Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- raucous
- irreverent
- nostalgic
- classic rock movie night
- nostalgic teen comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film's rock soundtrack and occasional comic energy outweighed by its silly plot and over-the-top directing style.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lex, Trip, Hawk, and Jam undertake escalating schemes to reach the KISS concert in Detroit.
The boys' identities, ambitions, and dangerous choices are shaped by KISS and the band's influence on them as musicians.
The teenagers steal, cheat, strip, and engage in increasingly outrageous behavior to secure concert access.
The story follows high school students in 1978 and foregrounds 1970s rock music, anti-rock parental authority, and adolescent defiance.
Films like Detroit Rock City, and why
Road Trip
teen road-movie comedy driven by outrageous misadventures and rebellious friendship
Wayne's World
raucous coming-of-age comedy centered on music fandom, youthful rebellion, and escalating bad decisions
Dazed and Confused
nostalgic teen ensemble comedy with irreverent humor, countercultural energy, and a soundtrack-driven identity
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam Rifkin
- Release Date
- 1999-08-13
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (471)
Cast
- Giuseppe Andrews
- James DeBello
- Edward Furlong
- Sam Huntington
- Lin Shaye
- Melanie Lynskey
- Natasha Lyonne
- Shannon Tweed
- Emmanuelle Chriqui
- Kristin Booth
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon 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 Detroit Rock City about?
- Four rebellious teenagers turn a desperate trek to a KISS concert into a chaotic, music-fueled test of friendship and devotion.
- What is Detroit Rock City like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Detroit Rock City as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Detroit Rock City violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Detroit Rock City as mild.
- What did critics think of Detroit Rock City?
- Critics broadly found the film's rock soundtrack and occasional comic energy outweighed by its silly plot and over-the-top directing style.
- Which films are like Detroit Rock City?
- Films with a similar feel include Road Trip, Wayne's World, and Dazed and Confused.
- How long is Detroit Rock City?
- Detroit Rock City runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Detroit Rock City?
- In United States, Detroit Rock City streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
