True Romance

Name: True Romance
Genre: Thriller, Romance, Crime
Released: September 10, 1993
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette

1993

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 288 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 288 Ratings

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True Romance

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: September 10, 1993 | Unrated

Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette

Summary: This rock'n'roll adventure story tells of two unlikely lovers who accidentally double-cross the Detroit mob by stealing valuable contraband. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette flee to Los Angeles where they are sought by both gangsters and cops. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Tony Scott

Genre(s): Thriller, Romance, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 120 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Clark Collis

One of the best mainstream action-thrillers [in] a decade. Read full review

100

Susan Wloszczyna

These gun-crazy, lust-loopy kids on the run are irresistible in the best crime rush since “GoodFellas.” [10 Sept 1993]

Owen Gleiberman

You never forget you're watching a derivative, machine-tooled entertainment; the fun is in how the machine keeps spinning off course. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Blends and recycles elements of scores of crime and road movies, from "Bonnie and Clyde" to "Badlands" but it does so with enough energy and verve to create something entirely fresh and infectiously entertaining. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Despite Tony Scott's occasional blundering, True Romance is still a visceral roller coaster. Read full review

Leonard Klady

It doesn't add up to enough, as preposterous plotting and graphic violence ultimately prove an audience turnoff. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

It is hard to say what is more dispiriting about True Romance the movie itself or the fact that someone somewhere is sure to applaud its hollow, dime-store nihilism and smug pseudo-hip posturing as a bright new day in American cinema. [10 Sept 1993]

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User Reviews

FilmMaster

Apr 21, 2015

A shy under-achiever falls in love with the hooker who was his birthday present and they get married but the whirlwind romance is heading for some complications... like hitmen and psycho drug dealers.

Quentin Tarantino’s True Romance script is an elaborate, extended fantasy that sees aA shy under-achiever falls in love with the hooker who was his birthday present and they get married but the whirlwind romance is heading for some complications... like hitmen and psycho drug dealers.

Quentin Tarantino’s True Romance script is an elaborate, extended fantasy that sees a geeky shop assistant transformed into a great lover, a vengeful vigilante and, ultimately, a smooth criminal.

Even with an excellent screenplay and a rogues gallery of protagonists waiting to be brought to life, any film needs the right director, and True Romance boasts an ideal helmer in the unlikely shape of Tony Scott. Who better than the director of Top Gun to bring an arrested adolescents fantasy to life? Scott verges on self-parody in terms of the gloss and pace he brings to proceedings, giving the movie a relentless energy that never allows the audience to stop and consider the absurdity of it all.

Alabamas execution of Virgil, complete with feral scream and lovingly photographed, blood-soaked breasts, earned the film notoriety and a run-in with the censors, although Scotts approach to the material is best summed up by another, less controversial creative decision. The script has Clarences initial drug-hawking meeting with Elliot take place, unremarkably enough, in a zoo, but the director wanted something with a little more pizzazz, so he set the sequence on a rollercoaster. Tarantino is overstating the case when he compares Scott to undervalued auteurs of the past (Douglas Sirk he aint), but theres no doubt he was perfect to orchestrate this wild ride.

This is not only an immensely entertaining violent action but genuinely romantic at times. Tarantino's dialogue is as sparkling as ever.

A True Masterpiece.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

aadityamudhar

Apr 17, 2016

Although there is entertainment value here, the film's intentions soon become clear. This is a mean spirited, stupid film that comes off as little more than low, cynical attempt at street credibility. It wants to be the next Reservoir Dogs forgetting the fact that that film was a blackAlthough there is entertainment value here, the film's intentions soon become clear. This is a mean spirited, stupid film that comes off as little more than low, cynical attempt at street credibility. It wants to be the next Reservoir Dogs forgetting the fact that that film was a black comedy that mocked violence. This on the other hand condones it. Add in a couple of horrid, destable protagonists with a little bit of casual homophobia here and there and you have a film that in spite of the fact that is was allegedly penned by Quentin Tarantino prior to the production of Pulp Fiction, feels like a cheap, dumb, contrived rip off of that film. Indeed this film is closer to the Kevin Costner turkey 3000 Miles To Graceland than Pulp Fiction.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ashleysouthgate

Jan 7, 2012

The most romantic movie I've ever seen. The movie has an edgy fast paced script/story, made even more brilliant by the actors and director. There is a raw quality to the movie, which all Tarantino's movies have (Although he only wrote this, not direct). In a nutshell this movie is a gemThe most romantic movie I've ever seen. The movie has an edgy fast paced script/story, made even more brilliant by the actors and director. There is a raw quality to the movie, which all Tarantino's movies have (Although he only wrote this, not direct). In a nutshell this movie is a gem amongst masterpieces (it's piers).
(The 2 Disc Special Edition, Director's Cut was worth every penny and the wait. Tarantino's commentary is probably the best I've ever heard.)… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

DavorK.

Mar 28, 2006

Don't read other people's comments. The only way to find out what a real film fun should look like is to see the film. If you wanna seduce your friend, take him/her with you!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

cameronmorewood

Nov 15, 2012

Though it isn't his best work, True Romance still has that vibrant Tarantino energy that keeps our eyes pervasively glued to the screen. The scene between Walken and Hopper is genius, and the film is worth-watching just because of it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

royalguy07

May 15, 2023

Definitely can feel the very early and mixed Tarantino vibes, 2nd half is a lot better. A lot of fun and unique performances that aren't necessarily perfect though.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

HotelCentral

Aug 12, 2019

This might've been a pretty good action flick. It starts off like a goofy rom-com and goes on to present us with insane bouts of violence. But then, in the middle of a scene of absolute madness, someone picks up a gun and murders a cop.

Now you could argue that the cop just executed aThis might've been a pretty good action flick. It starts off like a goofy rom-com and goes on to present us with insane bouts of violence. But then, in the middle of a scene of absolute madness, someone picks up a gun and murders a cop.

Now you could argue that the cop just executed a guy, so he's a bad guy too, but it's not an argument I'm going to hear. Any character that murders a cop is stepping out over the line and there's no turning back and when the character is one of the leads you're done. I'm out. This is why I watched a couple episodes of NYPD Blue and never went back. It's why I watched a couple eps of The Shield and never turned it on again. It's non-negotiable. It's a deal-breaker. In my book, "True Romance" is **** and that's the beginning and The End for all time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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