The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
Empire Records
Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1995
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try to stop the store from being absorbed by a large chain.
Movie details
Empire Records
“They're selling music but not selling out.”
1995 Comedy · Drama · Romance 1h 30m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.6 / 10
Community rating
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try to stop the store from being absorbed by a large chain.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Empire Records?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Where it lives
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Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.
Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.
Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Allan Moyle
Written by
Carol Heikkinen
Liv Tyler
Corey Mason
Johnny Whitworth
A.J.
Renée Zellweger
Gina
Robin Tunney
Debra
Anthony LaPaglia
Joe Reaves
Rory Cochrane
Lucas
Ethan Embry
Mark
Court is in session
Put Empire Records on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.