The Runaways

Name: The Runaways
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: March 19, 2010
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Michael Shannon

2010

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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THE RUNAWAYS

Movie Details & Credits

Apparition | Release Date: March 19, 2010

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Michael Shannon

Summary: The film follows two friends, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, as they rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary group that paved the way for future generations of girl bands. Joan and Cherie fall under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley, played by Michael Shannon, who turns theThe film follows two friends, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, as they rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary group that paved the way for future generations of girl bands. Joan and Cherie fall under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley, played by Michael Shannon, who turns the group into an outrageous success and a family of misfits. With its tough-chick image and raw talent, the band quickly earns a name for itself—and so do its two leads: Joan is the band’s pure rock 'n' roll heart, while Cherie, with her Bowie-Bardot looks, is the sex kitten. Written and directed by Floria Sigismondi, the film chronicles Joan and Cherie's tumultuous relationship on and off stage, as the band starts to break out. (Apparition)… Expand

Director: Floria Sigismondi

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Michael Phillips

A rich and surprisingly old-fashioned musical biopic, The Runaways has neither the bloat nor the blather of your average Hollywood treatment of stars on the rise. Read full review

Christian Science Monitor - Peter Rainer

Much of The Runaways plays out in the key of dreary. But there's a flinty integrity in this movie's look at the rock grind, and Stewart and Fanning are intensely watchable. Read full review

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

Its interest comes from Shannon's fierce and sadistic training scenes as Kim Fowley, and from the intrinsic qualities of the performances by Stewart and Fanning, who bring more to their characters than the script provides. Read full review

The New York Times - A.O. Scott

The movie may be a little too tame in the end, but at its best it is just wild enough. Read full review

New York Post - Kyle Smith

An entertaining but routine rock flick. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine - Ray Greene

Far from a perfect movie, but there are moments when it comes about as close to catching the visceral kick of the pre-iPod rock experience as any film I've ever seen. Read full review

Portland Oregonian - Shawn Levy

A movie that tells -- or rather, circles -- the story of the band's formation and abortive career. Read full review

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User Reviews

KevinB

Apr 23, 2010

If you grew up in the 70's and listened to this music, then this is a must see.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Jagged

May 19, 2014

I really enjoyed this. A wonderful surprise that was elevated by Kristen Stewart's superb performance as Joan Jett. Fanning also did a good job. Cool music.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Daphne

Oct 18, 2010

This movie kicks ass and takes my favorite so far this year. The music is awesome, great performances by the cast and it makes me wanna be a rockstar! Watch this movie :O)

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

matthewwinslow

Aug 11, 2010

A competent yet uninspired take on the band's history from which it receives its title, Floria Sigismondi attempts to paint a picture of unfettered youth in 1970's Los Angeles, but ultimately is unable to finish what she started. A strong first two acts with impressive performances fromA competent yet uninspired take on the band's history from which it receives its title, Floria Sigismondi attempts to paint a picture of unfettered youth in 1970's Los Angeles, but ultimately is unable to finish what she started. A strong first two acts with impressive performances from both of its leads (Stewart and Fanning) gets the audience invested, only to leave them unfulfilled by an aimless conclusion. Michael Shannon shines (as always) as the irreverent band manager Kim Fowley and brings humor to what would have been a rather tedious investigation into teenage angst. Certainly not for everyone, those who are fans of the band or music in general will enjoy the quality of the music segments and the mostly well-crafted recreation of the era. Everyone else will have to subsist on the performances alone in an effort to ignore the rather bland story structure.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tokyochuchu

Mar 31, 2013

The Runaways is a nice little film about a rock band spiraling out of control. Let's face facts though, we've seen this movie a million times before (Velvet Goldmine, Almost Famous, That Thing You Do) and this one plays it very much by the numbers. Still, it works well enough for a pleasantThe Runaways is a nice little film about a rock band spiraling out of control. Let's face facts though, we've seen this movie a million times before (Velvet Goldmine, Almost Famous, That Thing You Do) and this one plays it very much by the numbers. Still, it works well enough for a pleasant night's viewing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

IAC

Nov 24, 2012

This movie confused the definitively passive Cherie Currie with anything even closely resembling a protagonist. Fanning's performance was good, but the story was miswritten, and should have focused on the character who actually drove the action, made the decisions, and who was in every wayThis movie confused the definitively passive Cherie Currie with anything even closely resembling a protagonist. Fanning's performance was good, but the story was miswritten, and should have focused on the character who actually drove the action, made the decisions, and who was in every way the hero: Joan Jett. The conflict was unclear, Currie gave us nothing to root for, and it fell back on the typical story of a rock star brought low by the lifestyle. The movie was soft-spoken and meandering; completely at odds with the hard-nosed grit of its subject matter. There's a good story somewhere in the history of the Runaways, but this wasn't it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AdamT.

Mar 22, 2010

The Worst Movie I have ever seen. Horrible cast, And their music sucks. Kristen Stewart was not the right actress for this role. Her movies even suck.

2 of 3 users found this helpful

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