Trainspotting

Name: Trainspotting
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: July 19, 1996
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle

1996

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 581 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 581 Ratings

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Trainspotting

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: July 19, 1996 | R

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle

Summary: Renton (Ewan McGregor), a twenty-something junkie, is deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene. He must choose to clean up and get out, or continue following the allure of the drugs and the influence of friends.

Director: Danny Boyle

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Trainspotting is supercharged with sulphurous humour and brutal recklessness. Read full review

100

Barry Walters

Extraordinary, entertaining cinema. Read full review

100

Owen Gleiberman

It would be hard to imagine a movie about drugs, depravity, and all-around bad behavior more electrifying than Trainspotting. Read full review

Liam Lacey

A little like speeding through the digestive tract of some voracious beast. There's bite, acid, digestive churning and an expulsive conclusion. If the metaphor seems unsavoury, well, wait until you see the film. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

A must-see. Read full review

Dallas Observer Arnold Wayne Jones

Creates a sense of understanding that crystallizes the essence of the drug subculture with startling clarity. Read full review

Desson Thomson

The story, such as it is, follows Renton's inconsistent attempts to kick his habit. Read full review

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User Reviews

alejandro970

May 21, 2017

Whimsical, deranged nosefall tour-de-force into the pointless life of Edinburg junkies. Lots of dark humor and references to first James Bond. Look carefully to Irvine Welsh cameo and tribute to Clockwork Orange. The sequence of "worst toilet of Scotland" is for anthology. A mandatory of 90´s.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

smartmart

Sep 21, 2015

"Trainspotting" is a quite wonderful film. It is both darkly funny at times, and also extremely sad at others. It is visually spectacular to look at,and all of the performances are very well done, especially the performance of Scottish actor Ewen McGregor. He plays a heroin addict who tries"Trainspotting" is a quite wonderful film. It is both darkly funny at times, and also extremely sad at others. It is visually spectacular to look at,and all of the performances are very well done, especially the performance of Scottish actor Ewen McGregor. He plays a heroin addict who tries getting off the stuff, but is eventually addicted once again. the rest of the film is just a series of events, from the horribly disturbing and sad, to the very funny and entertaining. A must see.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

frankenstone420

Feb 9, 2013

This is the best movie. Awesome soundtrack, brilliant script, and excellent acting. Both funny and totally messed up. Arguably the best performances of all the actors in their first rolls. Cannot say that I have seen a better motion picture, it's truly Danny Boyle at his finest

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

BeatrixKiddo

Sep 18, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was really a hell of a movie. Really well directed, darkly funny and Ewan McGregor's acting was the best thing in the film. Maybe his best performance of all his career.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ragekoi

Dec 21, 2013

Trainspotting is a film about five young miscreants and their drug-induced, illegal, and overall frowned-upon shenanigans in Edinburgh, Scotland. The main character of the film is a good-hearted guy named Mark Renton, who wants to clean his life up and become a good person, However, thisTrainspotting is a film about five young miscreants and their drug-induced, illegal, and overall frowned-upon shenanigans in Edinburgh, Scotland. The main character of the film is a good-hearted guy named Mark Renton, who wants to clean his life up and become a good person, However, this task is incredibly difficult due to the unchangeable nature of so-called mates. Sick Boy seems to just to terrible things just to get a thrill out of it, Spud does them because he's unintelligent and cannot emerge from his addiction, and Begbie does it because he's a violent psychopath wrecking anything that gets in his way. The movie doesn't explain too much about each character, but their inhumane actions mostly define them so they never feel underdeveloped. The plot also supplies a lot with a little, because it's essentially just a guy's life. Even though the movie is very good, it's certainly not for everyone. This film is the modern-day version of "A Clockwork Orange", as their are multiple "gross-out" moments that are meant to make you cringe. There's sex (underage and homosexual), nudity, teenage angst, ultra-violence, drug use, toilet plunging, and the death of a baby. Trainspotting not only has excellent cinematography, but an equally great if not better soundtrack. The songs used in the film are often times giving off polar opposite vibes then what you're viewing, which is a technique I'm personally a big fan of. Pacing is never an issue in this film. There are no points where I was bored are waiting for something to happen next. The writing is very strong, and the ridiculous Scottish accents enhance the delivery of each f-word that much more enjoyable. Acting is also very strong. Ewan McGregor leads a cast of very talented Scottish actors, each with great range and commitment. Overall this movie is a cautionary tale showcasing horrors of doing drugs and having an addiction, and probably would be received better if the content within the film was more universally enjoyable.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Ralfbergs

Jun 23, 2017

I can definitely see why this is one of those cult movies - it has that realistic vibe to it and basically talks about really serious things, but at the same time it has comedic elements and even though you feel disgusted with all the narcotics and heroin they are taking, the movie draws youI can definitely see why this is one of those cult movies - it has that realistic vibe to it and basically talks about really serious things, but at the same time it has comedic elements and even though you feel disgusted with all the narcotics and heroin they are taking, the movie draws you in with it's storyline… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Potarto72

Dec 21, 2014

I know. I know. I'm so, so sorry. This is a completely beloved film, and I absolutely hate everything about it.
Once again, I have to admit, I only got about 60% of the way through this awful film. Let me recite everything I remember.
Ewan McGregor swims into a disgusting toilet full ofI know. I know. I'm so, so sorry. This is a completely beloved film, and I absolutely hate everything about it.
Once again, I have to admit, I only got about 60% of the way through this awful film. Let me recite everything I remember.
Ewan McGregor swims into a disgusting toilet full of turds to retrieve his heroine. It's supposed to be a metaphor, but all it really is is a stomachache. I suppose it may just be a metaphor for what McGregor did when he got the lead role in this film. Next, McGregor's character Renton and one of his friends are at a park. They shoot a dog with a BB gun, so it will get angry and violently attack its owner. Why? Ha! F**k you! We just like to hurt people! Boyle isn't even trying now. Then, some guy in a bar gets kicked in the groin and gives those dumb over-acted reactions actors give when their characters get hit in the groin, which only happens in the first place because the writers are lazy as **** Anyway, I couldn't take it anymore, so I stopped watching. I've heard other reviews of the film. Apparently the heroine addicts have a friggin' baby, and it dies of thirst after being neglected. Woohoo! Movie night!
Listen, you can make a film that has horrifying imagery if your goal is to warn the audience. George Orwell understood that. Tarantino understands that. Danny Boyle? Didn't seem to understand it here. You can do it, but not when you give your film this weird comedic wrapping that Trainspotting has. It acts like a comedy, which to me, is insulting and cruel.… Expand

0 of 11 users found this helpful011

SEE ALL 49 REVIEWS

8	#8 Best Movie of 1996
7	#7 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
5	#5 Most Shared Movie of 1996