Not Fade Away
A New Jersey teenager finds a fragile sense of identity as a rock musician while love, family disappointment, and the realities of the 1960s music scene test his ambitions.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- wistful
- nostalgic
- melancholic
- nostalgic movie night
- music focused viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed David Chase's feature debut as a strong, assured period coming-of-age drama with an evocative rock-culture setting and evidence of his dramatic skill.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Douglas moves from feeling like a high-school loser to becoming a band front man while navigating Grace and his father's expectations.
The story follows a New Jersey teenager and his band through the early 1960s rock scene, with the Rolling Stones and blues as formative reference points.
Douglas's sister introduces the band's trajectory and observes that it is one of many groups that do not make it.
Band rehearsals, music-store encounters, and country-club romance are set against Pat Damiano's working life and accumulating regrets.
Films like Not Fade Away, and why
The Last Waltz
1960s rock music milieu, youthful ambition, and bittersweet coming-of-age drama
Almost Famous
music-centered ensemble drama about artistic aspiration, relationships, and the costs of pursuing a band career
The Graduate
period coming-of-age story pairing family tension, romantic longing, and countercultural self-discovery
The Commitments
rock-and-roll ambition, working-class pressure, and emotionally volatile young adulthood
Movie Details
- Director
- David Chase
- Release Date
- 2012-12-21
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (74)
Cast
- John Magaro
- James Gandolfini
- Bella Heathcote
- Jack Huston
- Will Brill
- Dominique McElligott
- Molly Price
- Isiah Whitlock Jr.
- Brad Garrett
- Christopher McDonald
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 Not Fade Away about?
- A New Jersey teenager finds a fragile sense of identity as a rock musician while love, family disappointment, and the realities of the 1960s music scene test his ambitions.
- What is Not Fade Away like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Not Fade Away as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Not Fade Away violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Not Fade Away.
- What did critics think of Not Fade Away?
- Critics broadly viewed David Chase's feature debut as a strong, assured period coming-of-age drama with an evocative rock-culture setting and evidence of his dramatic skill.
- Which films are like Not Fade Away?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Waltz, Almost Famous, The Graduate, and The Commitments.
- How long is Not Fade Away?
- Not Fade Away runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Not Fade Away?
- In United States, Not Fade Away is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
