X

1990
R
New Line Cinema
1 h 40 m

1990
R
New Line Cinema
1 h 40 m

Summary Play's (Christopher Martin) parents are out of town, and he's planning the house party to end all house parties. His best friend, Kid (Christopher Reid), wants to go more than anything, knowing Sydney (Tisha Campbell), the hottest girl in school, is sure to be there. But when Kid gets into a fight at school, his father (Robin Harris) gro...

Directed By: Reginald Hudlin

Written By: Reginald Hudlin

1990
R
New Line Cinema
1 h 40 m

1990
R
New Line Cinema
1 h 40 m

House Party

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews

76

User Score Generally Favorable Based on 8 User Ratings

7.6

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Play's (Christopher Martin) parents are out of town, and he's planning the house party to end all house parties. His best friend, Kid (Christopher Reid), wants to go more than anything, knowing Sydney (Tisha Campbell), the hottest girl in school, is sure to be there. But when Kid gets into a fight at school, his father (Robin Harris) gro...

Directed By: Reginald Hudlin

Written By: Reginald Hudlin

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews

87% Positive
13 Reviews

13% Mixed
2 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews

87% Positive
13 Reviews

13% Mixed
2 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Catchy and unobtrusively assured, it's both hip and innocent, stylized and natural, charming its way through a conventional hey-kids-let's-have-a-party plot with bright comedy, great dancing, and on-top-of-it rap. It even manages to send a few messages about responsibility without being boring. In short, it's the best teen genre movie in ages. [23 Mar 1990, p.43]

By Jay Carr FULL REVIEW

House Party captures contemporary black teen culture in a way that’s fresh, commercial and very catchy.

Los Angeles Times

This movie has a rhythm. It's exaggerated, loud and consciously vulgar, but the breezy self-assurance carries it along.

By Michael Wilmington FULL REVIEW

Portland Oregonian

It is full of the farcical, irresponsible, sometimes outrageous things kids can do -- especially in a raunchy comedy. At the same time, House Party is an uncompromising, un-footnoted slice of black American life. In a way it is like "The Godfather," so immersed in the ethnic world it depicts that it is almost a foreign film. [23 Mar 1990, p.R11]

By Ted Mahar FULL REVIEW

Orlando Sentinel

Not only is House Party breezy fun, but its dialogue often sounds as authentic to its black-teen setting as The Breakfast Club did to its white-teen one. And authentic or not, much of it is funny. [27 April 1990, p.4]

By Jay Boyar FULL REVIEW

Obviously, House Party isn't on Spike Lee's level -- this is fluffy stuff -- but don't let your mind wander too far off. There are still some good things to be heard. [9 Mar 1990, p.G11]

Chicago Tribune

House Party aims for the mainstream and hits it- perhaps too often.

By Mark Caro FULL REVIEW

See All 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 8 User Ratings

63% Positive
5 Ratings

38% Mixed
3 Ratings

0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 8 User Ratings

63% Positive
5 Ratings

38% Mixed
3 Ratings

0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

Production Company Jackson/McHenry Company,The, New Line Cinema, The Hudlin Brothers

Release Date Mar 9, 1990

Duration 1 h 40 m

Rating R

Genres

Tagline If they get caught it's all over. If they don't, it's just the beginning!

View All Details

Awards

Film Independent Spirit Awards

• 7 Nominations

Sundance Film Festival

• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations

National Film Preservation Board, USA

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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