Overview
A poignant exploration of youth and belonging in the heart of Los Angeles.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- raw
- witty
- nostalgic movie night
- indie film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a clear-eyed, nostalgic, and visually assured coming-of-age debut, while noting uneven pacing and an occasionally underdeveloped structure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The 1990s Los Angeles setting is rendered through skateboarding, skate punk, streetwear, and an observational recollection of adolescent culture.
Stevie models himself on older skateboarders while encountering misogyny, aggression, homophobia, and competitive male bonding.
The film’s 4:3 presentation and textured period aesthetic evoke home video and 1990s youth media.
Stevie’s relationships with wealthier schoolmates and the skateboard crew sharpen his awareness of status, race, and privilege.
Films like mid90s, and why
Stand by Me
shared coming-of-age focus, adolescent male friendship, class tension, and nostalgic but unsentimental period atmosphere
Lady Bird
shared intimate teenage perspective, family dysfunction, social awkwardness, and emotionally observant coming-of-age drama
Skate Kitchen
shared skateboarding culture, youthful alienation, rough-edged masculinity, and friendship-driven adolescent self-discovery
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
shared 1990s setting, outsider adolescence, dysfunctional family dynamics, and bittersweet nostalgia
Movie Details
- Director
- Jonah Hill
- Release Date
- 2018-10-19
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (1868)
Cast
- Sunny Suljic
- Katherine Waterston
- Lucas Hedges
- Na-kel Smith
- Olan Prenatt
- Gio Galicia
- Ryder McLaughlin
- Alexa Demie
- Fig Camila Abner
- Liana Perlich
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- 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 mid90s about?
- A lonely Los Angeles teenager finds belonging among skateboarders, only to discover that the masculine world he wants to join carries its own cruelty and contradictions.
- What is mid90s like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of mid90s as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is mid90s violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in mid90s as mild.
- What did critics think of mid90s?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a clear-eyed, nostalgic, and visually assured coming-of-age debut, while noting uneven pacing and an occasionally underdeveloped structure.
- Which films are like mid90s?
- Films with a similar feel include Stand by Me, Lady Bird, Skate Kitchen, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
- How long is mid90s?
- mid90s runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch mid90s?
- In United States, mid90s streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
