Overview
A summer job at a rundown amusement park leads to unexpected lessons in love and life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- nostalgic
- warm
- lazy weekend
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a humorous, nostalgic, insightful coming-of-age comedy elevated by its sparky ensemble and emotional realism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The 1987 setting and extensive use of late-1980s pop songs shape the film's emotional atmosphere.
James loses his planned European trip and must work at an amusement park before college, learning to revise his assumptions about adulthood.
Adventureland's shabby amusement-park jobs organize James's friendships, romance, conflicts, and painful lessons.
More than forty late-1980s songs anchor the action and reinforce the film's nostalgic identity.
Films like Adventureland, and why
The Way Way Back
shared nostalgic coming of age, awkward young adulthood, romantic uncertainty, and warm ensemble comedy
The Last Days of Disco
shared 1980s nostalgia, youthful self-discovery, workplace misadventures, and romantic comedy drama
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
shared witty coming of age, emotionally messy romance, indie comedy-drama tone, and disaffected young protagonists
Dazed and Confused
shared teen-to-adult transition, bittersweet romance, character-driven humor, and nostalgic period atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Greg Mottola
- Release Date
- 2009-04-03
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (2423)
Cast
- Jesse Eisenberg
- Kristen Stewart
- Martin Starr
- Kristen Wiig
- Bill Hader
- Margarita Levieva
- Jack Gilpin
- Josh Pais
- Wendie Malick
- Mary Birdsong
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Adventureland about?
- A stalled college-bound graduate finds unexpected love, friendship, and self-knowledge among the eccentric employees of a fading 1980s amusement park.
- What is Adventureland like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Adventureland as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Adventureland violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Adventureland.
- What did critics think of Adventureland?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a humorous, nostalgic, insightful coming-of-age comedy elevated by its sparky ensemble and emotional realism.
- Which films are like Adventureland?
- Films with a similar feel include The Way Way Back, The Last Days of Disco, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Dazed and Confused.
- How long is Adventureland?
- Adventureland runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Adventureland?
- In United States, Adventureland is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
