Rebel Without a Cause
A troubled teenager seeks belonging and emotional refuge while dangerous peer rituals expose the fractures within his family and community.
Overview
A poignant exploration of teenage angst and rebellion in a post-war America.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- restless
- anguished
- melodramatic
- classic film night
- james dean retrospective
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Nicholas Ray’s emotionally charged teen drama as a culturally significant classic, especially praising its performances, direction, and portrait of youthful alienation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jim Stark repeatedly turns inner turmoil and family frustration into peer confrontations, knife fights, and dangerous challenges.
Jim, Judy, and Plato struggle against parents and authorities who respond inadequately to their emotional needs.
Nicholas Ray uses Warner Bros. widescreen production and visually expansive locations, including the seaside cliff, to amplify youthful turmoil.
James Dean’s Jim Stark became an enduring symbol of postwar youth rebellion and alienation.
Films like Rebel Without a Cause, and why
The Wild One
shared teen rebellion, generational conflict, coming-of-age drama, and charismatic young lead
East of Eden
shared 1950s youth alienation, family tension, troubled adolescence, and rebellious outsider protagonist
The Last Picture Show
shared emotionally intense coming-of-age drama, teenage alienation, and doomed adolescent friendship
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicholas Ray
- Release Date
- 1955-10-27
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (1827)
Cast
- James Dean
- Natalie Wood
- Sal Mineo
- Jim Backus
- Ann Doran
- Corey Allen
- William Hopper
- Rochelle Hudson
- Dennis Hopper
- Edward Platt
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- 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 Rebel Without a Cause about?
- A troubled teenager seeks belonging and emotional refuge while dangerous peer rituals expose the fractures within his family and community.
- What is Rebel Without a Cause like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rebel Without a Cause as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Rebel Without a Cause violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Rebel Without a Cause as moderate.
- What did critics think of Rebel Without a Cause?
- Critics broadly regard Nicholas Ray’s emotionally charged teen drama as a culturally significant classic, especially praising its performances, direction, and portrait of youthful alienation.
- Which films are like Rebel Without a Cause?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wild One, East of Eden, and The Last Picture Show.
- How long is Rebel Without a Cause?
- Rebel Without a Cause runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Rebel Without a Cause?
- In United States, Rebel Without a Cause streams on YouTube TV.
