Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- rebellious
- witty
- energetic
- 80s movie night
- teen movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized the film's youthful energy, wit, performances, and rebellious style while finding its storytelling disjointed and its idealized heroine unconvincing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billie Jean's fugitive journey unexpectedly turns her into a widely celebrated cultural sensation.
The dispute over Binx's damaged scooter expands into Billie Jean's insistence that fairness applies to everyone.
The soundtrack, teen fugitives, stylized transformation, and anarchic energy strongly locate the film in 1980s youth culture.
Billie Jean is harassed by local boys, pursued as a fugitive, and transformed into a modern folk hero.
Films like The Legend of Billie Jean, and why
Thelma & Louise
rebellious teen fugitives, female-centered action, and youth-oriented social justice themes
Pump Up the Volume
teen outsiders become media symbols while challenging authority in an energetic coming-of-age action story
The Lost Boys
stylized teenage rebellion, outlaw protagonists, and heightened 1980s genre energy
Movie Details
- Director
- Matthew Robbins
- Release Date
- 1985-07-19
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (215)
Cast
- Helen Slater
- Keith Gordon
- Christian Slater
- Richard Bradford
- Martha Gehman
- Yeardley Smith
- Barry Tubb
- Dean Stockwell
- Peter Coyote
- Mona Lee Fultz
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 The Legend of Billie Jean about?
- A harassed Texas teenager becomes an unlikely outlaw celebrity after demanding repayment and refusing to accept injustice.
- What is The Legend of Billie Jean like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Legend of Billie Jean as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Legend of Billie Jean violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Legend of Billie Jean as mild.
- What did critics think of The Legend of Billie Jean?
- Critics broadly recognized the film's youthful energy, wit, performances, and rebellious style while finding its storytelling disjointed and its idealized heroine unconvincing.
- Which films are like The Legend of Billie Jean?
- Films with a similar feel include Thelma & Louise, Pump Up the Volume, and The Lost Boys.
- How long is The Legend of Billie Jean?
- The Legend of Billie Jean runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Legend of Billie Jean?
- In United States, The Legend of Billie Jean streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
