Overview
A heartfelt exploration of teenage love and the lengths one will go to win a heart.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warmhearted
- sincere
- date night
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a funny, heartfelt, emotionally realistic, and definitive Generation X teen romance, despite some uneven melodrama and limited adult perspective.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Aimless kickboxer Lloyd Dobler pursues valedictorian Diane Court, making class, personality, and expectation central to their relationship.
The summer after high school graduation forces Lloyd and Diane to confront separation, independence, and uncertain futures.
The relationship develops through awkward conversations, emotional reversals, family pressure, and ordinary teenage uncertainty.
Its portrayal of teenage flakes, fringe personalities, graduation anxiety, and left-of-center identity made it a defining Generation X movie.
Films like Say Anything..., and why
The Breakfast Club
shared teen romance, coming-of-age uncertainty, witty emotional realism, and opposites-attract chemistry
Pretty in Pink
shared high school setting, teenage angst, sincere romance, and late-1980s youth-culture atmosphere
Some Kind of Wonderful
shared heartfelt teen romance, awkward outsider protagonist, and gentle coming-of-age comedy
The Spectacular Now
shared emotionally grounded young-adult romance, family pressure, and warm dramatic comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Cameron Crowe
- Release Date
- 1989-04-14
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1169)
Cast
- John Cusack
- Ione Skye
- John Mahoney
- Lili Taylor
- Amy Brooks
- Pamela Adlon
- Jason Gould
- Loren Dean
- Johnny Green
- Jeremy Piven
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Say Anything... about?
- An earnest Seattle kickboxer risks rejection, family opposition, and an uncertain future to prove himself worthy of the brilliant girl he loves.
- What is Say Anything... like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Say Anything... as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Say Anything... violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Say Anything... as mild.
- What did critics think of Say Anything...?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a funny, heartfelt, emotionally realistic, and definitive Generation X teen romance, despite some uneven melodrama and limited adult perspective.
- Which films are like Say Anything...?
- Films with a similar feel include The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, and The Spectacular Now.
- How long is Say Anything...?
- Say Anything... runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch Say Anything...?
- In United States, Say Anything... is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
