Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- quirky
- warm
- lazy sunday
- date night
What critics said
Critics found the original premise and appealing performers charming, but generally agreed that the comedy was inconsistent and the screenplay leaned on clichés.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Adam leaves the bomb shelter for the first time and interprets modern Los Angeles through the manners and assumptions taught by his parents.
Adam's 1960s upbringing collides with the fashions, relationships, language, and social expectations of 1990s Los Angeles.
Adam meets Eve after emerging from isolation, and their partnership turns the biblical allusion into a contemporary romantic-comedy framework.
The film moves from the family's confined fallout shelter into the streets and consumer spaces of Los Angeles, emphasizing Adam's sensory and cultural awakening.
Films like Blast from the Past, and why
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
shared romantic comedy structure, fish out of water humor, and an innocent protagonist confronting modern social life
Clueless
shared culture-clash comedy, contemporary Los Angeles setting, and warm romantic tone
Back to the Future
shared time-displacement premise, playful nostalgia, and romantic comedy built around unfamiliarity with modern society
Big
shared sheltered protagonist, broad comedy, and tender coming-of-age themes
Movie Details
- Director
- Hugh Wilson
- Release Date
- 1999-02-12
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1286)
Cast
- Brendan Fraser
- Alicia Silverstone
- Christopher Walken
- Sissy Spacek
- Dave Foley
- Joey Slotnick
- Dale Raoul
- Hayden Tank
- Douglas Smith
- Ryan Sparks
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Blast from the Past about?
- A sheltered young man raised in a Cold War bomb bunker discovers modern Los Angeles, romance, and the bewildering freedom of life beyond his family’s walls.
- What is Blast from the Past like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blast from the Past as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Blast from the Past violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Blast from the Past.
- What did critics think of Blast from the Past?
- Critics found the original premise and appealing performers charming, but generally agreed that the comedy was inconsistent and the screenplay leaned on clichés.
- Which films are like Blast from the Past?
- Films with a similar feel include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Clueless, Back to the Future, and Big.
- How long is Blast from the Past?
- Blast from the Past runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blast from the Past?
- In United States, Blast from the Past is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
