Critic Reviews
| 80 |
Variety
Cynthia Kirk
Playing a character rooted in his own background, and surrounded by the real-life members of his Minneapolis-based musical 'family,' rock star Prince makes an impressive feature film debut in Purple Rain, a rousing contemporary addition to the classic backstage musical genre.
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| 75 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Fresh music and silly dialogue - those aspects of Purple Rain haven't changed over the years. [Review of re-release]
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| 60 |
The New York Times
However, like many album covers, Purple Rain, though sometimes arresting to look at, is a cardboard come-on to the record it contains.
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| 50 |
TV Guide
Staff (Not Credited)
If you like Prince's music, you'll love this movie. If not, stay away.
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| 50 |
Christian Science Monitor
The pop-music star Prince makes his movie debut in this bizarre drama about a rock singer with a troubled career and a miserable home life.
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| 40 |
Empire
Ian Nathan
A fairly dappy and overlong attempt to turn Prince the then emergent rock-funk superstar into a movie star.
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| 30 |
Chicago Reader
The project would have been much more palatable as a TV special; as it stands, it's just another symptom of the American cinema's addiction to facile mythmaking.
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| 25 |
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Purple Rain is not a revolution. It's not even a good movie. What it is, is a cosmic letdown. [27 Jul 1984]
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