Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- warm
- lazy sunday
- teen movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film smarter and more enjoyable than the typical teen comedy, though its humor and characters were often judged insufficiently memorable.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Shaun treats admission to Stanford and a writing career as his path away from his dysfunctional Orange County household.
Shaun's drugged-out brother Lance and volatile household repeatedly obstruct his college plans while supplying the film's comic disruption.
Shaun moves from being a local surfer kid toward imagining himself as a Stanford student and writer beyond Orange County.
The surfer-kid premise and Orange County setting frame Shaun's academic anxiety against a bright, relaxed Southern California youth culture.
Films like Orange County, and why
Rushmore
Shared teen coming-of-age story, irreverent comedy, and conflict between personal ambition and family expectations.
The Edge of Seventeen
Shared offbeat youth comedy, outsider protagonists, academic aspiration, and dysfunctional family dynamics.
Adventureland
Shared slacker humor, youthful self-discovery, and a warm but chaotic portrait of adolescence.
Accepted
Shared college-oriented coming-of-age premise, ensemble comedy, and rebellious young characters seeking independence.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jake Kasdan
- Release Date
- 2002-01-11
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (522)
Cast
- Colin Hanks
- Jack Black
- Schuyler Fisk
- Catherine O'Hara
- John Lithgow
- Mike White
- Lily Tomlin
- Chevy Chase
- George Murdock
- Carly Pope
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 Orange County about?
- A determined Orange County surfer races through family chaos and bureaucratic blunders to secure his dream of becoming a Stanford writer.
- What is Orange County like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Orange County as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Orange County violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Orange County.
- What did critics think of Orange County?
- Critics generally found the film smarter and more enjoyable than the typical teen comedy, though its humor and characters were often judged insufficiently memorable.
- Which films are like Orange County?
- Films with a similar feel include Rushmore, The Edge of Seventeen, Adventureland, and Accepted.
- How long is Orange County?
- Orange County runs 82 minutes.
- Where can I watch Orange County?
- In United States, Orange County is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
