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The Rocker

  • 2008
  • PG-13
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
41K
YOUR RATING
Rainn Wilson, Josh Gad, Emma Stone, and Teddy Geiger in The Rocker (2008)
This is a teaser trailer for The Rocker, directed by Peter Cattaneo.
Play trailer2:30
6 Videos
34 Photos
Quirky ComedyRaunchy ComedyComedyMusic

In the 1980s, a drummer is abandoned by his band just before they become rock superstars. Twenty years later, the drummer sees his second chance at stardom arise when he is asked to perform ... Read allIn the 1980s, a drummer is abandoned by his band just before they become rock superstars. Twenty years later, the drummer sees his second chance at stardom arise when he is asked to perform with his teenage nephew's high school rock band.In the 1980s, a drummer is abandoned by his band just before they become rock superstars. Twenty years later, the drummer sees his second chance at stardom arise when he is asked to perform with his teenage nephew's high school rock band.

  • Director
    • Peter Cattaneo
  • Writers
    • Maya Forbes
    • Wallace Wolodarsky
    • Ryan Jaffe
  • Stars
    • Rainn Wilson
    • Josh Gad
    • Christina Applegate
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    41K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Cattaneo
    • Writers
      • Maya Forbes
      • Wallace Wolodarsky
      • Ryan Jaffe
    • Stars
      • Rainn Wilson
      • Josh Gad
      • Christina Applegate
    • 129User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos6

    The Rocker: Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    The Rocker: Teaser Trailer
    Podcast - Giuseppe
    Clip 2:39
    Podcast - Giuseppe
    Podcast - Giuseppe
    Clip 2:39
    Podcast - Giuseppe
    The Rocker: Naked Drummer
    Clip 2:43
    The Rocker: Naked Drummer
    The Rocker: Pocket O Puke Featuring Teddy Geiger (Exclusive)
    Clip 0:59
    The Rocker: Pocket O Puke Featuring Teddy Geiger (Exclusive)
    Rocker, The: Podcast Reunion (Born To Rock Edition Exclusive)
    Clip 2:30
    Rocker, The: Podcast Reunion (Born To Rock Edition Exclusive)
    MTV Panel:  A Satellite Kind of Thing
    Featurette 2:10
    MTV Panel: A Satellite Kind of Thing

    Photos34

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    + 28
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    Top cast58

    Edit
    Rainn Wilson
    Rainn Wilson
    • Fish
    Josh Gad
    Josh Gad
    • Matt
    Christina Applegate
    Christina Applegate
    • Kim
    Teddy Geiger
    Teddy Geiger
    • Curtis
    Emma Stone
    Emma Stone
    • Amelia
    Jeff Garlin
    Jeff Garlin
    • Stan
    Jane Lynch
    Jane Lynch
    • Lisa
    Jason Sudeikis
    Jason Sudeikis
    • David Marshall
    Will Arnett
    Will Arnett
    • Lex
    Howard Hesseman
    Howard Hesseman
    • Gator
    Fred Armisen
    Fred Armisen
    • Kerr
    Bradley Cooper
    Bradley Cooper
    • Trash
    Lonny Ross
    Lonny Ross
    • Sticks
    Jon Glaser
    Jon Glaser
    • Billy
    • (as Jonathan Glaser)
    Jane Krakowski
    Jane Krakowski
    • Carol
    Samantha Weinstein
    Samantha Weinstein
    • Violet
    Demetri Martin
    Demetri Martin
    • Kip
    Aziz Ansari
    Aziz Ansari
    • Aziz
    • Director
      • Peter Cattaneo
    • Writers
      • Maya Forbes
      • Wallace Wolodarsky
      • Ryan Jaffe
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews129

    6.240.9K
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    Featured reviews

    8metallipowerman5000

    A lot better than expected

    Saw the movie with very low expectations...but was surprised.

    I mean seriously, i thought this movie was going to be completely lame, and i was just waiting for that one "stupid" moment that defined the movie as a complete Flop,etc. But to my surprise, the movie just seemed to keep getting better! (especially the beginning, with Rain Wilson chasing after his ex-band mates in the van, WOW, i literally almost fell out of my chair! I love unpredictable crazy moments like that...and this movie was full of them.....)

    Im a huge fan of Rain Wilson, and I KNOW he's an underdog actor who is not being used to his full potential.

    I just LOVE how his character is throughout the movie, he's just got this whole Jack-Black meets Dwight(from the Office) thing going on! He does a very good job of portraying a kind of washed up crazy rock star, yet still very sharp and witty at times....he just seems to be able to switch them on and off during the movie.

    Overall this movie was A lot better than i thought, had a very good rock flow to it, yet positive mood.

    If you see this movie, go into it NOT expecting much!(just like the trailers make you think) You'll be most likely surprised by all the witty funny moments that just flare out of nowhere!

    -----

    THE GOOD -

    -Rain Wilson is VERY funny -He does a good job acting, "The Office" fans will like it -Movie has a decent positive storyline IMO -The costumes were PRICELESS -The faces Rain makes, and his quotes were excellent..(not quite as weird/good as the Office, but definitely good enough.) -Alot of unpredictable little quick moments and quotes!

    THE BAD -

    -I couldn't stand the borderline EMO sounding songs the band played thru-out the movie sometimes!(although Rain was still his hardcore self and never missed a friggin beat!) -The storyline just suddenly moves REAL FAST...then all of a sudden slows back down to normal speed....like how they suddenly get a record contract,etc....
    8intelearts

    Comedy - for laughs - not irony or sarcasm - and all the better for it.

    This was the biggest surprise of the year - bar none.

    A great comedy - as in laughs, feel good, and just plain enjoyable.

    The plot of the loser who makes good at rock'n'roll second time around is very Jack Black and Rainn Wilson does a GREAT job - there is no recourse to gross or sarcastic humor here - rather it plays on its rock roots, chucks in some stupidity, and some kick-ass tunes, and lots of excellent one liners and like I say totally surprised us as to how genuinely funny and warm-hearted this is.

    Great cast and a great script - sure it's not perfect, but after all the pseudo-comedy and angst of 2008 it was refreshing just to sit back and enjoy an entertaining movie.

    we loved it and are normally really cynical about comedies - but this rocks and would recommend to anyone as a real effort by all involved to stop being smarter than the audience and just enjoy life - in two and a half words? - it rocks!
    8morten-summers

    Pretty Surprised

    So I just went to a pre screening of this film in downtown Chicago and Mr rainn Wilson himself was there to do a Q & A afterwards.

    This movie was actually laugh out loud funny, it shows a lot of character sub plots and builds a good and funny funny time telling about each character. This is a go for the win movie and even gave me tingles once and awhile. There is a lot of sub plots and it all works together for the ending. It is about Rainn's character who was in a in a rock band that was on their way to being huge and they kick him out of the band. He starts a band with his nephew and his friends and show them how to be true rockstar giving himself the chance and the dream that was cut from him. I give it a 8 out of 10 and Rainn was a true comic.
    7ajk08

    Feel Good

    This movie is as close as you can get to 90 minutes of feel good film. I'm a fan of Rainn Wilson from (obviously) The Office as well as Super and My Super ex girl fired which are also pretty decent films. Its a shame this bombed at the box office because it really had the potential to be a really GOOD summer movie.

    Everyone in the cast does a great job. All the band members have their own 'story' and explored personality which makes you feel much more invested and care about whats actually happening to them. There's 1 or 2 laugh out loud moments with Rainns physical comedy but most of all this is a film to smile and feel good about. Nothing makes you cringe or think that obviously isn't funny and i would definitely recommend it.
    8SnoopyStyle

    Rainn Wilson funny

    In 1986, drummer Fish (Rainn Wilson) gets dropped when the president of the label wants to replace him with his nephew. Twenty years later, the band has become legendary success while he gets fired from his pointless job. He but really his girlfriend Carol breaks up his relationship. He's forced to live with his sister Lisa and her family. His nerdy nephew Matt (Josh Gad) has a garage band with Amelia (Emma Stone) and Curtis (Teddy Geiger). They lose their drummer and are forced to ask Fish to play with them at prom. It doesn't go well and he goes to apologize. He meets Curtis' mother Kim (Christina Applegate). Lisa kicks Fish out of the house and then their practice with a naked Fish goes viral.

    Rainn Wilson is terrific playing this character. He's been playing the same self-delusional slightly-angry loud-mouthed damaged character. The greatness comes from the fact that he's still likable while being a jerk. Sure, it's formulaic sweetness and copying other movies like 'School of Rock'. I don't see that as a defect. The three kids are well cast. Geiger is a good tortured lead and he can sing too. Emma Stone is the adorably dark Emma Stone. Josh Gad is a great nerd.

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    Related interests

    Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Bud Cort, Anjelica Huston, Michael Gambon, Noah Taylor, Matthew Gray Gubler, Seu Jorge, and Waris Ahluwalia in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
    Quirky Comedy
    Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane in Ted 2 (2015)
    Raunchy Comedy
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    Comedy
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Emma Stone learned to play bass for the movie. She can play all the songs in the movie.
    • Goofs
      When "Fish" is flung off the top of Vesuvius' van he lands with his head towards the van, but in the next shot he is sideways.
    • Quotes

      Robert 'Fish' Fishman: Loads of elevators play Celine Dion - that don't make it right.

    • Alternate versions
      The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to make one cut in order to obtain a 12A classification. The cut was made to a partially spoken use of strong language. An uncut 15 classification was available.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Dark Knight/Hancock/Meet Dave/Journey to the Center of the Earth/Hellboy II: The Golden Army/The Wackness/Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Promised Land
      Written by Chad Fischer, Timothy Bright and Chris Link

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Rocker?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "The Rocker" based on a novel?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 20, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Un Rockero De Locura
    • Filming locations
      • Cleveland, Ohio, USA(Exterior)
    • Production companies
      • Fox Atomic
      • 21 Laps Entertainment
      • Rocan Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,409,528
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,636,048
      • Aug 24, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,808,935
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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