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Detroit Rock City

Detroit Rock City

Comedy · Music · Adventure · 1999

In 1978, a Kiss concert was an epoch-making event. For the four teen fans in Detroit Rock City getting tickets to the sold-out show becomes the focal point of their existence. They'll do anything for tickets -- compete in a strip club's amateur-night contest, take on religious protesters, even rob a convenience store!

Movie details

Detroit Rock City

“Kiss the rules goodbye.”

1999 Comedy · Music · Adventure 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

In 1978, a Kiss concert was an epoch-making event. For the four teen fans in Detroit Rock City getting tickets to the sold-out show becomes the focal point of their existence. They'll do anything for tickets -- compete in a strip club's amateur-night contest, take on religious protesters, even rob a convenience store!

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 Detroit Rock City?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Adam Rifkin

Written by

Carl V. Dupré

Giuseppe Andrews

Giuseppe Andrews

Lex

James DeBello

James DeBello

Trip Hurudie

Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong

Hawk

Sam Huntington

Sam Huntington

Jeremiah 'Jam' Bruce

Lin Shaye

Lin Shaye

Mrs. Bruce

Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey

Beth Bumsteen

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne

Christine

Court is in session

Put Detroit Rock City on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

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.

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.