a girl's friend is killed by a college hazing, she is the only one who can find out the truth.When a girl's friend is killed by a college hazing, she is the only one who can find out the truth.

  • Director
    • William A. Graham
  • Writer
    • Ron McGee
  • Stars
    • Hilary Swank
    • Sarah Chalke
    • Jenna von Oÿ
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William A. Graham
    • Writer
      • Ron McGee
    • Stars
      • Hilary Swank
      • Sarah Chalke
      • Jenna von Oÿ
    • 22User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast32

    Edit
    Hilary Swank
    Hilary Swank
    • Lisa Connors
    Sarah Chalke
    Sarah Chalke
    • Drea Davenport
    Jenna von Oÿ
    Jenna von Oÿ
    • Shelby Blake
    • (as Jenna von Oy)
    Laurel Holloman
    Laurel Holloman
    • Shannon
    Jennifer Warren
    Jennifer Warren
    • Dean Curtis
    Gregory Alan Williams
    Gregory Alan Williams
    • Carl Ridgeley
    • (as GregAlan Williams)
    Tracy Middendorf
    Tracy Middendorf
    • Kim Lessing
    Isabella Hofmann
    Isabella Hofmann
    • Gwen Connors
    Mark-Paul Gosselaar
    Mark-Paul Gosselaar
    • Steven Tyler
    Amanda Wilmshurst
    Amanda Wilmshurst
    • Terry
    Michael Flynn
    Michael Flynn
    • Sergeant Sands
    Melissa Pace-Tanner
    • Paige Tashman
    • (as Melissa Pace)
    Marlowe Dawn
    • Friend #1
    Dallen Gettling
    • Leader
    Jan Hanks
    • Mrs. Blake
    Trent Hanson
    • Jamison
    Rachelle Hardy
    Rachelle Hardy
    • Active…
    Joy Haynes
    Joy Haynes
    • Blue
    • Director
      • William A. Graham
    • Writer
      • Ron McGee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    5.51K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    JBoze313

    One of the WORST

    This movie is ridiculous. The writing is horrible and the story is completely unbelievable. I especially love when the cops just happen to waiting for the girl that has the pot planted in her car. Then, I love how her mother and her are leaving the police station, and the mother says 'good thing they let you off with a warning this time." Oh, yes...I forgot, they always do that when you're arrested for possession. Get real. The girls in this story are fake as well. I mean, the girl that played Becky in the later years of Roseanne, she couldn't act if her life depended on it. Same goes for saved by the bell boy...Mark Paul whatever his name is. He should definitely stick to comedy and nothing else. The worst thing about this movie, besides all the acting, is the fact that it's so terribly fake. Things don't happen the way they did in the movie, and the plot holes were big enough to drive an army of mac trucks thru. 1/10
    tom cody

    I agree! Best TV movie ever.

    I would have to say that this movie is, hands down, the greatest TV movie ever. And I can see from some of your comments out there that I'm not alone in thinking that. The budding relationship between Mark-Paul Gosselar and Hillary Swank is brought along very well, and the two actors pull it off convincingly. I'll pick this movie over any football game!
    Lindsay-7

    One of the best TV movies made (from what I saw:-o)

    I never actually saw this movie in its fullness, but what I saw impressed me. It had a great teenage cast headed by heartthrob Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Hilary Swank of The Next Karate Kid and Buffy,The Vampire Slayer (the movie) fame did an exceptional job. I don't really like Jenna Von Oy but she was good in her short amount of film. Can't wait to see this movie in its fullness.
    hpayne

    One of the best made-for-tv movies out there!!!

    This is one of my favorite tv movies. It keeps you guessing from start to finish. It is about one girls struggle to find the truth when her best friend dies under mysterious circumstances. She sacrificies her friends and her reputation to discover the truth. Hilary Swank is phenomenal as usual and great performances were also done by Jenna, Sarah and Tracy! I recommend this movie to everyone!!
    agirlwhothinks

    Completely stupid and false

    This movie was probably one of the most inaccurate portrayals of sorority life ever put on television. I don't know if it's just one of those wild Hollywood imaginations or some sick person who came up with this idea for a movie. It certainly is scandalous, thrilling, creepy or what-have-you, but it does not in any way reflect sorority life at all.

    The folks in Hollywood (and some regular citizens) seem to have this idea that sorority members are either elitist snobs, airhead bimbos, the town tramps or vindictive, cruel and spiteful people. Nonsense!

    There are very strict guidelines for how sorority members are to behave and conduct themselves both socially and academically -- rules that are set by the sororities' national headquarters and the schools at which they are affiliated. Alcohol is prohibited on sorority property. Boyfriends are not permitted in the back of the house (where the bedrooms are). The importance of academic excellence and community service are also greatly stressed. Activities that are deemed unbecoming of a person in a sorority (i.e. public intoxication, posing for Playboy, etc.) can be and often are grounds for expulsion. In short, most if not all of the sororities at U.S. colleges try to ensure that their members are academically, morally and socially well-rounded and responsible citizens. Many powerful, successful and famous women have been part of sorority life during their college years.

    I was in college when this movie first aired and the president of my sorority along with all of the other sorority and fraternity presidents on campus called the local NBC affiliate that was airing the movie to complain. Because of that phone call, the station sent out a reporter who interviewed these upstanding, responsible young people and gave them a chance to show that the movie was totally inaccurate and a slap in the face to all of the well-rounded people who have been part of the Greek system on college campuses all over the country.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Hilary Swank and Tracy Middendorf both had recurring roles on TV'S Beverly Hills 90210 as girls involved with Ian Ziering's Steve Sanders.
    • Connections
      Remade as Dying to Belong (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      The Promise of a New Day
      Performed by Paula Abdul

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 24, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dödligt spel
    • Production companies
      • Hallmark Entertainment
      • Von Zerneck-Sertner Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h(120 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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