Overview
Teenage rebellion meets authority in a suburban landscape where boredom breeds chaos.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- rebellious
- gritty
- tense
- late night cult movie viewing
- 1970s cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a compelling and gritty portrait of teenage alienation and rebellion, strengthened by its youthful cast and social observation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Carl, Cory, Richie, Mark, and their peers rebel against the restrictive New Granada community after the death of one of their own.
The teenagers’ lack of meaningful opportunities and constant friction with authority drive the community’s mounting unrest.
Police presence, brutality, and the teenagers’ escalating resistance form the central social conflict.
Rock ’n’ roll, drug culture, and the 1970s teen milieu shape the film’s rebellious atmosphere.
Films like Over the Edge, and why
Rumble Fish
shared teen rebellion, alienated youth, boredom, and confrontational authority figures
The Outsiders
shared coming-of-age drama, delinquent teenagers, social marginalization, and youthful defiance
River's Edge
shared raw teen alienation, crime drama, rebellious youth culture, and abrasive social realism
The Last Picture Show
shared restless suburban adolescence, peer pressure, and rebellion against restrictive institutions
Movie Details
- Director
- Jonathan Kaplan
- Release Date
- 1979-05-18
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (146)
Cast
- Michael Eric Kramer
- Pamela Ludwig
- Matt Dillon
- Vincent Spano
- Tom Fergus
- Harry Northup
- Andy Romano
- Ellen Geer
- Richard Jamison
- Julia Pomeroy
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 Over the Edge about?
- In a tightly controlled Colorado community, bored teenagers turn grief and resentment into a volatile revolt against the adults policing their lives.
- What is Over the Edge like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Over the Edge as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Over the Edge violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Over the Edge as moderate.
- What did critics think of Over the Edge?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a compelling and gritty portrait of teenage alienation and rebellion, strengthened by its youthful cast and social observation.
- Which films are like Over the Edge?
- Films with a similar feel include Rumble Fish, The Outsiders, River's Edge, and The Last Picture Show.
- How long is Over the Edge?
- Over the Edge runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Over the Edge?
- In United States, Over the Edge is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
